FACULTY:
Désirée Weber, Chair
Erum Haider
Kent Kille
Matthew Krain
Jeffrey Lantis
Michele Leiby
Political Science is concerned with the study of power, government, and the state. Power relationships among individuals, groups, nations, and their governmental and policy results are examined using a variety of political science methods, including case studies, textual analysis, field research, interviews, and statistical analysis of quantitative data.
The discipline is divided into four major fields, listed below. Students of United States national politics examine the interactions among citizens, political parties, interest groups, social movements, and government institutions in the United States. Comparative politics compares and contrasts how countries around the world (excluding the U.S.) have attempted to solve problems of governance, justice, economic development, and political stability. International relations is concerned with patterns of conflict and cooperation among nations, countries, international organizations, and non-governmental actors such as human rights organizations, terrorist groups, and multinational corporations. Political theorists question the philosophical underpinnings of our understanding of the political world and implications for justice and the common good.
A major in Political Science provides the diverse analytical and critical skills appropriate to a liberal arts education at The College of Wooster. Political Science majors often continue their education by attending graduate school or law school. Many of our majors are employed by interest groups, government officials, research organizations, campaigns, and law and business firms in the U.S. and around the world.
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