Political Science

Program Mission

By completing a degree in political science at Bethany College, students will obtain three major objectives. First, students will gain an understanding of the full array of political processes and institutions, including the following: the political institutions and processes of the government in the United States; a broad range of foreign political systems, including their different ideological, institutional, and historical foundations; and the global political order and contemporary world politics, including international conflict and cooperation. Second, students will acquire the ability to critically analyze and assess others’ arguments regarding these political processes and institutions, especially through the study of difficult textual materials. Third, students will develop the capacity to form, communicate, and support their own arguments regarding these political processes and institutions. This objective emphasizes both effective written and oral communication skills and the ability to organize and analyze data in order to test hypotheses.  

Program Goals  

1. The program will provide students with information regarding the full array of political processes and institutions. 

2. The program will prepare students to critically analyze and assess others’ arguments regarding these political processes and institutions. 

3. The program will train students to form, communicate, and support their own arguments regarding these political processes and institutions. 

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the full array of political processes and institutions. 

2. Students will show the ability to critically analyze and assess others’ arguments regarding these political processes and institutions. 

3. Students will exhibit the capacity to form, communicate, and support their own arguments regarding these political processes and institutions.