Political scientists study all factors instrumental or influential in the acquisition and exercise of power for the purposes of public control or governance -- political leaders, governmental institutions, legal systems, public policy, political parties, public interest groups, political ideologies, social movements, media, economic systems, religion and its social institutions, culture, race, ethnicity, gender, demographics and social trends, scientific advances -- on a local, national and international level. They concern themselves with the dynamics of political stability as well as that of political change whether through the ballot box or via revolution in the street. Politics invariably involves competitive power struggles for the right,?de jure?or?de facto, of control over others. The study of politics invariably focuses, therefore, upon conflict, whether that of competitive electoral politics or inter-state rivalry or warfare. Political science research may be descriptive, often using empirical methods (qualitative or quantitative) as well as prescriptive, recommending solutions to prevailing political problems.

Four fields define the academic discipline of political science: American politics, comparative politics, international affairs and political theory. The Yeshiva College Department of Political Science requires its majors to take an introductory course in each of these four fields to acquire an overview of the discipline. To cultivate individual interests through more in-depth study, majors fashion an area of concentration. The Department enthusiastically participates in the Jay and Jeannie Schottenstein Honors Program by regularly running Honors level courses each year. The Department strongly encourages students to pursue summer internships which afford them the opportunity to apply what they have learned in the classroom and which help them to define their career ambitions.