Applying What You Learn
In his message to the students in the College of Arts and Sciences, Dean Boocker explains the importance of "making knowledge matter." We believe that means helping you develop useful, real-world skills alongside the sense of fulfillment and enrichment that studying Political Science can provide.
We also believe in making you aware of the knowledge and skills you're developing along the way, so that you can capitalize on your strengths in the marketplace, in graduate school and in life.
Knowledge & Skills Gained as a Political Science Major:
Knowledge:
- Knowledge of political science, its various sub-disciplines, major themes, and analytical techniques
- International perspective on political science research, the nature of change in the global political community, and the complex character of processes such as globalization
- Understanding of human cultural and political variability in the U.S. and the global community, and an appreciation of others’ viewpoints and culture-specific attitudes, ideals and practices
- Intellectual framework for vigorous participation in civil society and public debate over the nature of the “good society”
Skills:
- Ability to examine written material and oral presentations critically
- Ability and desire to engage with social and political problems, to acquire relevant data, and use insight, knowledge, reasoning, and technical skills to analyze that data and develop logical solutions
- Ability to gather information, assess its importance, and organize it for use.
- Ability to effectively communicate ideas and information verbally, visually and in writing
- International and culturally sensitive perspective that assesses and evaluates information fairly and objectively