The Politics and Law Department offers a Political Science major that prepares students to address fundamental questions of equality, liberty, and justice; the history of political philosophy; the constitutional structure of government in the U.S., and the major institutions of national politics, urban politics, and public policy. 

The Politics and Law Department's Political Science major is especially good for those interested in a career in law. The American Bar Association identifies a set of skills and bodies of knowledge that students considering a career in law should develop through their undergraduate education, and the Political Science major concentrates on all of these to a very high degree. These core skills and values include "analytic and problem-solving skills," "critical reading abilities," "writing skills," "oral communication and listening abilities," and "general research skills," among others.* The Political Science major curriculum will involve you repeatedly in academic work that hones each of these, and covers areas of knowledge the ABA considers important preparation for law school: a comprehension of the contemporary American political and legal systems; political development of the United States; the fundamental principles of political thought; a basic understanding of human behavior and social interaction; and the ability to organize, manage, and analyze data in the process of conducting research. Law-related internships or co-curricular activities may also be appropriate.

*www.Americanbar.org/groups/legal_education/resources/pre_law

Honors work in the Politics and Law Department affords an opportunity for Political Science majors to investigate topics of their own choosing. In the process, they will be expanding and honing their research and writing skills, which is excellent preparation for graduate and professional degree work. Majors pursuing honors will devote a substantial portion of their last two semesters at Rhodes to their projects (honors work earns eight-twelve credits across two semesters). To be eligible, a student must have completed 28 credits of course work in the major and have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher in the college and in Politics and Law courses. Honors guidelines are available from the chairperson of the department.

Professors

Michael Nelson. 1991. Fulmer Professor of Political Science. B.A., College of William and Mary; M.A. and Ph.D., The Johns Hopkins University. (American Presidency; Southern Politics; American politics.)
Marcus D. Pohlmann. Emeritus 1986. B.A., Cornell College; M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D., Columbia University. (American politics; legal studies; education policy, black political thought.)

Associate Professors

Erin A. Dolgoy. 2013. M.A. and Ph.D., Michigan State University. (Political theory, science and technology studies, American politics.)

Assistant Professors

Anna S. Eldridge. 2012. B.A., Rhodes College; J.D., Duke University. (Legal studies, internships, pre-law advising.)

Thomas Goodman. 2021. B.S., Northeastern University; M.A. Boston College; Ph.D. Boston College (American Politics, Congress, campaigns and elections)

Kyu Chul (Casey) Shin. 2021. B.A., Ursinus College; Ph.D., West Virginia University (American politics, race and ethnic studies, public policy, global affairs)

Director of Mock Trial

Anna R. Smith. 2012. B.A., Rhodes College; J.D. Duke University. (Legal studies; internships.)

Staff

Hannah Guess. 2020. Departmental Assistant. B.A. and M.A., University of Memphis.

The Department of Politics and Law offers students an opportunity to undertake an intensive study of the Constitution, law, and judicial branch of government, in the Politics and Law concentration.  All students who decide to concentrate in Politics and Law must do a public affairs internship focused on jurisprudence.

A total of forty-four (44) credits as follows:

1. PLAW 151: U. S. Politics.
2. PLAW 270: Research Methods.
3. PLAW 485: Senior Seminar.
4. One course in political thought and philosophy.
5. International Studies 110 or International Studies 120.
6. PLAW 460: Public Affairs Internship with a law concentration.
7. Five additional courses (20 credits) in Political and Law, two of which must be at the 300 level. Students may count up to two International Studies courses towards their major.

In satisfying the requirements above, the Politics and Law concentration requires students to take any two of the following courses: PLAW 216: Philosophy of Law; PLAW 262: Trial Procedure; PLAW 264: Rights of the Accused; PLAW 280: Judicial Politics; PLAW 283: Topics in Public Law; and PLAW 301: Civil Liberties. Students may petition the chair to count one non-Politics and Law course that focuses on the study of jurisprudence as a substitute for one of the aforementioned courses.

PLAW 263 does not count toward a Political Science major.

A total of forty-four (44) credits as follows:

1. PLAW 151: U. S. Politics.
2. PLAW 270: Research Methods.
3. PLAW 485: Senior Seminar.
4. One course in political thought and philosophy.
5. International Studies 110 or International Studies 120.
6. Six additional courses (24 credits) in Political and Law, two of which must be at the 300 level. Students may count up to two International Studies courses towards their major. PLAW 460, Public Affairs Internship, may count as a major elective at the 200 level.

PLAW 263 does not count toward a Political Science major.

A total of five courses or twenty (20) credits as follows:

1. PLAW 151: U. S. Politics.
2. Two courses at the 200-level. Humanities 201 (Politics Track) may count for a 200 level course.
3. Two courses at the 300-level or above.

PLAW 460, Public Affairs Internship, does not count as a course for the Political Science minor.

PLAW 262 and 263 do not count toward a Political Science minor.

Politics and Law students may participate in two different semester long programs in Washington, D.C., each involving courses, an internship, and a research project. Since special financial arrangements are required for these programs, students need to meet with the Director of the Buckman Center. These programs can be done in the Fall or the Spring semester. Two of the four courses transferred from the Washington Semester may satisfy requirements for a Political Science major, and all four of the courses transferred from the Capitol Semester may satisfy requirements for a Political Science major. Since some coursework transfers as internship credit, students receiving credit from either of these programs cannot count an additional PLAW 460 course toward the Political Science major.