POLITICAL SCIENCE
BACHELOR OF ARTS

The Mercyhurst Center for Applied Politics (MCAP) began operations in July 2010. Inspired by the mission of Mercyhurst University and guided by the college’s core values, the center promotes reasoned discourse about problems facing communities, states and nations. It accomplishes this objective by providing elected officials, government agencies, news organizations, and nonprofits with accurate and unbiased assessments of public opinion; and offering a nonpartisan forum for public debates and roundtable discussions that address pressing public problems.

Public Opinion Polling

The centerpiece of MCAP is the state of the art computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) facility. The facility, which is located in the Center for Academic Engagement, is comprised of thirty one interviewer stations and staffed by well-trained research associates. The specialized computer software used to conduct telephone interviews generates random telephone numbers in a predefined geographic area and allows research associates to accurately complete even the most complex interviews.

When operating at capacity, the facility generates 40 ten minute interviews per hour. This means that the center can generate interviews for a sample of 400 residents of a particular community in only ten hours. In other words, in just ten hours the center can report, with 95% confidence, what percentage of residents (plus or minus 5%) favor or oppose a particular position or policy. In just a few additional hours, the center can produce even more accurate results.

The center also has the ability to design and administer online surveys. This method of interviewing is ideal for organizations that have relatively up-to-date email addresses for their members. The software used by MCAP allows a researcher to administer a survey - whether short and simple or long and complex – to an unlimited number of email addresses. In addition, a researcher has the ability to monitor response rates and send out reminders, thereby ensuring that the study produces high quality results.

As the Northwestern Pennsylvania’s only CATI facility whose primary purpose is to regularly and accurately gauge public opinion, the MCAP is an invaluable resource community leaders. Each year the center conducts polls on issues of local, state and nations interest. The results of these studies are made available to the public via the university’s webpage. In addition to its annual polls, the center offers its services to private parties, nonprofits, news organizations, and government agencies for minimal cost.

Student Employment

Each year more than one hundred students with a wide range of majors help MCAP to conduct public opinion polls. The vast majority of these students are volunteers who want to serve their community and enjoy the comradery that polling creates among interviewers. In fact, roughly 90% of all student interviewers are volunteers. Political science majors and minors who are work-study eligible have the opportunity to apply for paid positions with the center. Like the volunteers, employees are trained in the science of public opinion polling and spend at least one year refining their interviewing skills while working as a student interviewer. During their second year employees have the option of taking on the responsibility of training new student interviewers; and their third year they may apply for a position as a project manager. Regardless of whether a student is a volunteer, employee, trainer, or project manager, the experience they acquire is invaluable. The knowledge and skills that students acquired at the center have led to internships, jobs, and research assistantships in graduate school. 

The Political Science Department has a long and distinguished history of helping students to achieve academic excellence. The department’s innovative curriculum, abundant extracurricular opportunities, and outstanding faculty not only help students to learn about politics and the methods we use to study political phenomena, but also foster the inquisitiveness and creativity that are hallmarks of outstanding students. As a result, graduating political science majors and minors are regularly honored by Mercyhurst University with prestigious senior awards. These awards are given to a single student from each graduating class whose accomplishments far exceed those of any of their classmates. Political science students who recently received a university or college award are listed below.

Carpe Diem Award: Vince Marrazzo (triple major), 2019; Jonah Jackson (major), 2018; Sam Lioi (double major), 2017; and Caleb Ohmer (double major), 2016

This honor is the highest award presented by Mercyhurst University to a traditional-aged student. It is given in recognition of intellectual competency, personal integrity and, especially, leadership impact. It is presented to the outstanding graduating senior who had the most positive impact on the life of the Mercyhurst community and who best exemplifies the university motto "Carpe Diem," to "Seize the Opportunity". The name and criteria for this award were established by the Sister of Mercy under the leadership of Mother Borgia Egan, the founding president of Mercyhurst University. 

