The political science major is at the core of the liberal arts curriculum, seeking to cultivate skills of political analysis and practice. Students should be able to demonstrate these skills across the discipline in their writing and research. The major cultivates these skills by helping students understand the cultural, theoretical and institutional dimensions of politics through a social scientific
method of analysis. Students learn to think critically and creatively, to communicate effectively, to understand decision-making processes and institutions within and among nations and states, to analyze the politics of everyday life, and to acquire skills of political analysis of social data and political texts

You’ll find courses that analyze the theory and practice of democracy; women, gender, and politics; terrorism; revolutions in Latin America; leadership in Japan; political communication and psychology; the impact of race and ethnicity in politics and society; and the interaction of peoples and states in the international arena.

A major or minor in Political Science prepares students to go on to graduate or professional programs, into politics, government, non-governmental organizations, journalism, public relations, banking, or teaching, while also giving students the tools and skill-sets they need as citizens to understand and question how power and politics shape the world around us. 

Major in Political Science: 9 courses

• PSC32-114 American Politics
• PSC32-144 Comparative Politics
• PSC32-364 Introduction to Political Theory
• PSC32-384 International Politics
• PSC32-964 Senior Seminar (Capstone)
• Two additional Political Science courses from any subfield in the major.
• Two Political Science courses at the 500-600 level , at least one but preferably two taken prior to the Senior Seminar.

Minor in Political Science: 5 courses

• PSC32-114 American Politics
• PSC32-144 Comparative Politics
• PSC32-364 Introduction to Political Theory
• PSC32-384 International Politics
• One additional approved course in Political Science

See the Education Department for information regarding teacher certification in Political Science