Political Science
At A Glance
The study of political science widens cultural perspectives by providing insight into political institutions and behavior. Students of political science develop an understanding of the responsibilities of intelligent citizenship.
Major
- Political Science
Minor
- Political Science
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Ready To Take the Next Step?
Carthage’s political science major provides a foundation for graduate study in political science or, with other social science courses, preparation for careers in government service, law, teaching, journalism, or research analysis.
Carthage also offers a major in international political economy for students who wish to focus on the evolving web of global relationships in politics, economics, and business.
- <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2137,2136/489_Nicole_Biba.rev.1638389813.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2137,2136/489_Nicole_Biba.rev.1638389813.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2137,2136/489_Nicole_Biba.rev.1638389813.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2137,2136/489_Nicole_Biba.rev.1638389813.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2137,2136/489_Nicole_Biba.rev.1638389813.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2137,2136/489_Nicole_Biba.rev.1638389813.jpg" alt="Nicole Biba ?24" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2137,2136/489_Nicole_Biba.rev.1638389813.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2137,2136/489_Nicole_Biba.rev.1638389813.jpg 3x" data-max-w="2137" data-max-h="2136" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “I really enjoy political science because of all of the thought that goes into it. I love learning about the different types of government that different people think is best.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/505-nicole-biba">Nicole Biba</a> ’24</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
- <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,725,978/33314_501_163701665847155_2.rev.1644443691.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,725,978/33314_501_163701665847155_2.rev.1644443691.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,725,978/33314_501_163701665847155_2.rev.1644443691.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,725,978/33314_501_163701665847155_2.rev.1644443691.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,725,978/33314_501_163701665847155_2.rev.1644443691.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,725,978/33314_501_163701665847155_2.rev.1644443691.jpg" alt="Abby Trch ?23" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,725,978/33314_501_163701665847155_2.rev.1644443691.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,725,978/33314_501_163701665847155_2.rev.1644443691.jpg 3x" data-max-w="725" data-max-h="978" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “Carthage faculty have had an invaluable impact on my college career. These are the types of relationships you could never find at larger universities.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/1517-abby-trch">Abby Trch</a> ’23</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
- <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,303,1536,1839/33779_562_163701665847155.rev.1647284055.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,303,1536,1839/33779_562_163701665847155.rev.1647284055.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,303,1536,1839/33779_562_163701665847155.rev.1647284055.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,303,1536,1839/33779_562_163701665847155.rev.1647284055.JPG 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,303,1536,1839/33779_562_163701665847155.rev.1647284055.JPG 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,303,1536,1839/33779_562_163701665847155.rev.1647284055.JPG" alt="Emily Frost ?23" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,303,1536,1839/33779_562_163701665847155.rev.1647284055.JPG 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,303,1536,1839/33779_562_163701665847155.rev.1647284055.JPG 3x" data-max-w="1536" data-max-h="1536" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “Whenever I had a difficult time (either in my personal life or academically), my political science and women’s and gender studies professors were there for me. Almost all of them would adjust due dates if needed and provide me with extra support as well.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/1528-emily-frost">Emily Frost</a> ’23</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
- <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/72/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,52,1049,1102/33662_Tyler_Kelly.rev.1646249271.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/72/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,52,1049,1102/33662_Tyler_Kelly.rev.1646249271.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/72/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,52,1049,1102/33662_Tyler_Kelly.rev.1646249271.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/72/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,52,1049,1102/33662_Tyler_Kelly.rev.1646249271.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/72/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,52,1049,1102/33662_Tyler_Kelly.rev.1646249271.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/72/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,52,1049,1102/33662_Tyler_Kelly.rev.1646249271.jpg" alt="Tyler Kelly ?24" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/72/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,52,1049,1102/33662_Tyler_Kelly.rev.1646249271.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/72/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,52,1049,1102/33662_Tyler_Kelly.rev.1646249271.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1049" data-max-h="1050" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “I really enjoyed my J-Term study tour to Peru, which expanded my global perspective, taught me about the impact of tourism, and was certainly the trip of a lifetime.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/1542-">Tyler Kelly</a> ’24</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
