History & Political Science

Contact Information

phone: (716) 839-8280
daemen.edu/historyandpoliticalscience

Chair

Penny Messinger
(716) 839-8280

Degrees Offered

Minors

Requirements for Admission to Upper Division:

History; History & Political Science; History & Political Science – Environmental Studies Specialization; Political Science:

  1. An overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or better.
  2. An overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.25 or better in History & Political Science courses.
  3. Submission of at least 5 pages of writing sample(s) from History & Political Science courses, with instructor’s comments included.
  4. Submission of an essay (no more than two typed double-spaced pages) describing what the student intends to do with his or her bachelor’s degree (intended career choice, areas of graduate study, etc.).
  5. Students are expected to have completed at least the introductory level of language studies or its equivalent. A complete description of the requirement is available in the Foreign Language Requirement section of the Daemen catalog.
  6. Successful completion of:
    • BA, HISTORY: HST105, HST106, HST220, HST221
    • BA, HISTORY & POLITICAL SCIENCE); HISTORY & POLITICAL SCIENCE WITH ENS SPECIALIZATION); ADOLESCENCE EDUCATION: SOCIAL STUDIES: HST105, HST106, HST220, HST221, and one of the required PSC courses
    • BA, POLITICAL SCIENCE: PSC101, PSC113, PSC121 and PSC125

Additional Requirements for Admission To Upper Division for:

History & Political Science – Adolescence Education: Social Studies

Students in this major must submit separate applications for Upper Division status within both the History & Political Science Department and the Education Department. The requirements for the History & Political Science Department are the same as those listed (above) for all other majors housed in the department. The requirements for Upper Division status in the Education Department are listed below, followed by requirements for Student Teaching and for graduation:

  1. An overall grade point average of 2.75 or better for all completed university courses.
  2. A grade point average of 2.75 or better in all education courses (ECSE, EDU & SED prefix).
  3. A Dispositional Interview.
  4. Compile and submit, for Education Department faculty review, a comprehensive emerging e-portfolio, the contents of which include the following exhibits: artifacts, facsimiles, projects, and grades. Projects must be the scanned originals submitted to the professors and, therefore, include the professors’ comments/corrections/annotations.
  • A researched, scholarship-based paper submitted for EDU 203.
  • An outline of an instructional unit, including a fully designed 3-lesson learning segment, prepared for EDU 237.
  • A researched, scholarship-based paper submitted for SED 270.
  • A written emerging professional resume.
  • A written emerging philosophy of education
  • A written emerging comprehensive reflective narrative detailing perception of current status, skills gained during coursework, targets or goals for continuing professional development, and expectations for the future (i.e., intended career choice).
  • A completed Disposition Self-Assessment (DSA) containing narrative reflection showing examples to support the ranking of each of the criteria.

The absence of any of these items or an overall GPA lower than 2.75 will constitute an incomplete submission, and the portfolio will not be accepted for review. If you are missing assignments, please see your advisor before the submission date to seek advice about your options.

  1. Traditionally admitted students (non-transfer students) who are seeking admission to upper division status must apply by March 19th of the second year of study.
  1. Transfer students must apply by March 19 during the semester in which they are completing EDU 267 or ECSE 280. Transfer students who enter Daemen University with an associate degree must submit a portfolio that includes an emerging professional resume, a written emerging philosophy of education, a comprehensive reflective narrative, and, if available, artifacts from comparable courses taken at other institutions, indicating where they were taken and the grade earned.
  1. In the event of a resubmission due to extenuating circumstances approved by the department chair, the GPA will be considered as closed as of the spring semester. The review process will be complete by August 31st before the start of the new fall semester.
Requirements For Student Teaching
  1. An overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.75
  2. An overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 in all courses in the major
  3. Apply for student teaching, usually at the end of the third year
  4. Be recommended for student teaching by the chairs of the Education and History & Political Science departments

Graduation Requirements for all students in the History & Political Science Department:

  1. An overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.00
  2. A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.25 in courses in the major
  3. Successful completion of the capstone research project (HP445)
  4. Completion of any portfolio requirements
  5. ADOLESCENCE EDUCATION: SOCIAL STUDIES PROGRAM: Minimum GPA of 2.75.

Vision Statement

Educating students to shape the future through historical and political literacy and civic engagement

Mission Statement

  • Educating students in disciplinary knowledge at the heart of the Liberal Arts
  • Training students in empirical (social science) and interpretive (humanities-based) theory and methods
  • Providing students the knowledge, skills, and efficacy necessary for active and responsible participation in a civic society
  • Bridging local, national, and international knowledge in both theory and practice through classroom and experiential learning
  • Empowering students to understand and navigate a diverse, interdependent, and dynamic world

Student Learning Objectives

Students receiving a degree from our department will demonstrate:

  1. proficiency in the foundational/disciplinary knowledge of History and Political Science
  2. proficiency in disciplinary research methods
  3. effective communication of knowledge and ideas both orally and in writing
  4. integrated knowledge of disciplinary content in local, national, international, and historical context
  5. the integration of theoretical and practical applications of knowledge
  6. the ability to independently identify and address relevant real-world questions through the application of disciplinary knowledge, theories, and methodologies

Additional Department Information

Pre-Law Studies

Daemen University’s Pre-Law Program is housed in the History and Political Science Department. Guidance is available for students who are preparing to apply to law school and pursue a career in law, along with advice and resources to prepare for LSAT exams. Many students who are interested in Pre-Law choose to major in History and/or Political Science. However, many other fields in the liberal arts, sciences, and business can provide sound preparation for the legal profession. A rigorous Pre-Law minor is available to provide students with a broad pre-law preparation. This minor is open to students pursuing any major.

VISIT THE PRE LAW STUDIES WEBSITE

VISIT OUR PRE LAW STUDENT ASSOCIATION WEBSITE