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 Hires 13 New Faculty Members for 2013-14 Academic Year
The Office of the Dean at the 17³Ô¹ÏÍø announces the hiring of 13 new faculty members— one endowed professor, 10 tenure-track positions and two postdoctoral teaching fellows—for the 2013-14 academic year. They are: Faisal Baluch (Charles …
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Faculty Promotions Announced at 17³Ô¹ÏÍø
Six faculty members at the 17³Ô¹ÏÍø have been promoted to the rank of professor. Victor Matheson, of the department of economics, earned his Ph. D. and M.A. in economics from the University of Minnesota and his …
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Students to Showcase Their Accomplishments at 20th Annual Summer Research Symposium
A total of 107 17³Ô¹ÏÍø students who conducted research during the summer will present their work in poster form at the 20th annual Undergraduate Summer Research Symposium on Sept. 6 from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Hogan Campus …