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| Student Profiles
The Political Science Department seeks to provide its students with
valuable experiences that enhance the students' educations at Susquehanna
University. These student profiles represent what some of Political
Science majors have experienced at Susquehanna.
Karen Davis '07
Hometown: Sewell, NJ
Activities on Campus: President, Sigma Alpha Iota;
Vice President, Politics Club; Co-President, Pi Sigma Alpha (Political
Science Honor Society); Pi Gamma Mu (Social Science Honor Society);
Political Science office student worker; Admissions student assistant
Why did you choose Political Science?
I’ve always had an interest in politics and international
issues, so majoring in Political Science was a natural choice. Also,
Political Science prepares students for a variety of careers and
opportunities for further education. I knew I couldn’t go
wrong.
What are your favorite Political Science courses and why?
My favorite classes in the department have been World Affairs,
European Union, and Soviet/Russian Politics. World Affairs was a
great introduction to the field of international relations, and
provided a great foundation in IR theory to use for future classes
I had. In EU, we intensely studied the structure and procedures
of the organization. The semester culminated with our attendance
at a 4-day EU simulation in Washington, D.C., with various other
schools to put into practice what we had learned throughout the
semester. Soviet/Russian was simply a great class that was a fun
look at the internal and foreign affairs of the Soviet Union and
the changes that have taken place since its collapse.
What do you like most about the Political Science Department?
The accessibility of the professors is by far the best feature of
the department. They are frequently in their offices beyond their
required office hours, and are always happy to meet with students.
They are normally happy to read drafts of papers before they are
due, and help clarify any unclear material presented in class. Also,
they clearly get along with each other very well, which helps foster
a wonderful, welcoming environment in the office. (They also keep
the office candy basket filled…just another reason to stop
by the office regularly!!)
How do you think the Political Science major has prepared
you for life after graduation?
I can honestly say that after having first-hand experience that
the SU Political Science Department fully prepares students for
life after graduation. I spent the fall 2005 semester in Washington,
DC through American University’s Washington Semester Program.
While there, I felt I had a much better foundation in political
science than many of my other classmates (who were from around the
country and even around the world!). I was also well prepared for
writing a major, independent research paper in addition to my classes
and internship. My internship was at an independent research institute,
and I felt very comfortable doing the research and writing that
was included in my responsibilities. While I gained a lot of practical
experience and learned a lot about foreign affairs from Ambassadors
and official spokesmen and women from various embassies, I had a
great foundation to build upon thanks to the professors at Susquehanna.
Patrick Henry '08
Hometown: Bellwood, PA
Activities on Campus: Residence Life and Public
Safety Liaison, Student Government Association; English Club;
Symphonic Band; Sigma Tau Delta (English Honor Society); Political
Science office student worker
Why did you choose Political Science?
Political Science just seemed like an obvious choice to me because
of my interest in American politics. I knew that the Political
Science major would give me an opportunity to learn about and
to study something that I find fascinating.
What are your favorite Political Science courses?
My favorite Political Science courses have been Political Psychology
and Constitutional Law. In Political Psychology, we discussed
different decision-making models and how citizens make their choices
on Election Day; the class also shed light on how political actors
think and arrive at their decisions. Con Law, on the other hand,
followed Supreme Court decisions and the how those decisions affected
interactions between the different branches of the government.
I enjoyed learning about how the Supreme Court justices constructed
their arguments and opinions and seeing how that arrived at different
doctrines and outcomes.
What do you like most about the Political Science Department?
Not only are the professors incredibly helpful inside and outside
of class, but they are energetic as well; as a student, I can
see that the professors enjoy what they're teaching, and this
makes classes much more exciting and engaging for the students.
The professors will also stop and talk to students, as well. All
of this adds a friendly and welcoming dynamic to the department,
one where the professors and the students frequently interact.
How do you think the Political Science major has prepared
you for life after graduation?
Political Science classes and my experiences through the major
have taught me a great deal, including skills that will be useful
regardless of what I choose to do after graduation. These skills
include the ability to critically analyzed texts and arguments
and the craft of effectively communicating an idea or argument
of my own. There are lots of opportunities for students in the
department that can help students in developing these skills,
and over the summer of 2006, I had such an opportunity. By working
on a research project about property takings in Centralia, Pennsylvania,
with Dr. Michele DeMary, I learned a great deal about the research
process, discovering information and data, and interpreting my
findings. Preparing a research design during that research honed
the skills that I have already mentioned: critical analysis and
effective communication. The Political Science major prepared
me for this by giving me all the tools I needed to begin the research
project.
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