Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

The political science major gives students a broad understanding of political concepts, institutions, behavior and processes. Students can take courses focusing in American politics, comparative politics, international relations and political theory. You will begin your studies with fundamental courses in contemporary political science and the historical foundations of modern politics. At the upper-division level, you will study a broad range of topics in political theory, American government and institutions, public law, and international relations and comparative political systems. identify and explain key behavioral and institutional characteristics of political systems, including those within countries and the international political order; understand and assess systematic forces that underlie political processes in the United States and abroad; analyze and critically assess political theories and concepts, including theories developed both in the history of political philosophy and in contemporary social scientific approaches; employ scholarly standards to assess the quality of political science research; effectively write about political systems, processes and theories in a rigorous manner.