THIS MONTH'S HEADLINES:
1. FALL 2019 COURSES
2. EUROPEAN UNION STUDY ABROAD COURSE MAY 2019—DEADLINE TO APPLY FEBRUARY 8
3. HELPING CURRENT BEHREND POLITICAL SCIENCE STUDENTS
4. PENN STATE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT GRANTS
5. STUDENT GROUP NEWS
6. PUBLIC POLICY FUND EVENT ON THE "PERILS OF PLASTIC"
7. MINORS AND CERTIFICATES
8. FACULTY IN THE NEWS
9. GRE MOCK TEST
10. PA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES INTERNSHIPS
11. FACEBOOK PAGE
1. FALL 2019 COURSES
Here is a list of Political Science and Sociology courses that will be offered at Penn State Behrend in Fall 2019.
Remember that all political science majors must take PL SC 001, PL SC 003, PL SC 014, and either PL SC 007 or PL SC 017, as well as 24 other credits (usually eight other courses) in PL SC. Of those other 24 credits, at least 12 (four courses) must be at the 400 level, and at least 3 credits (one course) must be taken in each of the subfield requirements (American Government, Comparative Politics, International Politics, Government in Theory and Practice). Some courses can be used to fulfill either of two subfield requirements, but you cannot use the same course on your degree audit to meet both of those subfield requirements.
If you need help with scheduling or understanding the requirements of the major, please make an appointment to see your adviser.
Politics and Government minors must take PL SC 001, PL SC 003, and 12 other credits (four courses), including 6 credits at the 400-level.
Sociology minors must take SOC 001 and 15 other credits in SOC, including at least 6 credits at the 400-level.
Crime, Law, and Psychology minors must take SOC 012 and 3 other credits in sociology, 6 credits in psychology, and 6 credits in political science from lists of approved courses. See Professor Monahan Lang in Sociology for details.
Fall 2019 Courses
- PL SC 001 - American Politics (GS, US)
- PL SC 003 - Comparing Politics around the Globe (GS, IL)
- PL SC 007N - Contemporary Political Ideologies (GS/GH)
- PL SC 014 - International Relations (GS, IL)
- PL SC 014H - International Relations (GS, IL)
- PL SC 017N - Introduction to Political Theory (GS/GH)
- PL SC 020 - Comparative Politics of Western Europe (GS, IL, Comparative)
- PL SC 111 - Debating the Purpose of Government (GH, Theory and Practice)
- PL SC 140 - Contemporary Controversies in International Relations (GS, International)
- PL SC 437 - War in World Politics (International)
- PL SC 471 - American Constitutional Law (American, Theory and Practice)
- PL SC 481 - Global Political Economy (International)
- PL SC 482 - American State and Urban Politics (American)
- SOC 001 - Introductory Sociology (GS)
- SOC 012 - Criminology (GS, Theory and Practice)
2. EUROPEAN UNION STUDY ABROAD COURSE MAY 2019—DEADLINE TO APPLY FEBRUARY 8
Between May 12–27, 2019, Dr. Lena Surzhko-Harned, Assistant Teaching Professor of Political Science, and Chris Harben, Assistant Teaching Professor of Managaement, will be co-teaching a course titled "The E.U.: The Tale of Two Countries."
The interdisciplinary course provides Penn State students in the fields of Business, Economics, Pre-Law, Public Policy, Engineering, and others with hands-on experience of the real-world policy, economic, and social impact of the European Union. Participating students will examine the impact of the European Union via two case studies: Great Britain and Ukraine.
