B.A. in Politics

The controversies that grip our society and world make the study of politics more intriguing now than ever before. In response, our program encompasses both the traditional examination of government structures and processes, as well as the broader politics influencing our society. The Learning Outcomes are : Develop skills in critical thinking, modes of analysis and research that will last long after students have forgotten the details of our courses. Be able to question the conventional wisdom, to peek below the surface of traditional explanations, to challenge superficial political analyses, to understand and evaluate the performance of public institutions. Develop more sophisticated means of self-expression, both oral and written. Gain a sense of civic responsibility for fulfilling the obligations of citizenship, understanding the many issues which they must consider in a participatory governmental framework such as the United States. Develop an active public spirit, to balance individual growth with a concern for the community - both the local community and the global community. Understand the vital role which the U.S. Constitution and other laws have in maintaining the national and federal system of the United States. Experience first-hand the relationship between theory and practice through service learning opportunities. Development of research skills: ability to design and carry out research projects. Introducing students to various methodologies in the field--ranging from quantitative to qualitative, from radical perspectives to rational choice perspectives. Learn and appreciate both government and politics; that is, formal institutions and processes and also the dynamics of the power and politics that run the U.S. system both inside and outside government structures. Become familiar with a core of knowledge about politics domestically and internationally, to know about global and transnational relations and about the politics of the U.S. and how they differ from other nations in regions such as the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific. Learn and appreciate the formation and implementation of public policy and the great political ideas and thinkers including theorists drawn from various races, genders and nationalities. Understand politics more broadly, in its relationship with other disciplines such as history, economics, sociology and other fields. Learn to be concerned about issues of peace, economic development and human rights at home and abroad, to promote democratic values, to apply social science knowledge to contemporary social problems, including ways to improve the human condition and promote justice.