Program Overview
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. For students who minor in political science, our program is designed to provide foundational knowledge for the study of politics as well as specific insight into key issues and themes of interest. Students take at least two introductory classes on the primary subfields in political science—American government, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory. They also take at least three intermediate or upper-level courses that allow them to study specific topics in more detail. In this respect, our minors obtain a breadth of knowledge that will help them interpret and make sense of political affairs in general and an impressive depth of knowledge on particular topics and themes.