There will be three main study sites. The course will begin on Penn State Behrend’s campus, where the students will learn the fundamentals of the E.U.’s evolution, foundational treaties, and institutional arrangements. For the first part of the international experience, students will travel to London, U.K. During their week-long stay, the students will meet with representatives of major transnational companies, academics, and members of the press (such as the BBC). The second half of the study abroad program will take students to Kyiv, Ukraine. Here they will be hosted by the Kyiv School of Economics, and will examine the effects of the E.U. on Ukraine with professors of the KSE, members of Ukrainian government, representatives of national and transnational economic and business sectors, and representatives of media and social sectors. As part of the trip to Ukraine the group may also visit the site of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
Great Britain’s decision to leave the European Union (Brexit) is an unprecedented event in the history of the European Union. This messy divorce has many important implications politically, as well as in terms of business and economic relations in Europe and globally. On the other hand, Ukraine is a country aspiring for closer relations with the European Union. The new Association Agreement between Ukraine and the E.U. has come at a high price for Ukraine, and the E.U. continues to put pressure on the Ukrainian government for faster and more radical reform.
The two cases provide contrasting, yet complementary, views of the power of the European Union to influence domestic politics, economics, and society of European countries. The goal of the course is to provide students with a nuanced understanding of the E.U.’s institutions and their importance.
The estimated cost of the trip is $2,000 plus airfare. The cost of the trip is subject to change and booking/purchase of airfare is the responsibility of the student.
To apply for the course, you must submit a $250 deposit by February 8, 2019, and contact Dr. Surzhko-Harned.
For more information about the course, please stop by the H&SS School Office at 170 Kochel, or contact Dr. Surzhko-Harned at [email protected].
3. HELPING CURRENT BEHREND POLITICAL SCIENCE STUDENTS
Barbara Welton, a Penn State Behrend political science alumna and Erie attorney, and her husband Jason Williams, a Penn State Behrend engineering professor and also a Behrend alumnus, have just made a generous donation to the political science program to assist with student expenses during the Toronto study abroad program next offered in 2020. Attorney Welton encourages other alumni and alumnae, or parents, relatives, and friends of current students, or friends of Penn State to donate if they can to benefit current and future Penn State Behrend political science students. Such donations, large and small, can be used for:
- Toronto Study Abroad Program - to help with student residential costs in Toronto and for cultural excursions in the city
- European Union Study Abroad Program - to help with student travel costs
- Washington, D.C., Spring Break Course - to help with student travel costs or fees charged by some locations
- Model United Nations - to help with travel costs to conferences and competitions
- Public Policy Fund - to assist with the new political science efforts to promote faculty and student policy research, place students in policy internships, and organize interdisciplinary policy forums on the Behrend campus of importance to the Erie community
- Treaty Database Project - to assist students working on treaty research with Dr. John Gamble
- Zachary T. Irwin Humanitarian Award - to fund an annual award for a political science major who gives back to the campus and the community
- Behrend Political Society - to fund a student group's efforts to bring off-campus speakers to Behrend
Donations can be made directly to Behrend political science online at: raise.psu.edu. Choose "Political Science at Penn State Behrend" from one of the menus. You can give a general donation or specify how you would like the donation to be used in the comments section of the form.
4. PENN STATE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT GRANTS
The Student Engagement Network is offering grants to students who want to expand their experience beyond the classroom. Individual awards of up to $3,000 are available to cover unpaid internships, research opportunities, travel costs, event fees, supplies and materials, books, software needed for projects and presentations, and more.
This new grant program is ideal for political science students to apply for funding assistance for travel to Washington, D.C., as part of PL SC 177, or for study abroad programs such as the European Union course, or for supervised student research, or for travel to research presentations, or for living expenses that may be connected to an internship.
The deadline to apply for spring semester funding is January 31.
To apply, visit www.engage.psu.edu.
5. STUDENT GROUP NEWS
Model United Nations students will be hosting an intercollegiate Model NATO on the Behrend campus on February 2 with teams from Lakeland Community College, Baldwin Wallace University, and Kent State University. Behrend's Model UN team is traveling to Washington, D.C., later in February for the International Model NATO Conference, sponsored by NATO and hosted at Howard University. To get involved, contact Faculty Adviser Dr. Lena Surzhko-Harned at [email protected].
