Welcome

In 2010 the Department of Political Science celebrated ninety years of teaching, research and public service within one of the nation’s finest universities. Instruction in Political Science began on September 14, 1920 with a staff of one assistant professor, Dr. Charles E. Martin, offering three year-long courses (Comparative Government, U.S. Foreign Policy, and International Law).

Today the department is among the best in the country. The most recent ranking by the highly respected National Research Council ranks us nationally in the top ten. Among the department's many strengths, we have gained notable distinction in political economy, comparative politics including the politics of developing nations, and political theory.