The Field

Majors study political life in the varied contexts in which it occurs—institutions, social movements, power relations, elections, political culture, ideas, and war. The major emphasizes issues central to public life such as democracy, citizenship, participation, inequality, global forces, institutions, and governance. A purpose of the Political Science major is to help educate a reflective and engaged citizenry capable of sharing power and responsibility in a contemporary democracy. The curriculum supports this goal first by developing students’ skills in critical thinking and comprehending complex phenomena. Second, the program emphasizes students’ development of skills in articulating clear, sound, and compelling arguments of their own, based on appropriate evidence, in spoken and written presentation.  Third, the program offers opportunities for acquisition of quantitative, qualitative, and interpretive research skills that are aplicable to a broad range of careers and intellectual interests.