College Republicans continues to hold "Change My Mind" events on the upper floor of the Reed Building on Friday afternoons. The group plans to attend CPAC at National Harbor outside Washington, D.C., on February 27–March 2 and has potential funding available to help other students who want to attend. The group also is planning a Spring Formal on campus on April 20 with prominent guest speakers. The group meets regularly on Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. in Reed 112. To get involved with College Republicans, contact President Bailey Rollage at [email protected].
College Democrats meets Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. in Kochel 059. This semester, they are planning to invite Democratic presidential candidates to visit the Behrend campus. To get involved, contact President Tiffany Zinn at [email protected].
The Behrend Political Society meets Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. in Kochel 060. They are planning upcoming events, including a visit to the Erie County Courthouse. To get involved, contact President Rachel Mills at [email protected].
6. PUBLIC POLICY FUND EVENT ON THE "PERILS OF PLASTIC"
A presentation by Dr. Sherri Mason on the "Perils of Plastic" will be given on Thursday, February 7, at 5:00 p.m., in the Metzgar Center. Dr. Mason is the new College Sustainability Coordinator at Behrend. Dr. Mason received the prestigious Heinz Award in the Public Policy category for her groundbreaking research identifying the presence of microbeads and microfibers in fresh water, and for raising awareness of their potential health impact, resulting in state, federal, and international policy change. She is also a member of the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP) Working Group 40, a body that advises the United Nations on the scientific aspects of marine environmental protection.
7. MINORS AND CERTIFICATES
The Political Science Program at Behrend offers courses for several different minors and certificate programs, including:
- Politics and Government Minor
- Crime, Law, and Psychology Minor
- Sociology Minor
- Transnational Perspectives Minor
- Crime, Psychology, and Public Policy Certificate
- Global Awareness Certificate
- Legal Studies Certificate
Penn State does not allow students to complete minors in the same subject area as their major. So for example, a student cannot graduate with a political science major and a politics and government minor, because they are just two different names for the same thing.
It is recommended that students not accumulate minors and certificates simply because they think that will impress a potential employer or graduate school. Too many minors and certificates on a transcript will do the opposite—it just looks odd.
A minor or certificate should be completed because of an interest in the subject area of the program, or to show a potential employer or graduate school the completion of a concentration of courses in the program area. A collection of minors and certificates that all sound the same or sound similar to a student's major doesn't impress anyone.
A major with no minors or certificates is fine. A major, a minor, and a certificate are fine. Two majors and a minor are fine. A major, three minors, and two certificates will look like too much on a transcript or resume. Choose minors and certificates due to an interest in the academic area or to demonstrate an academic background to an employer or graduate school, not merely to accumulate as many academic credentials as possible. To discuss more about minors or certificates, contact your academic adviser.
8. FACULTY IN THE NEWS
Dr. Kilic Kanat, Associate Professor of Political Science, was interviewed this month for an article in Foreign Policy magazine about President Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria.
Dr. Robert Speel, Associate Professor of Political Science, was interviewed this month for an article in the Sunbury Daily Times about President Trump's border wall speech. He also published an online op-ed titled "Seven Ways to Pay for Border Wall and End U.S. Government Shutdown" for The Globe Post.
9. GRE MOCK TEST
The ACPC has partnered with Princeton Review again this year to bring a full-length practice GRE test to campus. Students will receive tentative scores directly following the exam and will receive feedback on their essays within a week of the exam. As an additional incentive, all students who attend this event will be entered for a chance to win a free GRE test prep book.
The Free Practice GRE Exam will be held on Tuesday, February 19, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. in Burke 175. Students MUST register IN ADVANCE on the ACPC website.
10. PA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES INTERNSHIPS
Applications are available for the Pennsylvania House Fellowships program with the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives in Harrisburg this summer and fall. Details can be found at their PA House Fellowship website.
11. FACEBOOK PAGE
All students and alumni are invited to like the Penn State Behrend political science Facebook page to get updated news and find out about upcoming events.