Department of History and Political Science

The Department of History and Political Science offers baccalaureate degree programs in History, Intelligence Analysis, Political Science, International Relations, and Secondary Education-Social Studies. The Department is committed to scholarly and teaching excellence in order to prepare students for success in a wide variety of careers in government, public history, education, law, lobbying, public service, advocacy, journalism, business, management, and administration as well as for graduate and professional study in many areas, including law school. The Department also offers minors in African and African American Studies, American History, World History, Geography, Legal Studies, Political Science, Public Administration, and International Studies. The Department also works with the Education Department to prepare students for careers in secondary education.

The Department offers a rich selection of courses to support the College’s General Education program and to offer both breadth and depth for its majors. It is able to offer all students the opportunity to develop a global perspective that brings together the past and the present in order to understand the complexity, diversity, and interrelatedness of the world.

A wide variety of extracurricular activities and programs are sponsored by the Department. These include a student journal, Past and Present, which showcases student writing and research, chapters of national honor societies in History (Phi Alpha Theta), Political Science (Pi Sigma Alpha), and Geography (Gamma Theta Upsilon) and many opportunities for independent research and internships in a variety of settings. Students may also compete for a variety of awards to support independent research and to recognize academic excellence.