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Political Science

   Member of the Division of Social Studies

Chair(s):

Gemma Sala

Faculty:

Nick Barnes
Leif Brottem
Barry Driscoll
Doug Hess
Peter Hanson
Danielle Lussier
Wayne Moyer
Barbara Trish
Eliza Willis - Senior Faculty Status

The aim of political science is to decipher simplified, systematic and generalizable patterns in political processes.  Our courses address questions regarding:  Who has power, how is it acquired, and how is it used? What produces stability and what produces political change? What is political leadership, what forces shape the relations between leaders and citizens? What are the interests, opportunities and constraints that shape political outcomes?  Political science courses expose students to the leading conversations and findings that answer these questions and provides them with sophisticated reasoning and data analysis skills to assess the strength of those answers and to choose among them.

Since a core of central concepts and theories is common to virtually all the department’s courses, students of political science are required to take  the introductory course, POL 101 , where they will explore not only the themes but also disciplinary approaches to political questions. This course provides the necessary background for further work in various subfields of the discipline: American politics, comparative politics, and international relations.  From there, students will develop their own research projects in two different seminars.

Political science majors must take statistics and other courses from across the curriculum to enhance their understanding of the political world from multidisciplinary perspectives. Appropriate internships, research projects and experiences off campus enrich the major.

Recent graduates in political science have undertaken careers in a number of different fields, including law, journalism, education, academics or  business, but also medicine, engineering or theater.  Work in politics and public policy - in government, policy and electoral campaigns, and NGOs - in both domestic and international realms is especially attractive to majors in political science.