Political Science

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Possible Careers for Political Science Minors

Should you chose to minor in Political Science at Missouri Baptist University, you will benefit from the unique mission of MBU's Political Science program and its dedicated Christian faculty as they help qualify you for your future career in one of many possible fields of related service. A minor in Political Science at MBU may be a vital step in your undergraduate preparation for an eventual career or advanced studies in any one of the following professions:

• Banker
• Businessperson
• Campaign Manager
• Foreign Service Official
• Lawyer
• Lobbyist
• Newspaper Journalist
• Non-Profit Director
• Political Analyst
• Politician
• Pollster
• Public Relations
• Purchasing Agent
• Television Journalist

Mission Statement: Missouri Baptist University offers a minor in Political Science (POLS) that will allow students to explore the philosophical and historical foundations, nature, purpose and functions of political ideas and institutions in both the United States and other countries. The following courses are offered as a part of the general education requirements and/or the minor in Political Science.

Need more information?
For more information on the minor in Political Science at MBU, contact Dr. Keith Beutler. To learn about faculty in the Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences, click here.

The course information below highlights key features of the program. For more complete, up-to-date information, always consult the university's most recent catalog.

Minor

Course Requirements for earning a Minor in Political Science: (18 hours)

Required: 9 hours
POLS 113 Federal Government
POLS 123 State and Local Government
PORP 333 Political Philosophy

Electives: 9 hours
HIPO 233 American Foreign Policy
ADPO303 Foundations of Law
PSPO 323 Psychology and the Law
HIPO 343 The American Presidency
HIPO 353 American Political Thought
POLS 363 The African American Constitutional Experience
POLS 471-476 Internship in Local Government
POLS 481-486 American Political Campaigns Internship
ADPO 453 Constitutional Law

Course Descriptions

POLS 113 FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
A basic course dealing with the organization, principles, and administration of our federal government.
Three Hours, Fall

POLS 123 STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
A basic course dealing with the organization and administration of state and local government.
Three Hours, Spring

HIPO 233 AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY
Examination of the factors influencing the formation and execution of United States foreign policy and of specific contemporary foreign policies and problems. The course will focus on the policies through which the United States attempts to maintain satisfactory economic, political, and social relationships with other countries. Global interdependency will be investigated. Prerequisite(s): POLS 113 and HIST 223 or consent of the instructor. This course does not satisfy the U.S. Government requirement for teacher certification.
Three Hours, On Demand

ADPO 303 FOUNDATIONS OF LAW
This course is designed to familiarize students with legal ideas and legal reasoning. It provides comparative, historical, and Biblical perspectives on law that will help explain legal diversity and legal change. It offers opportunities to explore some of the persistent issues in law and legal theory, such as the sources of law, the responsibilities of the legal profession, and the relative merits of the adversary system.
Three Hours, Spring, Even Years

PSPO 323 PSYCHOLOGY AND THE LAW
This is a course that examines the application of psychological principles to the American legal system, including presentation of scientific evidence, analysis of the criminal and victim mind, jury selection and decision-making, malingering, various defense pleas, trials, persuasive tactics of lawyers, rights of the accused, expert witnesses, and eyewitness testimony. A mock trial may be presented to allow students to see psychological concepts in action. Prerequisite: PSYC133.
Three hours, Fall, Even Years

PORP 333 POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY
This course looks at the development of political theory in the Western tradition. Students will read and discuss the contributions of philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas, Locke, Rousseau, Mill, and 20th century theorists.
Three hours, Spring, Even Years

HIPO 343 THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY
This course is a detailed examination of the office of the American Presidency. The course will focus on the development of the Presidency from the time of Washington to the present. The students will not only look at the political thought and actions of the founders, preservers, and revisers of American republicanism and their varied understanding of executive power, but also will read various biographical accounts of various presidents to discover how the office changes from president to president.
Three Hours, Fall, Even-Numbered Years

HIPO 353 AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT
This course will look at our system of representative democracy as understood by the Founders, Framers and other political thinkers from 1760 to 1800. The students will read many primary source documents from this Founding Period, and evaluate how and why the thoughts of the Founders have impacted not only American Political thought, but also constitutional democracy today.
Three Hours, Spring, Odd Years

POLS 363 THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CONSTITUTIONAL EXPERIENCE
In this course the students will read and study primary source documents in order to explore the African-American constitutional experience, with particular emphasis given to the Equal Protection clause of the 14th amendment.
Fall, Odd Years

ADPO 453 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
A study of leading constitutional principles of the United States, providing an overview of the constitution with emphasis on the amendments dealing with the rights of the accused and provisions for due process.
Three Hours, Fall

POLS 471-476 INTERNSHIP IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT
This course will provide the student an opportunity to observe and participate in a variety of functions of local government. The student will work under the direction of the city administrator of a local municipality. Prerequisite(s): POLS 123 and consent of supervisor. Variable credit; may be taken twice in two different field settings, not to exceed a total of six hours.
One to six hours, On Demand

POLS 481-486 AMERICAN POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS: AN INTERNSHIP
This course will involve the student working on a local, state or national political campaign. It will involve the student arranging the internship (with the guidance of the instructor) and then implementing it. The student will also meet with the instructor in order to give progress reports as to how the internship in going. Thirty (30) clock-hours of service will be required for each course credit hour earned. There will be no reading for the course; however, their will be an exit paper to be accompanied by a formal letter from the campaign staff verifying the number of hours of work.
One to six hours, Fall, Even Years