Bishops Award of Excellence: Emily Francis (major), 2015 and Alethea Gaarden (double major), 2014

This award is chosen by grade point average and overall academic record. The winner must have taken the majority of classes toward the degree requirement at Mercyhurst University, with the exception of study abroad or with a Mercyhurst-affiliated program. The Catholic Diocese of Erie sponsors this award. This award is presented at commencement.

Mother Borgia Egan Award: Stefani Baughman (double major), 2015 and Matt Hatfield (triple major), 2016

This award recognizes the model honors student who fully embodies the spirit of a liberal arts education. He or she will have completed all the requirements of the Mercyhurst Honors Program and will possess the following qualities: academic and scholarly/professional accomplishments, community service and an appreciation of and participation in the cultural environment of the University. 

President’s Award for Excellence: Maggie Hackney (double major), 2019; Meghan Maker (minor), 2019; Morgan Stacey (minor), 2019; Yedzin Tobgay (double major), 2018; Hallie McDonald (major), 2015; and Mary Mancuso (major), 2014

Each of the five Schools at the University, under the direction and guidance of the respective School Dean, nominate three traditional seniors in their respective Schools. The criteria for selection are GPA and overall contribution to the respective School. The award is given to the student who is considered to be the top scholar in each respective School.

Catherine McAuley Adult Student Award: Audra Alexander (double major) and 2018; Nina Aamodt (major), 2015 

This award is presented to an adult student in recognition of superior work, as well as personal and professional achievement. The non-traditional student who wins this award will be the student who has been judged to be the most outstanding adult student in the graduating class. The award is based on GPA, but also takes into account professional achievement, family responsibilities and other challenges that can face adult students. 

President's Award for Adult Excellence: Jason Shaffer (double major), 2018 

Under the direction and guidance of the School Deans, each School nominates an adult student for this award. The criteria for selection are GPA and overall contribution to the University. The award is given to one adult student who is considered to be a top scholar at the University.

At Mercyhurst University, students are encouraged to be active members of a learning community. One way that students of political science participate in this community is by joining Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society.

Pi Sigma Alpha is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies and has nearly 700 chapters at colleges and universities across the nation. The honor society seeks to promote excellence in the study of political science through a wide range of programs including chapter activity grants, scholarships for graduate study, Washington internship scholarships, and awards for best chapters and senior theses. In recent years, the Mercyhurst University chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha has been awarded activity grants and one of its students was awarded a $5,000 scholarship for graduate study.

In addition to the many professional benefits provided to members of Pi Sigma Alpha, the Mercyhurst chapter helps its members organize any number of campus events. For example, In presidential election years Pi Sigma Alpha students organize a "presidential debate," where students represent different candidates in a formal debate. Pi Sigma Alpha organizes the department's annual holiday party, the end of the year celebration and the Ad Hoc dinners. Although not all students meet the requirements for membership in the honor society, every political science student benefits from its activities. With the exception of the Induction Ceremony, all political science majors and minors are invited to attend the society's events.

While attending graduate school or law school is not required for many careers related to the political science major, many of the department’s graduates opt for a few more years of education. Each year about one-third of the graduating class will apply for admission to graduate programs in political science or a related field, such a public administration or public policy, or to law school. The Political Science Department has an excellent record of placing students in top-notch graduate programs and law schools. In fact, since 1993 ninety-nine percent of political science majors who applied to law school were admitted to at least one program. This is a record that is rivaled by few political science programs in the nation.

Below is a list of graduate and law schools attended by student who graduated with a degree in political science from Mercyhurst University since 1993. Many of the schools listed below have educated multiple graduates of the Mercyhurst political science program.

