Welcome to the Political Science Department
The Political Science Department offers a program of study that provides students with an opportunity to explore politics and government from multiple vantage points – at the grassroots, the nation-state, and the global community – and from a variety of theoretical, conceptual, comparative, historical, and experiential perspectives.
Our curriculum examines the institutional structures and processes of American politics, compares and appraises different types of political systems throughout the world, analyzes the relationships among various nations and other international actors, and probes the fundamental issues of justice, equality, liberty, and authority that underlie any polity.
Along with developing a command of core concepts and theories, students are encouraged to engage scholarship at the frontiers of the discipline through enrollment in intermediate-level courses and especially advanced-level seminars. The program culminates with the completion by all of our majors of a senior thesis; the thesis process features close collaboration with a faculty member and the fostering of a strong capacity to undertake sophisticated and independent academic inquiry over an extended period of time. Finally, given the inherent diversity of the political realm, our curriculum highlights the desirability and necessity of addressing the role of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and class in the study of politics and government.
In sum, students are encouraged to reflect upon the ideas, values, practices, and institutions that constitute the political world, reassess basic assumptions, and think critically, logically, and creatively about existing conditions and how they might be ameliorated.
Our program prepares students for graduate study at the highest levels and for careers in such fields as public service, government, international affairs, law, business, education, and journalism. Above all, we strive to nurture in our students a love of learning and a life-long desire to be thoughtful and engaged citizens.
Inside Political Science @ Haverford
Blogs
Students from PoliSci/Hist 233 blogged from Guatemala in March 2008..
Sketches on Courses
Sketches on Courses lets you take a look at what Political Science courses are really like.-
Student Research
Learn more about the thesis process. 
Faculty Research
Find out what recent and upcoming publications are in the works from Political Science faculty..
News
-
A fellowship established by the Center for Peace and Global Citizenship allows one faculty member per year to attend the seminar, continuing the center's efforts to globalize the Haverford community. Susanna Wing was the 2008 recipient.