The Political Science Department is oriented toward both teaching and research and has multiple missions.

• It offers a balanced curriculum for undergraduates to study the art and science of politics.

• It offers training for students preparing to become professionals in political science and other fields.

• It exists as a research faculty seeking new knowledge about government and politics.

Many members of the faculty have national reputations in their fields of scholarship. These research and teaching interests vary widely. Interests of Department faculty include (among others):

• Political parties, campaigns, elections and citizen political behavior in North and South America

• Legislative institutions and politics

• Race relations and public policy

• American and comparative judicial instititions and politics

• European governments and international organizations

• Democratization and political and economic inequality

• Causes of war, the bases of peace, and the foundations of human rights

• Ethical and epistemological foundations of politics and political science

• Classical, empirical and feminist political theory (Booth, Graham, Ackerly)

Political science majors may participate in independent study, selected topics seminars, freshman seminars, the honors program, and internships. Average class size is close to thirty—small classes make personal contact with the faculty relatively easy. Students participate in the governance of the department through the Undergraduate Political Science Association.