Political Science Newsletter - September 2020

THIS MONTH'S HEADLINES:

  1. SPRING 2021 COURSES
  2. ENROLLING IN THE POLSC MAJOR
  3. DR. JOHN GAMBLE RETIRES AFTER 44 YEARS AT PENN STATE BEHREND
  4. FACULTY IN THE NEWS
  5. STUDENTS AND ALUMNI IN THE NEWS
  6. STUDENT GROUP NEWS
  7. GOVERNMENT JOBS SESSION
  8. FACEBOOK PAGE

1. SPRING 2021 COURSES

Here is a list of Political Science and Sociology courses that we plan to offer at Penn State Behrend in Spring 2021. It is possible that one or two of these courses might change before the schedule appears online in October.

All Behrend Political Science majors must take PLSC 001, PLSC 003, PLSC 014, and PLSC 007 or 017, as well as 24 other credits (usually 8 other courses) in PLSC. Of those other 24 credits, at least 12 (4 courses) must be at the 400 level. Other POLSC major requirements vary based on enrollment in the old or new versions of the major and on choice of options.

If you need help with scheduling or understanding the requirements of the major, please contact your adviser.

Politics and Government minors must take PL SC 001, PL SC 003, and 12 other credits (4 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. View the requirements for the Crime, Law, and Psychology minor.

Currently planned modes of instruction are also included

Spring 2021 Courses

  • PL SC 001 - American Politics: Principles, Processes, and Powers (GS, US) - Campus*
  • PL SC 003 - Comparing Politics around the Globe (GS, IL) - Zoom
  • PLSC 007N - Contemporary Political Ideologies (GS/GH) - Zoom
  • PL SC 014 - International Relations (GS, IL) - Zoom
  • PL SC 017N - Introduction to Political Theory (GS/GH) - Campus*
  • PL SC 155 - Understanding Tyranny - Campus*
  • PL SC 178 - Organized Crime, Law, and Politics - Campus*
  • PL SC 223N - Ethnic and Racial Politics (GS/GH, US/IL) - Campus*
  • PL SC 428 - Gender and Politics (US/IL) - Campus*
  • PLSC 439 - The Politics of Terrorism - Zoom
  • PLSC 484W - Foreign Policy of Soviet Successor States - Zoom
  • PL SC 489 - Public Administration - Zoom
  • SOC 001 - Introductory Sociology (GS) - Zoom
  • SOC 030 - Sociology of the Family (GS) - Zoom
  • SOC 406 - Sociology of Deviance - Zoom

* Planned modes of instruction may change based on pandemic conditions. Penn State University has not yet announced final academic calendar plans for the Spring semester, which can also affect modes of instruction. Campus classes may be fully in person if enrollments allow adequate social distancing in classrooms. Campus classes that get enrollments too large to fit in a classroom with proper social distancing may be taught in mixed mode format (partly in classroom, partly online).

2. ENROLLING IN THE POLSC MAJOR

Students who are eligible to enroll in a major (usually completion of 30 or more credits, with a GPA of 2.0 or above) are strongly encouraged to do so. Enrollment in the POLSC major provides at least four benefits:

  1. The ability for academic advisers to make needed degree substitutions, including proper placement of transfer credits on degree audits
  2. Eligibility to be invited to certain events, such as dinners with alumni and community leaders
  3. Eligibility for certain awards open only to POLSC majors
  4. Notifications about certain jobs or internships for POLSC majors

The Penn State Behrend POLSC major currently has four options:

  1. Politics and Government (General Option) - This option allows students to choose their own concentrations of coursework within political science and helps to prepare students for a variety of careers, including government employment, social studies secondary education, activist politics, and graduate school in political science. 
  2. Crime and Law - This option requires coursework in criminology and law and helps to prepare students for careers in law or criminal justice, including students planning on law school. 
  3. International Relations - This option requires coursework in international politics and comparative politics and prepares students for careers with international institutions or in business in other countries, and for graduate school work in international affairs. 
  4. Public Policy - This option requires coursework related to how to make government and policy decisions effectively and prepares students for careers with government offices, businesses, interest groups, or think tanks related to public policy, or in public administration, or for graduate degree programs in public policy or public administration. 

Each option requires completion of 36 credits of PL SC courses and 6 credits of general education courses from other relevant fields. To learn the requirements of the options, see the Bulletin listing.

Lists of approved courses within each option can be obtained from your academic adviser or from the H&SS School Office, 170 Kochel.

