political science research areas

Areas of Research

American Politics

The field of American Politics at Stanford includes the study of Congress, the bureaucracy, interest groups, the Presidency, voting, public opinion and participation, race and ethnicity; includes, among other perspectives, rational choice, historical, and behavioral perspectives; and encompasses, among other methods, quantitative analysis of aggregate data, qualitative fieldwork, survey research and randomized experiments. 

See list of American Politics faculty

Comparative Politics

The field of Comparative Politics at Stanford includes area studies, comparative political economy, the study of ethnic conflict, and institutions. Our faculty are experts in Western and Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. 

See list of Comparative Politics faculty

International Relations

International Relations at Stanford comprises the study of all manner of global and regional political problems, including armed conflict in its various manifestations; the politics of international trade, finance, and the environment; nuclear weapons, WMD proliferation, and the threat of terrorism; and the design and functioning of international institutions and international law. Methods of analysis are diverse, tailored to the problem and empirical opportunities. 

See list of International Relations faculty

Political Methodology

The field of Political Methodology includes training in statistics, econometrics and formal theory; reviewing and developing new methods for the scientific study of politics; has particular emphases in Bayesian statistical inference, causal inference, computationally-intensive approaches to statistical inference, the design and analysis of experiments, game theory, the graphical display of quantitative information, sampling for survey-based research, the analysis of spatial data, the statistical analysis of text. 

See list of Political Methodology faculty

Political Theory

Political Theory at Stanford approaches the study of justice, legitimacy, and power by conjoining normative theory (reflection on political values), positive theory (study of how values can be achieved by institutions), and the intellectual history of political thought (from Plato to Rawls). Among the topics with which our faculty and students are concerned are democracy, equality, rule of law, global justice, international relations, realism and idealism, education, deliberation, institutional innovation, and the organization of knowledge. 

See list of Political Theory faculty

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Research Areas

Political Science faculty cover a wide range of topics and seek to answer a broad set of research questions. Faculty are grouped into four main research areas, but frequently collaborate across areas.

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• Social Science LibreTexts - Political Science as a Social Science
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political science , the systematic study of governance by the application of empirical and generally scientific methods of analysis. As traditionally defined and studied, political science examines the state and its organs and institutions. The contemporary discipline , however, is considerably broader than this, encompassing studies of all the societal, cultural, and psychological factors that mutually influence the operation of government and the body politic .

Although political science borrows heavily from the other social sciences , it is distinguished from them by its focus on power —defined as the ability of one political actor to get another actor to do what it wants—at the international, national, and local levels. Political science is generally used in the singular, but in French and Spanish the plural ( sciences politiques and ciencias políticas , respectively) is used, perhaps a reflection of the discipline’s eclectic nature. Although political science overlaps considerably with political philosophy , the two fields are distinct. Political philosophy is concerned primarily with political ideas and values, such as rights, justice , freedom, and political obligation (whether people should or should not obey political authority); it is normative in its approach (i.e., it is concerned with what ought to be rather than with what is) and rationalistic in its method. In contrast, political science studies institutions and behaviour, favours the descriptive over the normative, and develops theories or draws conclusions based on empirical observations, which are expressed in quantitative terms where possible.

Although political science , like all modern sciences, involves empirical investigation, it generally does not produce precise measurements and predictions. This has led some scholars to question whether the discipline can be accurately described as a science. However, if the term science applies to any body of systematically organized knowledge based on facts ascertained by empirical methods and described by as much measurement as the material allows, then political science is a science, like the other social disciplines . In the 1960s the American historian of science Thomas S. Kuhn argued that political science was “pre-paradigmatic,” not yet having developed basic research paradigms , such as the periodic table that defines chemistry . It is likely that political science never will develop a single, universal paradigm or theory, and attempts to do so have seldom lasted more than a generation, making political science a discipline of many trends but few classics.

Modern university departments of political science (alternatively called government or politics at some institutions) are often divided into several fields, each of which contains various subfields.

• Domestic politics is generally the most common field of study; its subfields include public opinion , elections , national government , and state, local, or regional government.
• Comparative politics focuses on politics within countries (often grouped into world regions) and analyzes similarities and differences between countries.
• International relations considers the political relationships and interactions between countries, including the causes of war , the formation of foreign policy , international political economy , and the structures that increase or decrease the policy options available to governments. International relations is organized as a separate department in some universities.
• Political theory includes classical political philosophy and contemporary theoretical perspectives (e.g., constructivism, critical theory, and postmodernism).
• Public administration studies the role of the bureaucracy . It is the field most oriented toward practical applications within political science and is often organized as a separate department that prepares students for careers in the civil service .
• Public law studies constitutions , legal systems, civil rights , and criminal justice (now increasingly its own discipline).
• Public policy examines the passage and implementation of all types of government policies, particularly those related to civil rights, defense, health, education , economic growth , urban renewal , regional development, and environmental protection.

Areas of Study

Political Science

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Identify Call Numbers for Political Science Topics

Call numbers for political science topics.

Below is a list of Library of Congress call number classes to locate Political Science books in the Golda Meir Library. These books are located on the West Wing of the 2nd Floor .

J = Political Science

J General legislative and executive papers

JA Political science (General)

JC Political theory

JF Political institutions and public administration

JJ Political institutions and public administration (North America)

JK Political institutions and public administration (United States)

JL Political institutions and public administration (Canada, Latin America, etc.)

JN Political institutions and public administration (Europe)

JQ Political institutions and public administration (Asia, Africa, Australia, Pacific Area, etc.)

JS Local government. Municipal government

JV Colonies and colonization. Emigration and immigration. International migration

JX International law, see also JZ and KZ

JZ International relations

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Databases for Political Science Research

This database provides abstracts and indexing of the international literature of political science and international relations, along with complementary fields, including international law and public administration/policy. The database provides abstracts of journal articles and citations to book reviews drawn from over 1,500+ serials publications and also provides abstracts of books, book chapters, dissertations and working papers.

CIAO, Columbia International Affairs Online provides research in the field of international affairs, including full-text documents such as working papers and policy briefs. CIAO is also widely-recognized source for teaching materials including original case studies written by leading international affairs experts, course packs of background readings for history and political science classes video.

• Public Administration Abstracts Public Administration Abstracts includes bibliographic records covering essential areas related to public administration, including public administration research, public administration theory, and other areas of key relevance to the discipline. Records are selected from many of the top titles within the discipline, including Public Administration Review, Public Administration Quarterly, and International Journal of Public Administration.

Social Science Research Network (SSRN) is devoted to the rapid worldwide dissemination of social science research and is composed of a number of specialized research networks in each of the social sciences. The SSRN eLibrary consists of two parts: an Abstract Database containing abstracts on scholarly working papers and forthcoming papers and an Electronic Paper Collection currently containing downloadable full text documents.

The Homeland Security Digital Library provides quick access to important U.S. policy documents, presidential directives, and national strategy documents as well as specialized resources such as theses and reports from various universities, organizations and local and state agencies. The resources are reviewed and selected by a team of homeland security researchers and organized in a unique homeland security taxonomy.

