Political Science Major

Department of Politics and Global Citizenship

OVERVIEW

Foreign policy. Human rights. National security. Civic engagement. Community development. Political science is a powerful, constantly changing career field that offers a foundation for future success.

Baldwin Wallace's political science major prepares you for a career that spans government, corporate, law, nonprofit, education and service sectors.

In the classroom, you'll build skills in critical thinking, problem solving, public speaking and written communication. You'll develop academic insights and professional competencies you can apply to an internship, career, graduate school or professional studies.

Learning is dynamic when theory melds with application. Through coursework, you'll experience simulation activities, student presentations, Socratic dialog and group projects.

Outside the classroom, you can participate in internships, service-learning, study abroad, an affiliated Semester in Washington, D.C. program, and BW's award-winning Model United Nations and Model African Union teams.

BW's 20-minute proximity to Cleveland puts you within easy access to impressive networking, internship and job shadowing connections. These opportunities include government and non-profit agencies, Fortune 500 corporations and more.

Popular Major for Law School

Political science is a popular undergraduate major for students interested in attending law school. At BW, pre-law students benefit from comprehensive and rigorous academics, collaborative learning and experiential opportunities.

Interested in Becoming a Teacher?

If you would like to become a social studies teacher, BW offers an outstanding teacher education program.

Want to make a positive difference?

Many political science majors exemplify BW's mission of educating "contributing, compassionate citizens."

Versatile Career Opportunities

Many political science majors attend law school and graduate programs in business administration, education, public policy and public administration. Other individuals go directly to career placements with corporations, nonprofit agencies and service organizations. Government employment includes positions with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Secret Service, Department of Defense and employment with county and municipal governments across Ohio and nationally.

Careers

Elected office
Campaign management
Attorney/judge
Community development specialist
Lobbyist
Nonprofit management
Public policy analyst
Diplomatic staff
Criminal justice
Government official
Political analyst
Teacher
Journalist

CURRICULUM

A comprehensive, rigorous program, political science is offered as a major and minor. The courses acquaint students with various methods of analysis available for and applicable to the study of political institutions, political thought and political behavior.

Political science is an ideal companion major or minor for students interested in education, humanities, social sciences, business administration, and international studies, among others.

The political science major prepares students to:

Demonstrate in-depth understanding of basic factual information about politics within the areas of specialization including but not limited to American Politics, Political Theory, International Relations, Comparative Politics and Methodology
Understand and be able to inter- relate the leading theories, literature and approaches in the subfields of American Politics, Political Theory, International Relations, Comparative Politics and Methods
Construct and articulate well-reasoned and logical arguments about political phenomena, grounded in evidence, and in multiple sub-fields on relevant issues in the discipline
Analyze political phenomena critically, recognize implications of diverse perspectives, normative positions and evidentiary claims
Conduct research into political questions using traditional library, documentary, interview sources and web-based information as well as exhibit proficiency in analyzing and interpreting their findings
Write clearly and persuasively about political questions, using appropriate language, and effectively use argument and evidence to communicate and support original analysis of political phenomena
Value civic engagement and appreciate the importance of active citizenship and working collaboratively with others
Develop realistic ideas for applying their knowledge and skills in meaningful employment and/or further educational opportunities after graduation through internships, independent research and other experiential learning opportunities

Course Descriptions

Course descriptions, requirements for the major and additional information can be found in the University Catalog.

STUDENT EXPERIENCES

Experiential learning bridges classroom study with real-world opportunities. You can enhance your studies through internships, co-curricular activities and other learning opportunities that include:

CAREER NETWORKING

Make career contacts through an advisory committee designed just for political science and legal studies majors and minors. BW alumni and other professionals serve as resources for informational interviews, shadowing and other networking opportunities. Students can learn about careers in politics, community development, policy, government, law and foreign service and obtain information about attending graduate or law school.

STUDY ABROAD AND INTERNSHIPS

Many students choose a semester-long internship programs based in Washington, D.C., that help them develop professional skills, earn academic credit and gain valuable job experience interning in settings that include the United States Congress, news organizations, nonprofits and law firms. Many others choose to study abroad to gain in-depth understanding of other societies and their potential as U.S. allies or potential sources of security threats.

MODEL UNITED NATIONS

A successful program in existence at BW for 40 years, Model United Nations is a series of simulations run as conferences where participating student teams from different universities learn about international diplomacy and the workings of intergovernmental organizations. The teams tackle current issues through negotiation and debate. The communication, negotiation and public speaking aspects make Model UN relevant for students of all majors. Over the years, the team and individual members of BW's Model UN and Model African Union teams have won every award at Harvard Model UN, Model NATO, Model AU and LEIMUN, including Best Delegation.

ALUMNI SUCCESS

Baldwin Wallace political science graduates are making an impact across the United States and beyond. Their work spans public service, law, advocacy, education and related fields that shape communities and public life.

FACULTY

Javier Morales-Ortiz

Chair, Department of Politics & Global Citizenship
Ph.D., University of Connecticut

Javier Morales-Ortiz

Jason Keiber

Assistant Professor, International Studies and National Security
Ph.D., International Relations, The Ohio State University

Jason Keiber

Whitney Mannies

Assistant Professor
Ph.D., University of California, Riverside

Whitney Mannies

Matthew Ward

Assistant Professor
Ph.D., University of Houston