Students in the Department of Politics and Law earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. We prepare students to address fundamental questions regarding the constitutional, legal, institutional, demographic, and political structures in the United States. Our curriculum emphasizes skills in research design, research methods, public policy analysis, and legal analysis. We prioritize the use of primary source materials such as government bills and proposals, public policy white papers, court opinions and briefs, popular news sources, polling and survey data, and academic literature. Our coursework focuses on building communication skills by emphasizing the importance of careful reading, precise research, clear writing, thoughtful discussions, and polished presentations.
We encourage our students to pursue opportunities to learn outside of the classroom by interning in offices and organizations related to public affairs, political advocacy, public policy, and law, at the local, state, and national levels.