Minor in Political Science/International Affairs Mission, Objectives and Learning Outcomes

Mission

The Minor in Political Science/International Affairs supports LAU’s core mission, vision and values by a commitment to education with a strong liberal arts foundation and a continuous improvement in the overall quality of teaching, research, writing and educational service. The intent of the program is thus to advance an academic understanding of contemporary political science/international affairs and address its complexities.

Educational Objectives

The purpose of the Minor in Political Science/International Affairs is to:

• Prepare the students for the job market by adding to their majors through a minor in political science/international affairs.
• Enhance the political and global knowledge of students who are not majoring in political science/international affairs.
• Develop students’ research and writing skills through active learning and the promotion of critical thinking.
• Provide a strong political science/international affairs background for students majoring in many disciplines, such as education, psychology, social work, English literature, communication arts, etc.
• Challenge students and faculty to improve the learning process.
• Prepare students who are not majoring in political science/international affairs to join the M.A. in International Affairs Program at LAU after completing the B.A.
• Expand outreach and engagement by encouraging faculty and students to contribute to the community at large.

Learning Outcomes

Student enrolled in the Minor in Political Science/International Affairs will:

• Understand the nature of government processes, the function of political systems, the structures and roles of institutions and constitutions, theories of international relations, the role and functions of international organizations, the nature of international law, foreign policy, and international relations.
• Possess the necessary theoretical and research skills essential for high-level intellectual pursuit.
• Be able to think creatively and independently about major issues in international affairs and transfer these skills to identify problems, conceptualize ideas and communicate solutions in various situations that emerge in the workplace.
• Acquire the ability to find work in fields relevant to political science/international affairs.
• Obtain a sufficient grasp of the complexities of modern societies.