The Department of Political Science at Dominican University is home to two majors: political science and international relations and diplomacy. Within these two majors, students will find five areas of concentration that allow them to focus their personal growth in an area most exciting to them. Whether your concern lies in your backyard or the other side of the world; whether it is in the eternal questions of life or the temporal questions of right now; whether you are on the road to a known career or searching desperately for a road sign, the political science department welcomes you in the shared journey toward truth.

The Political Science Major

A major in political science opens the door to a variety of career possibilities, in and out of government. Topics as current as environmental politics or trade with China and topics as timeless as human nature itself are part of political science. The political science discipline offers degree concentrations in five field areas. All the concentrations open numerous doors of opportunity for service to society and personal growth. Each concentration combines the foundation of knowledge in the discipline of political science that adds to the true liberal education at the heart of Dominican University with the uniqueness that allows each student to find his or her own path to success.

General Program

While all concentrations expose students to the different fields within the political science discipline, the general program is the most evenly distributed. This program is best for students still “finding their way” in political science. It allows students to build a base of knowledge across the different fields and provides some room for electives as interest increases in one area or another through exposure. This concentration, because it is a general program, also allows students the greatest freedom in particular class selections as long as they complete the number of courses required in each discipline area (American politics, political philosophy, and world politics).

American Politics

The American politics concentration explores the numerous facets of a society that continues to experiment in self-government. From the Declaration of Independence’s announcement of the birth of the United States to Lincoln’s call for “a new birth of freedom” at Gettysburg to a mature US after a second world war to perhaps a sign of old age in the 21st century, American politics holds endless possibilities for study. The concentration is designed to allow students the opportunity to explore various elements of American politics by requiring four American politics courses, but leaving the choice of courses up to the student. Opportunities to study the formal institutions of Congress, the president, the federal courts, and state and local governments are combined with the informal institutions of political parties, elections, and voting behavior. Students will also be asked to “step outside” American politics by taking a course in world politics and perhaps explore the deeper questions of living together through two required political philosophy courses.

Political Philosophy

All men and women try, in one way or another, to understand how the human world around them can both offer opportunities and close doors. Some of us are more observant than others in seeing human possibilities. Often the shrewdest observers of political life have tried to communicate their ideas to others. Perhaps the truth about politics can just as well be communicated in a play, novel, film or dialogue as in an essay. Such a communication is itself a political act. Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas, Plato and Shakespeare, not to mention Woody Allen, explore human possibilities. Political philosophy, as an area of concentration in political science, focuses on these great explorations.

Pre-Law

The pre-law concentration continues to grow as a popular choice for political science majors. While political science is not required for admission to law school, political science has proven to be a strong degree in preparing students for the rigors of law school. Courses in constitutional law, environmental law, American politics and political philosophy successfully prepare political science majors for law school by engaging them with problems and methods that they will encounter again. The concentration also allows students the flexibility of six political science electives to help them discover various areas in which they may put their future law degree to work. In addition to the strong course offerings, students are also encouraged to participate in mock LSAT exams every spring semester. This affords students the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the form of the LSAT in a less stressful environment.

International Affairs

The concentration in international affairs encourages students to understand politics by investigating how human beings are separated in space and, therefore, separated in climate, geography, language, ways of thought, wealth and opportunity. Through courses in comparative politics and international relations, the concentration in international affairs allows students to explore in another way the variety of human possibilities. In addition to required courses that provide the foundation for understanding the changing world, students are able to select five courses that focus on different parts of the world, such as the Middle East, China, Russia, and more. A foreign language is important for success in this area and therefore strongly recommended.

International Relations and Diplomacy Major

If a concentration in international affairs is of interest, you may also want to consider a degree in international relations and diplomacy. Like the concentration in international affairs, the major in international relations and diplomacy focuses on the global political environment, which today includes local governments and small businesses. Unlike the concentration in international affairs, the major in international relations and diplomacy is an interdisciplinary program requiring courses in political science, economics, history and modern foreign language. Students in this major are especially encouraged to take advantage of one of Dominican University’s study-abroad programs to London, Strasbourg, Florence or Milan.