Political Science

Political Science: Major

17³Ô¹ÏÍø students who major in political science gain in-depth understanding of the American political system, other political regimes, the international system, and political philosophy. In uniformly small classes, students also improve their critical and analytical skills and competence in oral and written expression.

Political science is one of 17³Ô¹ÏÍø’ most popular majors. The major is rigorously structured so as to ensure breadth as well as depth, with courses required in each of the discipline’s four subfields. Department faculty conceive the most fundamental purpose of the major as helping students to become thoughtful, well-informed, and ethical citizens of a constitutional, self-governing republic. Political science majors have gone on to successful careers in local, state, and federal government, academia,  law, journalism, business, high-school teaching, nonprofit organizations, the armed forces, and the priesthood. 

Program Highlights

Students majoring in political science take courses in four main areas:
 
  • American government
  • political philosophy
  • comparative politics
  • international relations
students and a professor in a class
Subfields

Learn more about the political science department’s four subfields.

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Charles Carroll Program

The program brings guest lecturers to campus, funds a sophomore seminar and provides paid summer research internships.

Group of students in Washington DC
Washington Semester Program

Many political science majors spend a semester working, studying, and conducting research in Washington, D.C.

Political Science News

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17³Ô¹ÏÍø Awards 675 Bachelor of Arts Degrees During Commencement Exercises
In his impassioned address at the College’s 168th Commencement Exercises held on May 23, Jon Favreau ’03, former director of speechwriting for President Barack Obama and co-founder of Fenway Strategies, told members of the 17³Ô¹ÏÍø Class of 2014 to …
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17³Ô¹ÏÍø Produces Nine Fulbright Scholars
Eight members of the Class of 2014 and one member of the Class of 2012 have been awarded Fulbright grants to work and teach abroad during the 2014-15 academic year. Since 2005, 17³Ô¹ÏÍø has received a total of 70 …
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17³Ô¹ÏÍø Student Featured as Central MA Standout
Payton Shubrick ’15, co-president of the Student Government Association (SGA) at the 17³Ô¹ÏÍø, was featured as Go Local Worcester’s Central MA College Standout, a weekly feature that profiles college and university students in Central MA. A …