ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

Plato once suggested that the wise who refuse to participate in the affairs of government are punished by having to live under the rule of fools. The Department of Political Science hopes to develop wisdom in its own majors and all students so that they may be effective participants in the political world, whether as practitioners of politics or as citizens in their community.

To this end, the department acquaints students with the nature of political behavior and the substance of politics through the systematic analysis of political phenomena. The department offers special programs such as Model United Nations, the International Negotiations Project, internships, field research experience, and participation in Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society. The department also provides background and career guidance for such areas as graduate school, law, public and international administration, planning and policy-making, politics, teaching, journalism, pure and applied research, and related fields.