The politics department at Saint Vincent College goes beyond daily political issues to examine the underlying questions of political science: What is human nature? Of what does the human life consist? How does that life relate to the city? By the end of their college journey, politics students will be able to view political issues with these questions in mind, allowing for a discerning study of politics from a holistic perspective. Our nationally renowned faculty ensures that this knowledge leads to fulfilling personal lives along with successful careers in law, government agencies, foundations and many others.
The program approaches the study of politics as both philosophical reflection and analytical art. From the study of ancient, modern and contemporary sources, students are led to examine critically the ideas and events that have influenced the formation of political principles, government organization, characteristics of citizenship and social policy.
Along with philosophical grounding, the program seeks to provide the analytical competence to understand the contemporary political environment, to address effectively public policy issues and to contribute intellectually and practically to the sociopolitical challenges of our times.
As a result, students graduating with a degree in politics or political science will be prepared both to discuss contemporary political issues and analyze them in the context of their underlying philosophical and fundamental ideas. These skills lay the ideal foundation for successful careers in law, business, nonprofit organizations, public administration, public office, international affairs and academia.
College Core (48 credits)
TH 119 First Theology (freshman year) - 3 credits
Theology (200 Level) - 3 credits
Theology (300 Level) - 3 credits
History (100 Level) - 3 credits
History (200 Level) - 3 credits
PL 101 1st Philosophy - 3 credits
Philosophy Elective (PL 215 Ethics suggested) - 3 credits
Natural Science 100 level with lab - 4 credits
Natural Science 200 level with lab - 4 credits
EL 102 Language and Rhetoric (freshman year) - 3 credits
English Elective (Literature Course) - 3 credits
English Elective - 3 credits
Fine Arts (100 Level) - 3 credits
Foreign Language Intermediate Level - 3 credits
Foreign Language Intermediate Level - 3 credits
First-Year Seminar (additional hour) - 1 credit
Major Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Politics (33 credits)
PS 100 Principles of American Politics - 3 credits
PS 135 Classical Political Thought - 3 credits
PS 136 Modern Political Thought - 3 credits
PS 242 International Politics
or PS 343 Comparative Politics - 3 credits
PS 290 Institutions - 3 credits
PS 336 American Political Thought - 3 credits
PS 339 Constitutional Law: National Powers
or PS 369 Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties - 3 credits
PS 345 Domestic Public Policy - 3 credits
PS 480 Senior Thesis - 3 credits
Politics electives (Any PS class except PS 550) - 6 credits
Major Requirements for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science (41 credits)
PS 100 Principles of American Politics - 3 credits
PS 135 Classical Political Thought - 3 credits
PS 136 Modern Political Thought - 3 credits
PS 242 International Politics
or PS 343 Comparative Politics - 3 credits
PS 290 Institutions - 3 credits
PS 336 American Political Thought - 3 credits
PS 339 Constitutional Law: National Powers
or PS 369 Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties - 3 credits
PS 345 Domestic Public Policy - 3 credits
PS 480 Senior Thesis - 3 credits
Politics elective (Any PS class except PS 550) - 3 credits
BA 350 Statistics I and BA 350A Excel Lab - 4 credits
BA 351 Statistics II and BA 351A Excel Lab - 4 credits
or EC 360 Econometrics - 3 credits
MA 109/111 Calculus I - 4 credits
Graduate Study
Candidates for the B.A. or B.S. degree who plan to pursue a Ph.D. in politics, government or political science generally will have to show competence in one or two foreign languages as well as quantitative skills. We suggest that students contemplating such graduate studies consider taking foreign language courses beyond the intermediate level. The quantitative skills requirement for graduate school varies.
Public Affairs and Public Administration
For those seeking master’s degrees in public policy and public administration, it would be advantageous to complete BA 100, BA 101, EC 201, EC 202, BA 350 and EC 360. Students should have further discussions with their advisers.
International Affairs
For those seeking master’s degrees in international relations or allied fields, it would be advantageous to pursue two foreign languages and to complete EC 201, EC 202, BA 350, EC 360, EC 351 and EC 353.
Pre-law concentration: students in either the B.A. or B.S. tracks are advised to take both PS 339 and PS 369.
Requirements for a Minor in Politics (18 credits)
PS 100 Principles of American Politics - 3 credits
PS 135 Classical Political Thought or
PS 136 Modern Political Thought - 3 credits
PS 290 Institutions - 3 credits
PS 336 American Political Thought - 3 credits
PS 339 Constitutional Law: National Powers or
PS 369 Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties - 3 credits
PS 345 Domestic Public Policy - 3 credits
Variations from above are possible with permission of the Chair of the Politics department. A student may choose, with the departmental adviser and with the consent of the Chair, a program designed to meet individual objectives.
Part of the politics major is a comprehensive thesis that tests each student’s understanding of political issues and their underlying philosophical currents. Recent examples of student theses and George Washington Fellows' topics include:
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The Aurelius Scholars in Western Civilization is a program offered to motivated students interested in the intellectual heritage of Western civilization. It is open to all majors and minors in the McKenna School and to students considering a major or minor in the McKenna School. It should be of particular interest to students in the Politics Department.
Dr. Jason R. Jividen.
Internships enable our students to take their knowledge and skills into a professional environment. Our faculty actively encourages and helps students find internships to gain valuable practical experience.
In recent years, our students have interned at places such as the Charles Koch Foundation in Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Department of Commerce in Germany, with Federal Judge William Baughman, with numerous state and federal senators and representatives, with the Westmoreland County public defenders, with several law firms and many more.
Thanks to the combination of class work and internships, graduates with a degree in Politics go on to successful professional careers. Our graduates can expect:
Great Law Placements! Recent graduates (29.0% from 1997 to 2018) have gone on to such institutions as:
Graduate School Placements (approximately 25.7% of graduates):
Job Placements (approximately 22.9% of graduates seek jobs):
Politics courses are designed to promote the following:
The Politics has been a subject of study from ancient Greece to the present day. For Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, the word politics referred to the activities of the city, the polis. The city, Aristotle taught, is that association that allows a complete human life to be lived. But not every activity of the city promotes the complete human life, or happiness in a comprehensive sense. Political science, originally understood, was the study of the city’s activities in order to understand which modes of political organization were best suited to promoting human happiness.
The Politics Department at Saint Vincent College is unique in the extent to which it promotes an understanding of the nature of political phenomena and their relationship to a life not simply lived, but lived well. To this end, the Department offers a curriculum firmly rooted in the Great Books of Western civilization and the great political writings of the American tradition. Along with philosophical grounding, the program seeks to provide analytical competence to understand the contemporary political environment, to address public policy questions and to contribute intellectually and practically to the sociopolitical challenges of our times.
The department encourages students to see politics whole, recognizing the intimate relationship that exists between wisdom gained through philosophical inquiry, and political knowledge gained through empirical and analytical research. The department thus helps to fulfill the liberal arts mission of the college. It also takes seriously its obligation to provide civic education: to cultivate the well-educated citizens and scholars who are essential to the long-term flourishing of a constitutional republic.
The SVC Mock Trial team is quickly becoming nationally recognized - it competes against and has defeated numerous nationally competitive teams. Students in the Mock Trial team enjoy the camaraderie of their peers while also gaining valuable experience for future careers in law and politics.
Politics majors may also join Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society and our Aurelius Scholars in Western Civilization.
Other recommended activities include attending relevant lectures and conferences sponsored by the Center for Political and Economic Thought. These lectures serve to broaden the understanding of current and past political issues and offer a great networking opportunity.