- <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,348,464/36498_Abby_Vidruk_22.rev.1670276769.webp 1x"/> <source type="image/png" srcset="/live/image/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,348,464/36498_Abby_Vidruk_22.rev.1670276769.png 1x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,348,464/36498_Abby_Vidruk_22.rev.1670276769.png" alt="Abby Vidruk ?22" width="183" height="183" data-max-w="348" data-max-h="464" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “I owe everything to the Carthage faculty. Their unwavering support and willingness to go above and beyond has helped me grow into the person I am today.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2217-abby-vidruk">Abby Vidruk</a> ’22</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
- <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/511,0,1763,1253/36446_4893_163701665847155.rev.1669861223.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/511,0,1763,1253/36446_4893_163701665847155.rev.1669861223.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/511,0,1763,1253/36446_4893_163701665847155.rev.1669861223.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/511,0,1763,1253/36446_4893_163701665847155.rev.1669861223.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/511,0,1763,1253/36446_4893_163701665847155.rev.1669861223.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/511,0,1763,1253/36446_4893_163701665847155.rev.1669861223.jpg" alt="Katherine Taylor Retek" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/511,0,1763,1253/36446_4893_163701665847155.rev.1669861223.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/511,0,1763,1253/36446_4893_163701665847155.rev.1669861223.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1252" data-max-h="1253" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “Getting the chance to perform here at Carthage is a rewarding experience. Not only for yourself but for those who take the time to come and support the show. Every time you perform a story, you act in a way that conveys you. Everyone should be able to have the chance to perform once in their lifetime because you may never know how it might change your individuality once you do try.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2213-katherine-taylor-retek">Katherine Taylor Retek</a> ’24</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
- <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,495,2268,2763/36277_Justin_Girodat.rev.1668032020.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,495,2268,2763/36277_Justin_Girodat.rev.1668032020.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,495,2268,2763/36277_Justin_Girodat.rev.1668032020.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,495,2268,2763/36277_Justin_Girodat.rev.1668032020.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,495,2268,2763/36277_Justin_Girodat.rev.1668032020.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,495,2268,2763/36277_Justin_Girodat.rev.1668032020.jpg" alt="Justin Girodat" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,495,2268,2763/36277_Justin_Girodat.rev.1668032020.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,495,2268,2763/36277_Justin_Girodat.rev.1668032020.jpg 3x" data-max-w="2268" data-max-h="2268" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “I chose Carthage because of the location, community, and success the volleyball program here at Carthage has had.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2150-justin-girodat">Justin Girodat</a> ’24</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
- <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2400,3200/35930_Kiah_Martin_23.rev.1665000414.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2400,3200/35930_Kiah_Martin_23.rev.1665000414.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2400,3200/35930_Kiah_Martin_23.rev.1665000414.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2400,3200/35930_Kiah_Martin_23.rev.1665000414.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2400,3200/35930_Kiah_Martin_23.rev.1665000414.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2400,3200/35930_Kiah_Martin_23.rev.1665000414.jpg" alt="Kiah Martin ?23" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2400,3200/35930_Kiah_Martin_23.rev.1665000414.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/100/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,2400,3200/35930_Kiah_Martin_23.rev.1665000414.jpg 3x" data-max-w="2400" data-max-h="3200" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “I chose Carthage because, coming from a town with a large state university, I knew a large class size was not for me. I did not want to get lost in a crowd of students, and I knew that creating relationships with faculty and other students was important for me.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2088-kiah-martin">Kiah Martin</a> ’23</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
Dedicated Faculty
Students studying political science at Carthage will study with professors devoted to seeing their students succeed.
- Read more from Carthage political science students
- Learn about the political science faculty and their research
Small Classes, Global Focus
Students can take such courses as African Transitions, Chinese Politics, Environmental Politics, Global Poverty, Human Rights, Latin American Politics, and many more. Most political science classes have fewer than 25 students for increased individualized faculty-student attention. Not only do the courses expand political knowledge, but the department also challenges students to think critically and develops students’ ability to communicate their ideas effectively.
See the full list of political science courses
Opportunities in the Classroom and Beyond
Political Science Department faculty and staff assist students in finding internship opportunities around the nation and world. In recent years, students have interned in the U.S. House of Representatives; worked at the Republican Governors Association in Washington, D.C., and interned with the U.S. Department of State in Rennes, France.
The Political Science Department also provides opportunities to study the political systems of other countries during J-Term. Faculty have recently led J-Term study tours in Cuba, Patagonia, Argentina, Peru, and the Galapagos Islands.