Border and Migration Studies Online provides historical context and resources, representing both personal and institutional perspectives, for the growing fields of border(land) studies and migration studies, as well as history, law, politics, diplomacy, area and global studies, anthropology, medicine, the arts, and more.

This database has full text for over 400 military related periodicals and general interest magazines. It also contains primary documents in U.S. history and international history.

• SocArXiv Open archive of the social sciences that provides a free, non-profit, open access platform for social scientists to upload working papers, preprints, and published papers, with the option to link data and code. SocArXiv papers are moderated before appearing.

Archival and current issues of scholarly journals and ebooks across more than 60 academic disciplines.

Academic Search Complete is a comprehensive scholarly, multi-disciplinary full-text database, with more than 7,000 full-text periodicals, including nearly 6,000 peer-reviewed journals. In addition to full text, this database offers indexing and abstracts for more than 11,000 journals and a total of more than 11,600 publications including monographs, reports, conference proceedings, etc. The database features PDF content going back as far as 1887, with the majority of full text titles in native (searchable) PDF format. Searchable cited references are provided for more than 1,000 journals.

Web of Science includes citations from the Science Citation Index Expanded, Social Sciences Citation Index, Arts & Humanities Citation Index, BIOSIS Citation Index, Zoological Record, Current Contents Connect, Data Citation Index, and the Derwent Innovation Index. Our Web of Science subscription includes articles published from 1987 to the present; updated weekly. Useful For: systematic reviews, Highly Cited papers, citation metrics

Exploring Race in Society contains scholarly journals and essays that provide researchers with a deeper understanding of how current issues stem from actions and policies of the past. Each topic includes an overview article and three essays suggesting potential solutions. Solutions essays are written by a diverse group of writers representing the fields of academia, journalism, medicine and other disciplines working to address issues related to race.

Ethnic NewsWatch incorporates both current Ethnic NewsWatch and Ethnic NewsWatch: A History, providing a full-text collection of more than 2.5 million articles from over 330 titles, from 1959 to current. Ethnicities include: African American/Caribbean/African; Arab/Middle Eastern; Asian/Pacific Islander; European/Eastern European; Hispanic; Jewish; Native People.

GenderWatch is a repository of important historical perspectives on the evolution of the women's movement, men's studies, the transgender community and the changes in gender roles over the years. Publications include scholarly journals, magazines, newspapers, newsletters, regional publications, books and NGO, government and special reports.

Congressional & Legal Research Databases & Resources

Comprehensive database of legal materials, including cases, statutes, and regulations of the U.S. government and the various state governments; includes the legal encyclopedia American Jurisprudence 2nd and American Law Reports; case law from 1789 to present; current statutes and regulations.

Offers extensive access to legal and government materials. Includes Federal Register, U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Reports, state session laws, and more. Explore HeinOnline Subject Guides

• ProQuest Congressional ProQuest Congressional provides access to historical and current Congressional information and publications on all aspects of legislation dealing with life and public policy. Topics include scientific undertakings, historical events, social welfare, economic conditions, communication policies, and an endless array of other subjects. The database indexes and provides full-text for Congressional Committee Prints, House and Senate Documents and Reports (Congressional Serial Set), Hearings, and Legislative Histories. It also provides member and committee information and political news, as well as access to the Code of Federal Regulations, Federal Register, and the Congressional Record (1985-present).
• Congress.gov Great source for in-progress bills, as well as an annotated constitution, committee reports, congressional records, and more. USA.gov is similar, but includes links to department, agency, and other branch's websites.
• GovTrack GovTrack.us tracks the United States Congress and helps Americans participate in their national legislature. We publish the status of federal legislation, information about your representative and senators in Congress including voting records, and original research on legislation.
• LegiScan LegiScan launched to support the release of the national LegiScan data service, providing the nation's first impartial real-time legislative tracking service designed for both public citizens and government affairs professionals across all sectors in organizations large and small.
• Supreme Court Database The Supreme Court Database is the definitive source for researchers, students, journalists, and citizens interested in the U.S. Supreme Court. The Database contains over two hundred pieces of information about each case decided by the Court between the 1791 and 2021 terms.
• Indian Law Research Guides, National Indian Law Library The National Indian Law Library (NILL) of the Native American Rights Fund is a law library devoted to federal Indian and tribal law. NILL maintains a unique and valuable collection of Indian law resources and assists people with their Indian law-related research needs.

Free public access to official publications from all three branches of the Federal Government.

Wisconsin Resources

• Wisconsin State Legislature Official website of the Wisconsin State Legislature, including documentation for the current legislature, proposed bills, state statutes, administrative rules, the state constitution.
• Wisconsin State Law Library The Wisconsin State Law Library exists to serve the legal information needs of the officers and employees of this state, attorneys and the public by providing the highest quality of professional expertise in the selection, maintenance and use of materials, information and technology in order to facilitate equal access to the law.
• Milwaukee Charter and Code of Ordinances - City Clerk's Office Milwaukee city charter and searchable code of ordinances

Highlighted Political Science Journals

Browse Political Science journals in Browzine .

• Annual Review of Political Science The Annual Review of Political Science covers significant developments in the field of Political Science including political theory and philosophy, international relations, political economy, political behavior, American and comparative politics, public administration and policy, and methodology. Volume 25 (2022) has been converted from gated to open access through Annual Reviews' Subscribe to Open program, with all articles published under a CC BY license.
• Politics & Gender Politics & Gender is an agenda-setting journal that publishes the highest quality scholarship on women, gender, and politics. It aims to represent the full range of questions, issues, and approaches on gender and women across the major subfields of political science, including comparative politics, international relations, political theory, and U.S. politics.
• American Journal of Political Science The American Journal of Political Science (AJPS) is committed to significant advances in knowledge and understanding of citizenship, governance, and politics, and to the public value of political science research. As the official journal of the Midwest Political Science Association, AJPS publishes research in all major areas of political science including American politics, public policy, international relations, comparative politics, political methodology, and political theory.
• Comparative Political Studies Comparative Political Studies (CPS) offers scholarly work on comparative politics at both the cross-national and intra-national levels. Dedicated to relevant, in-depth analyses, CPS provides the timeliest methodology, theory, and research in the field of comparative politics.
• Foreign Policy Analysis An official journal of the International Studies Association. Publishes research on the processes, outcomes, and theories of foreign policy.
• Journal of Politics The Journal of Politics is a leading general-interest journal of political science and the oldest regional political science journal in the United States. The scholarship published in The Journal of Politics is theoretically innovative and methodologically diverse, and comprises a blend of the various intellectual approaches that make up the discipline. The Journal of Politics features balanced treatments of research from scholars around the world, in all subfields of political science including American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, and political methodology.
• Political Research Quarterly Political Research Quarterly is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes original research on all aspects of politics. Among the leading generalist journals of political science, PRQ seeks to publish significant contributions to knowledge which engage readers across multiple fields of scholarship, as well as exceptional contributions within specialized fields.
• Contemporary Political Theory Coverage reaches beyond philosophy and political science to include relevant research in geography and anthropology; women’s studies and gender studies; cultural studies and economics; literary theory and film studies; and more.
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The Department of Political Science

• Research Theme on Racial Politics
• Graduate Summer School on Racial Politics

Research in the Department of Political Science is organized around four subfields – American Politics, Comparative Politics, Political Theory, and International Relations. The Department also pursues, hosts and collaborates with a series of research initiatives. Additionally, Political Science faculty are affiliated with a number of research centers and programs at Johns Hopkins University .

