Our courses, which span five subfields, reach into all corners of the globe while examining politics and government from a range of vantage points. And we are committed to providing our students with innovative real-world opportunities to deepen and apply their coursework and research.

All Political Science majors produce a thesis?a work of original research?over the course of their senior year. During the fall semester, students are assigned an advisor. In conjunction with their advisor as well as our 400-level research seminar, they identify a compelling research question and devise a research plan. At the end of the semester, they present their research proposals to faculty and fellow majors. In the spring, students write their theses, continuing to work with their advisors one-on-one as well as in small peer groups. At the close of the spring semester, majors defend their theses in front of two Political Science faculty members.