Students are allowed to complete more than one option within the POLSC major if the requirements of each option are met.

3. DR. JOHN GAMBLE RETIRES AFTER 44 YEARS AT PENN STATE BEHREND

Read the full story about political science professor Dr. John Gamble.

4. FACULTY IN THE NEWS

Dr. Kilic Kanat, associate professor of Political Science, co-edited a new book titled Trump's Jerusalem Move: Making Sense of U.S. Policy on the Israeli Palestinian Conflict, published in June 2020. Dr. Kanat also co-authored a chapter in the book about Turkish policy toward Israel. Download the book for free online.

Dr. Robert Speel, associate professor of Political Science, wrote an op-ed for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review in July 2020 titled "County of Residence Often All That Counts in Pennsylvania Primaries." He has also been interviewed over a dozen times for comments in media sources about this year's elections, including this month for the Harrisburg Patriot-News and the Sunbury Daily Item, for France 24 (the French equivalent of BBC World or Voice of America), and for Publimetro, a Spanish-language newspaper printed and distributed in Mexico City and other large cities in Latin America. In October, Dr. Speel will be giving Zoom presentations about the electoral college to Penn State Behrend alumni and about election issues to the Los Angeles chapter of the Cornell University alumni club.

5. STUDENTS AND ALUMNI IN THE NEWS

Due to the inability to hold regular graduation celebrations for the Spring semester earlier this year, the Political Science program organized a special Zoom celebration for graduating Political Science majors and minors, along with other Political Science students, and Political Science and Sociology faculty members. Several special guests joined the Zoom celebration to talk with the graduating students, give them advice, and wish them well, including U.S. Senator Bob Casey, U.S. Representative Guy Reschenthaler, Foreign Affairs Officer Mauricio Cortes of the U.S. State Department, International Relations Officer Lauren Piera Jowell of the U.S. Department of Labor, and Attorney Melissa Hayes Shirey, former President of the Erie County Bar Association. Reschenthaler, Cortes, Jowell, and Shirey are all Penn State Behrend Political Science alumni and alumnae. Read the full article about the event.

Hunter Lee, a Penn State Behrend Political Science Major, was notified last week that he has been accepted into Penn State Dickinson Law School's Class of 2024 with a large scholarship.

Sydni Holt, a Penn State Behrend Political Science Major, last week represented Pennsylvania on a nationwide online student panel about this year's elections, hosted by the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress and New York University's Brademas Center.

6. STUDENT GROUP NEWS

  • The Behrend Political Society plans to hold its first meeting of the year on Zoom on Monday, September 28, at 7:00 p.m. The group is planning on forums and events in October that are related to the November elections. To get involved, contact President Cole Troutner at [email protected].
  • Model United Nations meets Mondays at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom. The virtual Lake Erie Model United Nations College Conference will occur November 6-7. Their meetings are currently geared toward preparation for this conference and anyone is welcome to join and find out more. To get involved, contact President Marissa Litzenberg at [email protected].
  • College Democrats meets Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom. In September, the group hosted U.S. Representative candidate Kristy Gnibus and Pennsylvania State Senate candidate Julie Slomski, and Pennsylvania State Representative Ryan Bizzarro at their Zoom meetings. They also have organized campaign efforts for Democrats around Erie. To get involved, contact President Grant Filbeck at [email protected].
  • College Republicans meets Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. on Zoom. The group last week hosted Pennsylvania State Representative candidate Greg Hayes at their Zoom meeting and plans to host Pennsylvania State Senator Dan Laughlin in the near future. The group is also planning to host a "Change My Mind" table outside the Reed Building on Monday, September 28, 3:00-6:00 p.m. on the topic "Paying full tuition for hybrid classes is wrong." Members have also been involved with assisting candidate campaigns in Erie. To get involved, contact President Sydni Holt at [email protected].
  • College Republicans and College Democrats will be presenting an online debate about issues important to this year's elections and qualities to look for in candidates, on Wednesday, October 7:00 p.m., on Zoom. To join the debate, contact Sydni or Grant for the Zoom link.

7. GOVERNMENT JOBS SESSION

Penn State's Career Services is hosting a Zoom session on Thursday, October 1, 3:00-4:00 p.m. about careers in government and public service. Several panelists from the Pittsburgh area will discuss connections to government job opportunities.

8. FACEBOOK PAGE

All students and alumni are invited to like the Penn State Behrend Political Science Facebook page and get updated news and find out about events.