• American Politics
• Comparative Politics
• Political Theory
• International Relations

Affiliated Programs

• Arrighi Center for Global Studies
• Center for Africana Studies
• Center for Economy and Society
• Program in East Asian Studies
• Program in International Studies
• Program in Jewish Studies
• Program in Latin American, Caribbean and Latinx Studies
• Racism, Immigration, and Citizenship Program
• SAIS-JHU Direct Admission to Master’s Program
• SNF Agora Institute

Research Initiatives

Racial politics research theme.

The Department’s Racial Politics Research Theme explores how political science and its subfields treat race as an object of study and as an important axis of political thought, institutions, and behavior; how race has been “written out” of political science; and how we might rethink political science in order to grapple with both the discipline’s own history and the challenges of racial politics in the contemporary world.

The department hosts an annual Graduate Summer School on Racial Politics .

Associated Research Initiatives

• The American Prison Writing Archive seeks to replace misrepresentation of prisons and imprisoned people with first-person witness by those living in legalized confinement.
• Money/Power explores the mysteries of money, engaging with some of the crucial money problems that societies face today.
• The Net-Zero Industrial Policy Lab combines the technical analysis of clean energy supply chains with the study of net-zero industrial policies to catalyze strategic collaborations between government and industry.
• Rethinking the Right to the City through the Black Radical Tradition is a Mellon Foundation funded Sawyer Seminar which brings together intellectuals, organizers and artists to rethink the Marxist tradition through the Black Radical Tradition.

Workshops & Seminar Series

The political science department seminar series.

Faculty and graduate students convene weekly to build intellectual community with external speakers, faculty debates, and graduate focused topics (including practice job talks). The full program for the Fall 2024 Department Seminar Series can be found in  events .

The 2024-2025 Political Theory Workshop

The 2024-2025 Political Theory Workshop brings together four core theory events featuring Hopkins’ graduate students and faculty and combines them with external theory guests speaking at the Political Science Department Symposium, the Seminar on Political and Moral Thought, and other occasional series.  

Across these events, political theory faculty and graduate students and a broader inter-subfield/inter-disciplinary group engage collegially with cutting-edge research and sustain critical conversations that enrich the subfield’s communal and intellectual life. The full program for the Political Theory Workshop can be found in events .  

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Political Science faculty and graduate students organize our work in a few subfields.  Discover more details in each of our primary research areas.

American Government and Politics

Comparative Politics

Formal Theory and Empirical Methodology

International Relations

Political Theory

Politics Research Guide

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• American Politics
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Topical Reviews

• Oxford Bibliographies: Political Science This link opens in a new window Hundreds of annotated guides to recent scholarship in topics across all subfields of political science and international relations.
• Oxford Research Encyclopedia: Politics Provides up-to-date, peer-reviewed surveys of major topics, theories, and research questions across all areas of political science.
• Oxford Research Encyclopedia: International Studies These peer-reviewed articles cover major topics, theories, and research questions across many subfields of international studies/international relations, like conflict, security, human rights, diplomacy, etc. This is the follow-up to the International Studies Association's International Studies Encyclopedia Online .
• Oxford Handbooks Online These handbooks provide a great source for authoritative reviews of research across political science, political theory, and related disciplines. Most of these we also have in print.
• Routledge Handbooks Online This link opens in a new window These handbooks provide overviews current research and future trends in the social sciences and humanities, with a strong collection in politics, particularly international relations and area studies.
• Annual Review of Political Science This link opens in a new window Comprehensive review of the literature in political science. Can help students identify major tends in the field as well as find general overviews of research in specific subject areas of politics.
• Elgar Research Handbooks Online Large collection of handbooks on topics across political science and public policy.

Political Theory Sources

• Cambridge Collections Online This link opens in a new window Searchable full text access to the complete Cambridge Companions to literature, philosophy, religion, and classics.
• Philosophy Compass This link opens in a new window Peer-reviewed survey articles on contemporary work in philosophy.
• Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Authoritative source of full-text articles with current bibliographies on many topics of philosophy.
• Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy Provides full-text articles with current bibliographies on virtually every aspect of philosophy.
• Encyclopedia of Political Theory - Mark Bevir, ed. Thorough discussions of a diverse range of political theories and concepts.
• Past Masters This link opens in a new window Searchable full-text works in several languages from major philosophers and theologians.

Major Encyclopedias Covering the Whole Discipline

• SAGE Handbook of Political Science Published in 2020, this handbook provides a thorough overview of the discipline. Each of the 92 chapters gives a comprehensive overview of major topics within each subfield. Thematic sections include, Political Theory, Methods, Political Sociology, Comparative Politics, Public Policies and Administration, International Relations, and Major Challenges for Politics and Political Science in the 21st Century.
• International Encyclopedia of Political Science (2011) Covers all aspects of politics, from political theory and methodology to political sociology, comparative politics, public policies, and international relations.
• The Encyclopedia of Political Science Covers all areas of political science and provides medium-length entries with short bibliographies for further reading. Created under the direction of the American Political Science Association. Also in print at JA61 .E513 2011 (Trustee Reading Room Reference).
• International Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences (2nd ed.) This link opens in a new window Covering 26 volumes in print, this major encyclopedia aims to capture the "state of the art" of the social and behavioral sciences, expanding its focus to include related biological fields, such as evolutionary science, genetics, cognitive neuroscience, psychiatry, and health. Topics include anthropology, archaeology, demography, economics, education, geography, history, law, linguistics, philosophy, political science, psychiatry, psychology, and sociology.

Offers reports and analysis on a variety of current policy issues. Includes background information, pro/con debates, and a chronology, plus resources for additional research.

• Facts On File Issues and Controversies This link opens in a new window Explore current issues and events with in-depth articles made to inspire thought-provoking debates. Topic pages feature the latest related news coverage from Reuters® as well as a variety of helpful background information, from the key pro/con arguments to chronologies of related events to primary documents. Updated weekly. 1995–present.
• World News Digest (Facts on File) This link opens in a new window Digest of major news stories around the world. 1940+

Need statistical help?

Firestone Library's Data & Statistical Services section has 2 full-time consultants and a group of advanced graduate students who can help you! See the DSS website to make an appointment with one of the consultants or find the schedule for their virtual drop-in hours.

If you're in the social sciences, the Politics Department's Program for Quantitative and Analytical Political Science also provides a Consulting Service to advise on research design, statistics, formal theory, and computational questions arising from your research.

The library also provides numerous training workshops on R, Stata, visualization tools, and GIS software.

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What is Political Science?

Political science focuses on the theory and practice of government and politics at the local, state, national, and international levels. We are dedicated to developing understandings of institutions, practices, and relations that constitute public life and modes of inquiry that promote citizenship.

Some of the major subfields are described below.

