As the role of the state has grown — in the economy, education, environment, health, culture, international interactions, and many other fields — understanding the political process has become essential to explaining modern life. Politics is about power, the ends to which that power is deployed, and the normative questions that arise from its deployment. Studying political science can help you understand power, its uses and misuses and the consequences (both intended and unintended) of its use.

The academic field of political science is divided into four subfields: American politics, political theory, international relations, and comparative politics (the study of the domestic politics of countries other than the United States). At UVM, students can take courses in all four subfields from experienced teachers who are also leading scholars in their areas of research.