Overview

Politics involves the study of power, influence and ideas in public and private life, at the personal, local, state, national, and international levels. The mission of the department of Politics is to provide our students with an understanding of politics, government, and public policy to prepare them to become well informed, curious, and engaged leaders in their communities, in their societies, and in our increasingly complex, interdependent, and pluralistic world. Graduates of the department have found this major provides an excellent basis for careers in law, education, business, public service, international affairs, politics, and media.

The department emphasizes putting theory into practice (praxis), and strongly encourages each of its majors to pursue a variety of off-campus and community-based learning opportunities. The College has programs in Los Angeles, New York, New Orleans, Washington, D.C., and overseas, as well as the Campaign Semester program through which students receive a full semester credit while working full-time on a political campaign. Politics majors regularly hold internships in government agencies, public interest organizations, media firms, businesses, and law firms around the country.

The Politics Department provides financial support for student research during the academic year and over the summer. The Reath/McKelvey and Anderson Fellowships support students working on a wide variety of projects in the United States and abroad. The Politics Department also encourages majors to pursue Undergraduate Research Fellowships for summer research in partnership with a faculty member and Research Abroad fellowships through the International Programs Office.