Political Theory

Political theory is concerned mainly with the foundations of political community and institutions. It focuses on human nature and the moral purposes of political association. To clarify these concepts, political theorists draw on enduring political writings from ancient Greece to the present and on various writings by moral philosophers. Political theory also focuses on empirical research into the way political institutions function in practice. Here political theorists subject beliefs about political life found in important political writings to re-examination in the light of ongoing human behavior. In either case, political theory seeks to ultimately deepen political thinking and to spur citizens to responsible and creative political action.

POL S 201, Introduction to Political Theory, provides students with an overview of the main lines of thought in political theory. Advanced courses focus on given concepts, topics, and thought in political theorizing.

Comparative Politics

Comparative politics is a broad field with a variety of approaches and goals. Some scholars and researchers compare contemporary political systems in order to judge which types best provide particular values: order, equality, freedom, or economic security and well-being for their citizens. Others suggest that the main purpose of comparative politics is to provide an understanding of how and why different societies develop different kinds of political institutions. Still others use comparative politics as a way of discovering general laws and theories that will explain human political behavior and its variability.

Comparative politics courses are of two basic types. One offers comparisons of a particular set of problems or institutions in a number of different countries. The second type offers in-depth analyses of the basic political institutions and processes of a single country or group of countries in a world region.

Most students will want to begin their study of comparative politics with the Introduction to Comparative Politics (POL S 204), which combines the two main approaches by including comparative discussions of particular problems, issues, processes, and institutions in a wide variety of political settings as well as in-depth readings and lectures on some of the major countries in the contemporary world.

International Relations

The field of international relations is concerned with developing an understanding of why states and non-state international actors, like the United Nations and multinational corporations, interact as they do. International relations is a diverse field both in terms of what kinds of behavior are studied and how they are studied. International conflict, particularly war, continues to be an important focus of the field. Why do wars start? Who wins and why? How can wars be prevented? What is the role of international law and organizations? As the world has become more interdependent, scholars have become more aware of the importance of international economic activity. As a result, scholars are analyzing world trade, communications, development, foreign investment, and international finance. How states make foreign policy decisions is another important area of study. National security policy, nuclear deterrence, arms control and defense spending decisions are typical examples of foreign policy decisions.

POL S 203, International Relations, introduces the student to International politics. This is the foundation for a wide variety of offerings at the 300 and 400 levels, such as American foreign policy, global environmental politics, international political economy, and international conflict.

American Government and Politics

Students of American government and politics seek an understanding of politics as practiced in the United States. In addition to courses on the American presidency, the U.S. Congress, and the courts, the department offers specialized courses on such topics as the political role of mass media, the politics of race and ethnicity, constitutional law, policy formation, state politics, and American political thought.

Some of the broad questions that concern students in this field are: How and why did American political institutions, ideas, and practices develop as they have? How does one go about evaluating them? Are American political institutions, ideas and practices unique, or are they similar to other societies? How might American politics be improved?

POL S 202, Introduction to American Politics, is recommended preparation for most other courses in American Politics. To acquire first-hand experience with the American political system, students are encouraged to participate in academic internships in Washington D.C., Olympia, or Seattle.

Political Methodology

The subfield of political methodology is concerned with the philosophical bases of political science, social science, empirical research design and analysis, and practical field research experience.

Courses in the political methodology field cover philosophical issues regarding the possibility of a science of politics, the similarities and differences between political science and other social sciences, alternative modes of explanation, and the truth of knowledge claims. They also examine the formulation of experimental and non-experimental research designs for making causal inferences about political processes and behavior and explore the. use of statistics, mathematics and computers for the analysis of political data generated by such research designs. Students are also provided an opportunity to conduct individual and group research projects through seminars. The political methodology faculty have current research and teaching interests in such diverse topics as mass media, feminist theory, language politics, political economy, rational choice theory, and public policy.

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The Baldy Center for Law & Social Policy has been advancing interdisciplinary legal scholarship at UB since 1978.

UBRI brings together robust capacities and notable achievements in planning, policy analysis, public process, urban design and communications across a wide array of relevant topics.

The NCGIA was founded in 1988 as a National Science Foundation for research in geographic information and its related technologies.

While faculty members in the Department of Political Science have developed teaching and research programs that straddle several subfields of the discipline, we have relatively well-defined strengths in four subfields of political science:

American Politics

One of our department’s strengths is in the study of the domestic politics of the U.S.A., alone and in comparative perspective.  A number of faculty members in the department specialize in the field of American politics. Our faculty in this subfield focus on (among other things) the organization of legislative bodies at the national and state level, the study of public opinion, the electoral process and political campaigns, political communication, election administration, Presidential-legislative relations and voting behavior.

Comparative Politics

Our department has traditionally been strong in the study of comparative politics, a subfield defined both by its methods (comparisons) and by virtue of its focus on the politics and government of countries other than the U.S. Research programs in the department focus on, among other things, comparative political economy, civil unrest and political violence, conflict management, comparative political behavior, political parties and elections and the politics of subnational diversity. Europe and Anglo-American democracies (especially Canada) are among the geographic areas of particular interest in the department.

International Relations

Our department is well-known for its contributions in the field of international relations. Several faculty have developed active teaching and research programs that focus on such topics international conflict and conflict processes, deterrence, terrorism, international organizations, international political economy, and trade, sanctions and foreign aid. Several faculty members have interests in formal modeling and game theory.

Several members of our faculty have active research programs in the field of public law and judicial politics. Of particular interest are applications of computational text analysis to the study of legal and judicial reasoning, civil rights and housing policy. Adding to our capabilities in the field is our close relationship with UB’s Law School and the Baldy Center for Law & Social Policy.

"The department is diverse in terms of research focus and this is really helpful for students who are still trying to figure out their research interests. It has created a culture where you can find adequate support for your work, unique as it might be." – Samaila Adelaiye, PhD student

"Polarized: Making Sense of a Divided American" by Prof. James E. Campbell was recently released in paperback.

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Politics Student Handbook

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The Politics department represents four major fields of political science in the United States: political theory, American politics, comparative politics, and global politics. Research and teaching in politics at The New School for Social Research are informed by historical, comparative, and theoretical frameworks that bring people together across these fields.

Historical understanding and comparative referents provide an indispensable base for judgments about contemporary political issues and problems. As political life entails concerns about cultural horizons and forms of inequality, students are encouraged to learn and use a wide range of theoretical approaches, including feminist thought, critical theory, and cultural studies.

Most members of the faculty and many of our students pursue projects that span across the conventional fields of political theory, American politics, comparative politics, and global politics. Important topics such as immigration and citizenship, gender and politics in democratic regimes, and the nature and prospects of international justice often cannot be placed in one of these four fields.

For this reason, courses offered by the Department of Politics are organized by fields that describe the main areas of the faculty's research (these fields do not appear on students' transcripts or diplomas):

• Democracies in theory and practice
• Institutions, policy, and governance
• International politics
• Political development in historical perspective
• Political thought and its history
• Politics in economic and social context

Democracies in Theory and Practice

Studies of democracy aim to understand the basic claims made on behalf of democratic actors and the main problems that such claims must attempt to resolve. Analyses of democracy are now framed in part by the broad expansion of democratic institutions in many parts of the world. We seek to compare democratic practices and institutions in newly emerging democracies with those in countries where democratic political life is more established. Some faculty and students have analyzed recent transitions to democracy, as in Latin America and South Africa. Others have focused on limits to democracy (such as those arising from severe social inequities) in countries where democratic institutions have long been in place. Yet other members of the department focus on basic theoretical problems about democracy in light of dramatic recent changes.

