Politics & Government

About the Department

Politics is about the struggle over power, authority, freedom, security and peace-the core issues of public life. The Department of Politics and Government trains students to understand these issues at the local, national, and international level, by providing a wide-ranging yet integrated study of politics and governance. To help students gain these understandings, the Department of Politics and Government provides a rigorous training in political issues, policies, and institutions as well as in research, analysis, and writing. The major emphasizes both an understanding of politics and making students effective political and civic actors in their own right.

Given the diversity of topics within political science, the Department of Politics and Government is divided into four subfields. Students concentrate in one of these subfields, allowing them to specialize while still providing flexibility in their own intellectual pursuits. The subfields include:

• American Politics: The study of domestic political institutions and policy
• Comparative Politics: The study of political institutions and policies outside of the United States
• International Relations: The study of relations between countries and other global actors
• Political Theory: The study of political philosophy and political norms and ideals

The department values breadth as well as depth, so while students concentrate in one of the four subfields, they are required to take courses outside of their concentrations.  Politics and Government has a large faculty for a small university, enabling us to offer many courses within and across the subfields.

Students of Politics and Government are expected to master the tools of research and analysis. A required course on research and writing in the discipline encourages students to develop these skills well in advance of graduation and alongside other students in the major. Building upon this, students complete the major with a capstone research seminar in their fields of concentration, where they produce a senior thesis. 

The Department makes strong efforts to highlight internship, scholarship, and job opportunities for students.  The department’s blog is a constant source of information and reminders about as many opportunities as we can find, and a focal point for our efforts to foster connections with alumni.  The Department strongly encourages students to pursue internships and the many opportunities for research and travels support available from the university and outside funding agencies.  After graduation, many majors pursue careers and advanced degrees in political science, public policy, international development, diplomacy, business, and law. The department faculty draws upon their experiences, as well as those of alumni, to guide Politics and Government majors, helping them to define and achieve their goals.