Graduate Schools

•  University of Virginia
• Cambridge University
•  Boston University
•  Texas A&M (George Bush School of Government & Public Service)
•  Indiana University (SPEA School of Public and Environmental Affairs)
•  The Ohio State University
•  Tufts University
•  Florida State University
•  Catholic University
•  Georgetown University
•  University of Pittsburgh
•  Duquesne University
•  Carnegie Mellon University
•  University of Maryland
•  University of California-Santa Barbara
•  American University
•  Syracuse University (Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs)
•  George Washington U
•  University of St Andrews (Scotland)
•  University of Oxford (St Antony’s College)
•  Brock University (Canada)
•  University of Toronto
•  University of San Francisco
•  University of Chicago
•  Seton Hall
•  University of Arizona
•  Northern Illinois University
•  New York University
•  Columbia University
•  University of Buffalo
•  University of Maine
•  Villanova University
•  Virginia Tech University
•  George Mason University
•  John Carroll University
•  New College of California
•  Drake University
•  University of Scranton
•  University of New Mexico
•  Cleveland State University
•  St John’s University (Italy Campus)
•  Wayne State University
•  Loyola University Chicago
•  University of Denver (Josef Korbel School of International Studies)
•  University of Baltimore
•  California State-University of Sacramento
•  University of Illinois
•  Long Island University
•  University of North Texas
•  Case Western Reserve University (Weatherhead School of Management)
•  St Bonaventure University
•  University of Southern California (USC)
•  University of Delaware
•  Florida International University
•  University of Wyoming
•  Cornell University
•  University of Missouri
•  University of Wyoming
•  Johns Hopkins
•  Portland State University
•  University of the Arts London
•  Fairfield University
•  St John Fisher University 

Law Schools

•  Penn State University-Dickinson School of Law
•  West Virginia University College of Law
•  University of Miami (FL) School of Law 
•  Boston College Law School
•  University of Michigan Law School
•  Buffalo State University School of Law 
•  Case Western Reserve University School of Law
•  Cleveland State (Cleveland Marshall College of Law)
•  University of Akron School of Law
•  University of Pittsburgh School of Law
•  Duquesne University Law School
•  Widener University School of Law
•  University of Dayton School of Law
•  University of California-Davis School of Law
•  DePaul University College of Law
•  University of Maine School of Law
•  Michigan State University College of Law
•  Ohio Northern University College of Law
•  Thomas M Cooley Law School (Michigan)
•  University of Toledo College of Law
•  Florida Coastal School of Law
•  University of Missouri School of Law
•  Hofstra Law School
•  Valparaiso University Law School
•  University of Baltimore School of Law
•  Indiana University Maurer School of Law
•  University of Chicago
•  The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
•  William & Mary College of Law

3+3 Law School Programs

Duquesne University and Cleveland Marshall law schools and Mercyhurst University have a 3-3 program, in which after three years of academic study at Mercyhurst University eligible students may complete their fourth year of undergraduate study during their first year as a law student.  This means that students may earn their bachelors and juris doctorate (law) degrees in six, rather than seven years. To take advantage of this opportunity a student must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 after three years at Mercyhurst (96 credit hours), complete all undergraduate curriculum in their major field and their REACH requirements, earn a minimum LSAT score in the 60th percentile (155+), be recommended by the Vice-President of Academic Affairs, and participate in an interview with the Dean of Admissions of Duquesne University or Cleveland Marshall law school. Each student in this early admission program will be awarded a bachelor’s degree by Mercyhurst University after successful completion of the first year of law school.

Early Admission to GSPIA

Political Science majors at Mercyhurst University have the option of applying for early admission to the prestigious Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh. GSPIA offers three main academic master’s degree programs, and each can be completed in either 20 months of full-time study or on a part-time basis. The degree programs include the Master of Public Administration (MPA), Master of Public & International Affairs (MPIA) and Master of International Development (MID). Each master’s degree provides several options for a major, and students have the flexibility to customize their education as any major can be taken as a minor. Students interested in pursuing early admission to GSPIA work closely with their political science faculty advisor during their third year at Mercyhurst as they complete the application process.

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