Identities, Culture, and Politics

Courses focused on identities and culture in politics take several forms. We examine the nature of social identities and consider how these identities become politically important. We analyze the claims of different groups for recognition and justice. And we consider how conflicts between groups can be managed in more and less democratic ways. Courses in this area include both empirical and theoretical inquiries, and the latter are both explanatory and normative.

Institutions, Policy, and Governance

Courses in this area aim to understand the origins and dynamics of different kinds of political institutions. The study of institutions concerns their practical effects, in large part via explicit policies. It is linked with the study of how governance occurs and power is exercised. Thus, courses in this area link studies of institutional form, policies, and modes of decision-making to normative debates about fair and democratic procedures. To address these issues means paying special attention to states in their historical and contemporary forms.

International Politics

The courses in this group link the study of comparative politics with international relations and international political economy and include the United States within a comparative and international framework. The study of international relations has undergone major changes in the last two decades. New theoretical debates have emerged and empirical subjects have become more diverse, due to the end of the Cold War and the upsurge in new forms of internationalization. Several members of the Department of Politics are now engaging with the international dimension of problems that they initially studied within the boundaries of other fields. Several have examined the political dimension of international movements of people through immigration, labor migration, and the creation of refugee populations. Others have studied relations between states amid increased levels of political and economic transactions. A key question is how commitments to democracy and social welfare within countries can be reformulated and fulfilled in a new international setting. 

Political Development in Historical Perspective

These courses provide an analysis of politics that is historically grounded and broadly comparative. Within this area, the study of the political development of the United States has a large role. Courses examine such topics as the historical origins of the nation-state as a form of political organization, the transformations of political life that occurred during and after the rise of representative forms of government, and the emergence and reshaping of dominant conceptions of citizenship.

Political Thought and Its History

As political thought is part of history, rigorous historical knowledge is required to analyze the history of political thought critically and imaginatively. Such knowledge is also important for understanding the main themes and arguments of contemporary political theory. Students are encouraged to address questions that have been the subject of significant empirical research and to make use of that research in their inquiries. They are also encouraged to gain familiarity with basic theoretical themes in other social science disciplines and to explore the social and cultural dimensions in the tradition of political thought.

Politics in Economic and Social Context

To define politics as a field means that political relations have their own distinctive dynamics, irreducible to other social relations. Yet relations between politics and social and economic life remain important for theoretical and practical reasons. Courses in this group draw on and develop several traditions of inquiry that combine different disciplines, especially political economy and political sociology. Courses address contemporary issues that arise where political life intersects with other areas of society - for example,  the relationship between social and economic inequality and politics, the proper range of democracy in institutions outside the polity per se, the nature and effects of civil society in different countries, and the relationship between economic growth, social development, and democratization.

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Through a combination of publications, research, teaching, and extracurricular activities, our faculty, students, and alumni share strengths in certain areas of research and engagement. Explore this section of the website to learn more about our areas of expertise. These are not necessarily concentration areas but are, instead, core areas of expertise that can be found at all levels of our curriculum and through the research and interests of our faculty and students. The Department of Political Science offers many exciting and challenging opportunities to develop your interest, knowledge, and skills in the world of government and politics.

Research in Political Science

1. Research intensive classes

POLS 2399 Research Methods

Examines the range of research methods and designs used in political science, based on applying the logic of social scientific inquiry. Reviews experimental research, comparative methods, case studies, interviewing, surveys, program evaluation, and other topics relevant to the discipline, as well as questions related to the practice of research ethics. Course activities include intensive writing assignments by students.

POLS 4701 Senior Capstone

Integrates and assesses the concepts and skills developed by students throughout the political science curriculum, including both experiential and classroom-based components. Requires extensive reflection by students on their various educational experiences as well as research projects involving individual and group presentations. Topics include contemporary political issues and relevant literature in the discipline of political science. Consideration is also given to career options for political science students. Required for political science majors and fulfills part of the experiential education requirement.

POLS 4703 Senior Thesis

Offers students an opportunity to conduct a significant research project under faculty supervision on a topic within the discipline of political science. Research question is formulated and analyzed through data gathering and a review of relevant literature in political science and related fields

(Faculty supervision needs to be secured the semester prior)

POLS 4992 Directed Study

Offers independent work under the direction of members of the department on a chosen topic. Course content depends on instructor. May be repeated without limit. (Individual Instruction Form needs to be submitted)

2. Independent research projects

POLS 2991 Research Practicum

Involves students in collaborative research under the supervision of a faculty member. Offers students an opportunity to learn basic research methods in the discipline. Requires permission of instructor. May be repeated once for up to 4 total credits (Individual Instruction Form needs to be submitted)

POLS 4991 Research

Offers an opportunity to conduct research under faculty supervision. May be repeated once. (Individual Instruction Form needs to be submitted)

3. Honors in the Major

POLS 4970. Junior/Senior Honors Project 1

Focuses on in-depth project in which a student conducts research or produces a product related to the student’s major field. Combined with Junior/Senior Project 2 or college-defined equivalent for 8-credit honors project. May be repeated without limit.

POLS 4971. Junior/Senior Honors Project 2

Focuses on second semester of in-depth project in which a student conducts research or produces a product related to the student’s major field. May be repeated without limit. Prerequisite(s): POLS 4970 with a minimum grade of D-

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Do you wonder why President Clinton agreed to undergo emergency surgery on his injured leg in 1997 but refused to accept general anesthesia? Why Newt Gingrich, when Speaker of the House, was removed from office by his own party in 1999? Why Justice John Paul Stevens – appointed to the Supreme Court by President Ford in 1975 – refused to resign from the Court until  2010, when he was 90? Why the Democratic and Republican Parties have become so ideologically oriented that they cannot agree on much of anything now except to disagree?

Whether or not you’re a citizen of the United States, the American system of government appears to be filled with mysteries. The faculty who teach American politics courses explore why the political system devised by the Framers of our Constitution has come to be described  in so many contradictory ways:   “broken,” “frustrating,” “creative,” “magnificent,”  “convoluted,”  “wondrous,”  “deadlocked,”  or, by some, “the product of  divine  inspiration.”

Teaching and Research

In our classes, students learn about issues such as:

• Why the federal system is now locked in bitterness and conflict;
• The impact of having a political campaign process for president that lasts as much as two years before a president is elected;
• The role of the President, his powers  and such matters as how his socialization, health, and life experiences  shape the way  he performs in office;
• Why Congress – an institution that once was once described as  “the  greatest deliberative body in the world” – is now seen as an ineffectual, even counter-productive, branch of government;
• The Supreme Court, and how interpretations of the Constitution have changed over time, affecting laws, the legal system, and the daily lives of the American people;
• The role of state and local governments, which often function as laboratories  or training grounds for the rest of the nation and, at other times, as sources of discord and dissension;
• The problems posed by urbanization and suburbanization and how these trends may be guided in constructive ways.

