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Department of Political Science
Prospective Students
Departmental Learning Goals (for senior majors):
1. Students should be able to identify and apply concepts and theoretical approaches that pertain to a relevant political science research question or puzzle in the student's field of study.
2. Students should be able to use appropriate methods to critically examine relevant texts or phenomena, or to test hypotheses informed by theoretical arguments or propositions.
3. Students should be able to use sound reasoning and marshal evidence in a rigorous manner to make critical arguments and derive related implications.Disciplinary Focus
Political science is concerned with the study of power, government, and the state. Power relationships among individuals, groups, and nations, and their governmental and policy results are examined using a variety of political science methods, including case studies, textual analysis, field research and interviews, and statistical analysis of quantitative data.
The study of politics is as old as Aristotle and as new as the latest public opinion poll. It is as parochial as getting potholes in city streets repaired and as exotic as negotiating international agreements to protect endangered species.
In a liberal arts setting, political science majors at The College of Wooster easily can take advantage of the interdisciplinary nature of their studies. Wooster's curriculum encourages majors to pursue the concentration that interests them, even possibly designing their own concentration. Majors also have numerous opportunities for off-campus study, including internships appropriate to a student's special interests and qualifications. Programs take Wooster students to Washington, D.C., the United Nations in New York, abroad to Europe, Latin America, and Asia, and to other urban centers around the United States.
Requirements for the Political Science Major
The major in political science consists of nine courses plus two courses of Independent Study (PSCI 451-452). The requirements for the major include:
1) At least two introductory level courses (PSCI 110, 120, 130, or 140) which should be completed by the end of the sophomore year.
2) A three-course concentration within one of the four sub-fields of the discipline: Government and Politics in the United States, International Relations, Political Theory, and Comparative Politics. The concentration must include the introductory course in the selected sub-field. Students will be asked to declare their concentrations when they declare their major, and they may design their own concentrations with the approval of the chair of the department.
3) At least one full credit course in each of the four sub-fields of the discipline. Students should consult their advisor or the chair of the department concerning which courses might best complement their chosen concentrations and interests.
4) Research Methods and Design (PSCI 350) or Tutorial on Research in Political Theory (PSCI 330) for Political Theory Concentrations, to be completed within the area of concentration.
5) Senior Independent Study (PSCI 451-452), to be completed within the area of concentration.
The foregoing describes the minimum major in political science; students may count toward graduation additional courses in political science. Indeed, students are strongly encouraged to take additional upper-division political science courses in order to acquire depth of understanding in preparation for Junior and Senior Independent Study. The minor in Political Science consists of six courses, including at least one introductory level course and at least one course in not fewer than three fields.
Download a copy of the Political Science Advising ChecklistAdditional Perspectives on Political Science at Wooster
The Major-Four ConcentrationsU.S. politics examines the interactions among political parties, interest groups, social movements, and government institutions in the United States.
Comparative politics provides students with a broader view of their own society by putting their experience into the context of how other societies have attempted to solve problems of governance, justice, economic development and political stability.
International relations is concerned with patterns of conflict and cooperation among nation-states, international organizations, and non-governmental actors such as environmental groups and multinational corporations.
Political theory questions the philosophical foundation of our understanding of the political world and its implications for justice and the common good.
Independent StudyDuring senior year, each student works with a faculty member to investigate a subject of the student's choosing. These Independent Study projects provide majors with the opportunity to examine a topic of special interest in great depth. Jim Deprez '02 looked at Sustainable Forestry: A Policy Evaluation of British Columbia And the United States. Hilary Jones '02 wrote After the Battle: World Trade Organization Labor Policies in the Post-Seattle Era. And Jacob Sintich '02 investigated media bias in Does the Media Give 'Special' Coverage to the Special Prosecutor?
Life after Wooster
Wooster political science graduates choose a wide variety of careers. Some enter the business sector or secondary education. Many others choose law school or other graduate programs. Lauren Bell '94 is an assistant professor of political science at Mary Washington College. Mike Householder '95 covered the Whitewater grand jury hearings as a reporter for the Associated Press. Ben Mizer '97 went to law school at the University of Michigan after graduation and is now clerking for a U.S. Supreme Court justice.
Department Chair
Matthew Krain, Office: Kauke 104, Extension: 2469; E-mail: mkrain@wooster.edu
The Faculty
Angela Bos, Michelle Camou, Jeffrey Lantis, Kent Kille, Matthew Krain, Boubacar N'Diaye, Eric Moskowitz, Malte Pehl, Leanne Powner, Bas van Doorn, and Mark Weaver
