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Political Science

   Member of the Division of Social Studies

Chair(s):

Danielle Lussier

Faculty:

Leif Brottem
Barry Driscoll
Peter Hanson
Claire Leavitt
Wayne Moyer 
Gemma Sala
Barbara Trish
Sheahan Virgin


The aim of political science is to be able to simplify and systematize political processes in order to identify general patterns from the complexity of political life. Our courses address questions regarding: Who has power and how did they get it? What issues become politically mobilized? How are political decisions made? How do cultural beliefs, social structures and political institutions affect those decisions? What produces political stability and what facilitates change? What is political leadership and what forces shape the relationship between leaders and citizens? What interests, opportunities and constraints shape political outcomes? Political science courses expose students to the leading conversations and findings that answer these questions. It provides them with sophisticated reasoning and data analysis skills to assess the strength of the evidence that support those arguments 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. Writing, oral and data analysis skills are scaffolded at each level of the curriculum.

Political science majors must take statistics and two 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.