If you are intrigued by the various features and complexities of the American political system, anticipate studying for a career in the law or in the public sector at the national, state or local level,  or even in the private sector where the skills we help develop are also very relevant, we invite you  to consider studying within the Political Science Department at Northeastern.

Our faculty our known for their excellence in teaching – to date, seven have won Excellence in Teaching Awards. Many have published path-breaking books, articles in some of the most prestigious journals in political science, and treatises in major law journals. They are regularly invited to speak at conferences, civic meetings, and at other major universities in the United States and abroad and are interviewed for the mass media. They serve as consultants on challenging public sector projects in Massachusetts and other states and at the level of the national government as well. They have served as members of commissions, advisory committees, and study groups that have authored major reports on the national, state and local levels.

Are authoritarian meritocracies more successful in developing their countries than those that adopt a Western model of democracy? Could the Chinese blackmail the United States by threatening to dump billions of US Dollars they hold in reserve? Why would European states agree to relinquish many of their sovereign rights in exchange for a unified Europe? How does one barter cattle for computer chips?

The Department of Political Science offers an entire range of courses at both the graduate and undergraduate levels on international relations and comparative politics, from international organizations, international security, and U.S. Foreign Policy to international political economy, international law, international conflict, international organizations, and the Arab-Israeli Conflict; from courses on development administration, the developing world, Chinese, Latin American, and European Politics, to comparative democratization, revolution, terrorism, and more. “Democracy Studies,” a cornerstone of the discipline of political science, call on all aspects of the teaching and research of its department faculty: issues of democracy not only within the American context but also on a comparative basis relevant to other advanced industrial states and emerging nations. As students learn, institutionalizing democratic values in a stable state can be difficult. Knowledge of the evolution of the democratic state, its cultural and historic roots, its structure and the forces in a society that challenge or support its operation, is critical to appreciating and promoting its longevity.

Are the Occupy settlements in various cities protected by the First Amendment ‘right of the people peaceably to assemble’?  Did Congress exceed its constitutional authority in enacting the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act with the controversial individual mandate provision?  Should Saif Gaddafi be tried in the International Criminal Court or by a domestic court in Libya?  If you are interested in these types of questions, then you might want to consider the study of law and legal issues in the Department of Political Science.

The study of law and legal issues in the Department of Political Science was pioneered by Matthews Distinguished Professor Robert Cord in the 1970s.  A leading national authority on the Establishment Clause, Professor Cord for many years brought the fruits of his research and writing to the students who enrolled in his courses.  His work, titled  Separation of Church and State: Historical Fact and Current Fiction  (1982) was even  cited by then-Associate Justice William Rehnquist in his dissent in  Wallace v. Jaffree  (1985), a case in which the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Alabama’s ‘moment of silence’ law.

Today, Professor Michael Tolley continues Professor Cord’s tradition of informing his classroom teaching with the results of his research and scholarship.  The following are some excerpts from some of the writing projects dealing with American constitutional development, judicial process, legal globalization, and comparative judicial studies, that have been done by faculty in our department:

American Constitutional Development

“[W]e have found that one way to explain why the authors of Article III of the U.S. Constitution and Section 9 of the Judiciary Act of 1789 conferred on the newly created federal judiciary a jurisdiction, substantive law and procedure closely modeled on the colonial courts of vice admiralty is to take a skeptical view of the revolutionaries’ complaints against the admiralty. If the colonists, in the mounting struggle with the Crown after the Stamp Act controversy of 1765, had truly abhorred the vice admiralty courts, then the founders of the new republic certainly would have responded to the grievances and made an abrupt break with the past.” From David R. Owen and Michael C. Tolley,  Courts of Admiralty in Colonial America  (Carolina Academic Press, 1995)

Judicial Process

“Judicial confirmation battles are not unusual. A historical view of the judicial appointments process suggests that intense, partisan struggles between the nominating President and rivals in the Senate have been fairly common.  What has been unusual in recent years is the use of new, norm-departing strategies in the struggle over judicial nominations at all levels of the federal court system.” From Michael C. Tolley, “Legal Controversies Over Federal Judicial Selection in the United States” in Malleson and Russell, eds.,  Appointing Judges in an Age of Judicial Power: Critical Perspectives from Around the World   (University of Toronto Press, 2006)

Legal Globalization

“Arguably the forces of globalization have been at work for centuries, gradually shaping law and legal processes within sovereign nations….What is new today is the nature of the interconnections and extent of the interdependence among nation-states….How are the forces of globalization today, including the global spread of international human rights norms, the rice of universal criminal jurisdiction, and the pressure for the establishment of rule of law and good governance in the developing world, affecting domestic law, courts, and processes?” From Donald Jackson, Michael Tolley, and Mary Volcansek,  Globalizing Justice: Critical Perspectives on Transnational law and the Cross-Border Migration of Legal Norms  (SUNY Press, 2010)

Comparative Judicial Studies

“The overreaching of the Bush administration and the U.S. Congress after 9/11 was not just an American problem….[P]arliaments in the United Kingdom and Australia enacted new antiterrorism measures with many of the same provisions allowing for control orders and preventive detention, electronic surveillance and invasions of privacy, and prohibitions of activities in connection with banned or listed terrorist organizations.” Michael C. Tolley,” Australia’s Commonwealth Model and Terrorism,” in Volcansek and Stack, eds.,  Courts and Terrorism: Nine Nations Balance Rights and Security  (Cambridge University Press, 2011)

The works of Professor Robert Gilbert on the American presidency, Denise Garcia on international law, and Eileen McDonagh on women’s rights and gender equality also figure prominently in the ‘Law and Legal Issues’ concentration.  Here are some of their fine works:

Presidential Studies

“In all, then, the Twenty-fifth Amendment probably does the best that can be expected in providing for situations of presidential inability. It does not, and cannot, resolve all problems, however. It does not guarantee that a specific instance of presidential disability will be handled smoothly or even that constitutional crises can always be averted. But it seems to be the best constitutional remedy at hand,…” From Robert E. Gilbert,  The Mortal Presidency:  Illness and Anguish in the White House  (1998)

International Law

“This study is interested in a more recent development with the international norm-making process that came to be known as “soft” law, i.e., “emerging norms” that start to embed themselves in the practice of states…” From Denise Garcia,  Small Arms and Security: New Emerging International Norms  (Routledge, 2006)

Gender Equality

“This book challenges how we think about organized sports, as participants, parents, and fans. Athletics are a visible part of American culture and it’s tempting to accept what is presented. That is why it’s critical to put sports into a legal, historical, and social context and to challenge the gut assumption that Title IX provided a fix and a level playing field for females in athletics.” From Eileen McDonagh and Laura Pappano,  Playing with the Boys: Why Separate is Not Equal in Sports  (Oxford University Press, 2007)

The field of public policy focuses on the various strategies and actions that governments adopt to achieve broadly accepted goals.

The public policy process often is conceptualized as a cycle of activities that include problem definition, agenda setting, enactment, implementation, and evaluation. Advanced study of public policy draws on perspectives and methods that are rooted in not only political science, but also law, history, economics, and other disciplines to allow for a comprehensive understanding of policy development as well as outcomes. Based equally on social scientific tools and an appreciation of politics, it equips the policy analyst with the ability to provide advice to public officials and advocates so that informed decisions can be made about public policy alternatives. While the focus of this field is on policy-making in the United States, a cross-national and international perspective is also included. Courses in this field cover the policy-making process, policy analysis, and substantive policy areas.

