Political Science
The Department of Political Science is made up of some 20 full-time faculty members who teach and write in a diverse array of courses and areas. With a consistent focus on excellence in both teaching and research, the faculty has received more teaching awards than any other department on campus and has seen their research published by some of the leading academic journals and book publishers in the field.
The Honors Tutorial Program in Political Science is a particularly important part of our mission, and we have been proud to see our graduates go on to the top graduate programs in the world. Whether the future career is law, teaching, governing, political consulting, or some other related field, we feel that the program in political science along with the broader liberal arts orientation of the college offers our HTC students a particularly good start.
The program is designed around the belief that our HTC students, as talented and mature people, should enjoy freedom to explore the issues and possibilities of the field. Therefore, with the exception of asking students to accomplish the equivalent of two years of study in a foreign language, take nine five-credit tutorials in the field, and write the Honors Thesis, we encourage them to work with the program director to develop a personalized program of study.
Program Goals
Tutorial Requirements
The core of the program is formed of eight tutorials (five credit hours each). One tutorial is taken each semester over a three-year period. The undergraduate program in Political Science is divided into seven main areas or "tracks"; we ask HTC students to take tutorials in at least four of these areas: World Politics; Law, Justice, & Political Thought; American Politics; and Public Administration.
Two senior-level tutorials are specifically designated "research tutorials" in which a student enrolls for the purpose of researching and writing the required senior thesis. This thesis is written under the supervision of a member of the Political Science Department faculty. All tutorials, including the "research tutorials," are individual courses in which the student meets with the tutor on a one-to-one basis. The conference is normally a weekly meeting of at least one hour.
The strength of the tutorial program in Political Science is the one-to-one or paired tutorial format. This approach facilitates the acquisition of verbal as well as written skills due to the intensive attention devoted to each tutorial student by the tutor. The student is expected to demonstrate knowledge of weekly assignments through papers, oral reports, or such other projects as may be designated by the tutor. This provides invaluable experience in research, writing and oral presentation.
Collateral Courses
The balance of the student's course work is taken in regularly scheduled courses selected in consultation with the tutorial director. We urge our tutorial students to complete a minimum of two years of a foreign language. The Department of Political Science feels that language skills are an important component of a student's undergraduate education in political science. The tutorial program thus offers the student the opportunity to design a curriculum specifically tailored to the needs and interests of the individual. The only constraint is that the student's curriculum must have the approval of the tutorial director.
Internships
The Department of Political Science coordinates the public affairs internship program for undergraduate and graduate students. The program includes local, state and federal agencies and private organizations. Internship opportunities are available in such offices as the Vice President of the United States, Amnesty International, the mayor of Athens, the city law director, the Ohio State Senate, the Ohio House of Representatives, and other groups and agencies. The goal of the program is to provide students with supervised practical experience relevant to their academic and career objectives.
Masters Program
With permission, some HTC Political Science students simultaneously pursue a Masters degree in Political Science through the College of Arts and Sciences. Students who have a demonstrated record of academic strength particularly in the area of writing, have the option to undertake the combined degree program. Permission of the Director of Studies is required at the conclusion of the sophomore year. It is possible for some students to obtain the dual degree in as few as four years.
Eligibility
Applicants are selected by the Department of Political Science Tutorial Committee and the Honors Tutorial College on the basis of superior academic ability and the potential for self-motivated undergraduate study and research. A high school class rank in the upper 10%, high scores on standardized tests (a minimum combined score of 1300 on the SAT or an ACT composite of 30), an essay and a personal interview are all required for entry as a freshman. A student currently enrolled at Ohio University may apply before the beginning of the third semester of study. An Ohio University G.P.A. of 3.5 is required for consideration.
Evaluation and Grading
Students taking tutorials are evaluated and graded by their tutors on the basis of the written and spoken performances of the students in the tutorial. Although grading remains the academic judgment of a particular tutor and may vary from a tutor to tutor, the following general statements can be reasonably inferred from the past practice of grading: The foremost criterion in determining grades is good writing in a series of papers that are typically expected in the tutorial. The second is the effective performance with spoken words in the tutorial discourse. Not all students are expected to begin their tutorial as an accomplished writer and conversationalist. The grade of these students should, therefore, depend on the efforts and improvement toward effective writing and speech in form as well as substance. In order to alleviate the anxiety of the students, our tutors are expected to periodically advise their students on their performance level.
Application
The deadline for applications for admission is December 1.
Further Information
For further information, please contact:
Dr. Jim Mosher
Director of Tutorial Studies in Political Science
Ohio University
Bentley Annex 237
Athens, OH 45701-2979
(740) 593-4383
mosherj@ohio.edu
Additional information can be found online at: http://www.ohiou.edu/pols/.