An undergraduate major in Political Science provides a foundation for careers in politics, public administration, international service, law, business, and journalism, as well as a foundation for graduate work and teaching in the social sciences.

The Political Science major trains students to analyze political processes and institutions from a variety of theoretical perspectives. Building on a foundation of basic political concepts and research methods, students learn how to interpret events in American political life, how to think about the American political system in relation to political systems in other countries, how to understand the relations between states, and how to think about the role of gender in politics. Students graduate from this major with well developed analytical and communication skills and with a strong grasp of the intricacies of political life.