Professors Teaching in Public Policy

• Daniel Aldrich , Professor of Political Science
• Stephen Flynn , Professor of Political Science and Founding Co-Director, George J. Kostas Research Institute for Homeland Security

John Portz ,  Professor of Political Science and Chair of MA and PhD programs

David rochefort , professor of political science, thomas vicino ,  professor of political science.

The field of
 security studies addresses the causes of war and peace within a nation state or the international system. Security studies is closely tied to the study of government, since security is a key public good that governments seek to provide for their citizens. Security failures are often the result of government failures to maintain a stable domestic environment or to address international challenges. International organizations also play an important role in establishing security, through conflict resolution, arms control, and deployment of various resources. Students at Northeastern further benefit from an innovative perspective on security that forms the basis of the MS in Resilience Studies at Northeastern. This program seeks to strengthen societal and infrastructure resilience to natural and man-made disasters.

Professors Teaching in Security Studies

• Max Abrahms , Assistant Professor of Political Science
• Mai’a Cross , Associate Professor of Political Science and International Affairs
• Denise Garcia , Associate Professor of Political Science and International Affairs
• Jennie Stephens , Dean’s Professor of Sustainability Science and Policy

Courses in Security Studies

• Core Seminar-  POLS 7207 – Seminar in International Relations
• Core course- POLS 7341 – Security and Resilience Policy
• POLS 7344—Hard Power, Soft Power, Smart Power
• POLS 7369—International Security
• POLS 7343 to POLS 7349
• Other courses under advisement from the Department or Faculty Advisor

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• > Journals
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Trends in political science research and the progress of comparative politics.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 October 2017

• Supplementary materials

This article illustrates major trends in political science research and frames the progress of research agendas in comparative politics. Drawing on the titles and abstracts of every article published in eight major political science journals between 1906 and 2015, the study tracks the frequency of references to specific keywords over time. The analysis corresponds to and complements extant descriptions of how the field has developed, providing evidence of three ‘revolutions’ that shaped comparative politics—the divorce of political science from history during its early years, a behavioral revolution that lasted until the late 1960s, and a second scientific revolution after 1989 characterized by greater empiricism. Understanding the development of the subdiscipline, and viewing it through the research published in political science over the last 100 years, provides useful context for teaching future comparativists and encourages scholars to think more broadly about the research traditions to which they are contributing.

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• Volume 50, Issue 4
• Matthew Charles Wilson (a1)
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S104909651700110X

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FSU | Department of Political Science

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Department of Political Science

College of Social Sciences and Public Policy

Research Areas

American politics.

Students who pursue doctoral studies in American Politics will have the opportunity to work with leading scholars of elections, political participation, mass behavior, media and politics, political attitudes, political psychology and political institutions. Some of the topics scholars area actively working on include: the effects of the information environment on political knowledge and attitudes, the effects of issue framing and awareness on policy choice, the role of negative advertisement on political attitudes and voter turnout, the role of political sophistication and emotions on attributions of responsibility (credit or blame) for government action, the effect of political connectedness and dual nationality on Latinos’ political attitudes, the influence of social networks on collective action and political violence, and, more generally, how the political environment interacts with personal characteristics to shape political attitudes.  We are also well known for our strength in the study of comparative state politics and political institutions, with particular strengths in the study of state legislatures and state-level public policy.  The department has ample funding to conduct field and laboratory experiments in upcoming elections and would welcome graduate student involvement in these studies.

Public Policy

Political science students concentrating in Public Policy at Florida State have the opportunity to work with numerous faculty with broad interests and research approaches. Together, our policy scholars conduct research on topics such as collective action, the relationship between public opinion and public policy, regulatory policy and enforcement, legislative-bureaucratic relations, fiscal federalism/intergovernmental relations, and policy innovation and diffusion – using empirical and formal methods as diverse as econometric models, game theory, computational models/computer simulation, geographic information systems, experiments, quasi-experiments and surveys.  Their work focuses on topics relating to welfare, health care, aging, the environment, urban policy, state policy, taxation and budgeting. 

Behavioral Game Theory

In recent years, our strength in the area of behavioral game theory and experimental research has grown tremendously.  FSU has committed new faculty lines and research resources to expand our capabilities in these exciting areas. Students and faculty in all fields with interests in these areas have access to state of the art research labs dedicated to experimental research in the social sciences.

Comparative Politics

We have a unique and exciting Comparative Politics program at FSU.  Our comparative faculty view comparative politics in terms of substantive questions (executive-legislative relations, party systems etc.) rather than the study of specific countries or regions. Virtually our entire comparative politics faculty shares a common interest in the study of political institutions of one variety or another – they focus on developing and evaluating theoretical claims concerning the effects of institutions on political outcomes, institutional design, and institutional change. One area of particular strength focuses on how institutions affect democratic performance as measured by citizen representation, democratic consolidation, government accountability and legitimacy, and material well-being. Other areas of institutional analysis on which the comparative politics faculty at Florida State focus include coalition politics and the government formation process, agency design and environmental policy, the relationship between perceptions and institutional performance, and the effect of electoral rules on party systems.  Because many of the institutions mentioned above rarely change in any given country, much of the research conducted by our comparative politics faculty is what we call “large-N, cross-national research”. In other words, they compare institutions in large numbers of countries.  This emphasis on large-N cross-national research is one of the ways that we are different from comparative programs elsewhere.

International Relations

In International Relations, we have strengths in two substantive areas of inquiry: Conflict and International Political Economy (IPE). FSU has a decades long tradition of producing excellent conflict research. All of our conflict scholars are members of the Peace Science Society, the Conflict Processes Section of the American Political Science Association, and the Scientific Study of International Processes section of the International Studies Association. As such, students who study conflict at FSU will work with faculty who will help them plug into the top networks of IR scholars studying conflict. Our faculty is well suited to helping students develop research agendas focused on the following topics: Civil War, Ethnic Conflict, Terrorism, War and Militarized Disputes, Interstate Rivalry, Conflict Resolution, Human Rights, Protest, Dissent, and Repression.  Few departments have an established pedigree in IPE scholarship, and FSU has a core of faculty dedicated to the pursuit of this line of research.  Students can expect top notch research training in this area.  We have a proven track record of success in placing students with interests in International Relations at top research and liberal arts programs throughout the country

Department of Political Science

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Center for the Study of American Politics and Society

• European Politics
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International Relations

Political theory, political behavior, political methodology.

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Fields of Study

Teaching and coursework at the undergraduate level is organized according to the usual disciplinary subfields of American Politics, Comparative Politics, Political Theory, and World Politics. At the graduate level, the department also offers two additional subfields, Mass Political Behavior and Political Methodology. Within Comparative Politics, the department has strong programs in Latin American politics and in European politics. 

While it is also possible to divide faculty research interests into the six subfields, the important questions, theories, and insights about political interaction transcend rigid boundaries. Accordingly, many of the faculty's areas of expertise cross these subfield boundaries as well. Details of each area of specialization are available by browsing through the various fields of study listed to the right.

American Politics

Faculty in the department focus on research projects that shed light on core questions about political processes, behavior, institutions, and public policy in the context of American politics . 

Comparative Politics

Research and teaching in the department emphasize a truly comparative perspective on politics that cuts across the usual disciplinary sub-fields as well as world regions.

The study of political theory at Pitt focuses on ethical problems in domestic and international politics including concepts such as justice, authority, liberty, and equality.

The study of world politics in Pitt’s Political Science program combines the benefits of resource-rich areas studies with theoretical and empirical rigor.

The University of Pittsburgh is one of only a handful of universities in the United States that offers graduate students the opportunity to specialize in the subfield of Mass Political Behavior . 

Researchers apply a variety of advanced, sophisticated techniques and methods  that are carefully designed to suit the special features of political data.

Department of Political Science - UC Santa Barbara

Research areas.

Politics of Identity The study of the politics of identity is a cross-cutting research area that draws faculty from a number of other areas of the discipline. Faculty and students interested in identity examine it as both cause and effect, studying the ways in which race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and other politically relevant factors shape political behavior and attitudes. Doctoral students may qualify in Politics of Identity as a second field by preparing a field paper. Learn More about Politics of Identity

Politics of the Environment Environmental politics is a cross-cutting area of research that draws on both departmental and university-wide strengths in the environment, including the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management , the Environmental Studies Program , and the Department of Geography . In addition to seven political scientists working on environmental politics, faculty studying environmental issues and graduate courses on those issues can be found in many departments, scattered across the social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities. Doctoral students may qualify by exam or a field paper in Politics of the Environment as a second field. Learn More about Politics of the Environment

American Politics Faculty and graduate students in American Politics study political institutions, public policy, racial and ethnic politics, gender and politics, electoral behavior, political parties, environmental politics, political economy of the US, public opinion and political behavior, and media & political communication. Learn More about American Politics

Comparative Politics Faculty and graduate students in Comparative Politics have wide ranging interests that encompass democratization, political institutions, political parties, identity, social mobilization, political communication, and politics of the environment. Area specialties include Latin America, East and South Asia, Russia and Central Asia. Learn More about Comparative Politics

International Relations Faculty and graduate students in International Relations have expertise in political processes and outcomes at the international level. Specialties including conflict & political violence, international organizations, and international political economy. Learn More about International Relations

Political Theory The political theory subfield engages normative questions about politics. It includes faculty and graduate students from several departments, and it has particular interests in contemporary political theory, political concepts, democratic theory, and ethics & international relations. Learn More about Political Theory

Methods The department places a high value on first-rate social scientific methodology. All doctoral students except those whose primary field is political theory complete one course in research design and data collection, one course in empirical measurement of concepts and statistical analysis, and one in multivariate statistical models. Many students also take advanced training in multivariate analysis, causal inference, and comparative methods. The university's Optional PhD Emphasis in Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences provides further training and certification. Learn More about Methods

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• Orfalea Center for Global & International Studies
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• UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation

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Political Science Faculty Research Areas

American politics.

• Delysa Burnier
• Nancy Manring
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Comparative politics.

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Undergraduate programs

The Department of Political Science & International Relations at the University of Delaware offers a dynamic and engaging undergraduate program that prepares students for a wide range of career paths. With a focus on critical thinking, research, and hands-on learning, our department provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the political, social, and global forces that shape our world. Whether you're interested in domestic policy, international affairs, or the intersection of the two, our program will equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in today's rapidly changing global landscape.

​For more information about our undergraduate majors and minors, please get in touch with Kara Ellerby , Director of Undergraduate Studies, or Barbara Ford , Undergraduate Administrative Assistant.

Look through our undergraduate programs

• Concentrations

Political Science (BA)

Through political science, you will learn about national and international politics and policymakers. Beyond the core courses, you may choose to major in political science without a concentration or to specialize in one of three concentrations: American politics, global politics or public law. 

• Political Science - American Politics Concentration (BA)
• Political Science - Global Politics Concentration (BA)
• Political Science - Law, Politics and Theory Concentration (BA)

Political Science Education (BA)

In partnership with the Department of History, political science education, you will learn about national and international politics and policymakers and how to teach political science content at the secondary level. 

• 4+1 Program
• Program Requirements

Interdisciplinary 4+1 Program

Complete your bachelor's degree and a master's program in just five years!

The Biden School of Public Policy and Administration (Biden School) proposes a new 4+1 program with the Master of Public Administration (MPA) and the Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (BA-PS). This accelerated program would parallel the successful 4+1 programs of the Master of Public Administration (MPA) with the Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy/Bachelor of Science in Organizational and Community Leadership/Bachelor of Arts in English.

Current undergraduate students enrolled in the BA in Political Science or Honors BA in Political Science program are eligible to apply to the accelerated BA-MPA program after completing 60 credits, which is typically the Fall of their junior year.

Complete the academic requirements for the B.A. in Political Science.

• In consultation with advisors in the Political Science department and the Biden School, complete 6 credits of coursework from the MPA curriculum to dual count for the Political Science and MPA degree requirements. 

Complete the requirements for the minor in Public Policy.

Legal Studies Minor

The minor in Lega​l Studies allows undergraduate students to explore the law from an interdisciplinary perspective. The law is central to social sciences, humanities, business, and public policy theories and research. Courses concerned with law are available in a variety of departments, including political science, sociology, communication, economics, history, accounting (business law), finance (corporate governance), applied economics and statistics (environmental law), marine studies, education, and urban affairs.

If you have any questions, or are in need of advising, please contact Barbara Ford at  [email protected]​ . ​

Legal Studies minor requirements​

Political Communication Minor

​​Available to all University of Delaware undergraduates, a minor in political communication ​encourages students to become leaders in their communities. ​It provides opportunities to experience multidisciplinary teaching and research in the leading edge concepts of political communication and digital technology, as expressed and experienced in political campaigns and public policy debates at the local and national levels.

Political Communications Minor Requirements

Polticial Science Minor

A minor in political science allows students to explore the study of government, politics, public policy, and political behavior. It complements a student's major area of study by providing a deeper understanding of political systems, institutions, processes, and theory. Combining a major with a political science minor allows students to develop a well-rounded understanding of societal issues and prepare for various career paths.

Political Science Minor Requirements

Politics and Social Justice Minor

This 18­-credit interdisciplinary minor in Politics & Social Justice (PSJ) has been designed for those students who want to understand and change social injustices and are seeking the necessary theoretical and practical tools to do so. The Department of Political Science & International Relations (POSCIR) has developed this interdisciplinary minor that focuses on both local and global social injustice and social movements. Upon completing this minor students shall: (1) understand the causes of domestic and international inequalities in social, economic, and political rights and opportunities, (2) have explored both theoretical and practical solutions towards addressing these inequalities, (3) have gained practical experience working with a social justice organization to address these inequalities.

Partnering Departments

To establish this interdisciplinary minor, the Department of Political Science & International Relations has partnered with the Departments of Africana Studies, Anthropology, History, Sociology & Criminal Justice, Women & Gender Studies, and the Biden School of Public Policy & Administration.

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