HIDE ANNOUNCEMENT

Political Science

BA Major, Minor

teacher and students in classroom

Students who gravitate toward political science are fascinated by current events. They want to know everything there is to know about how laws get made, how the governments of different nations compare, and how public policy impacts the nation and the world.

In Emory's Department of Political Science, we divide the study into four major fields:

  • Political theory
  • American government and politics
  • Comparative government politics
  • International politics

Outcomes

Political science majors frequently go into careers in politics and public service, but their strong analytical and communications skill make them ideally suited for many other fields requiring a high degree of critical thinking and influence.

A degree in political science will prepare you well to pursue roles in public relations, marketing, law, intelligence, and business to name just a few.

Recent graduateswork at the Aspen Institute, The Federalist Society, Canal Partners Media, Censeo Consulting Group, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

They’re also pursing advanced degrees at such prestigious institutions as Tufts University, Johns Hopkins, Vanderbilt, and New York University.

Examples of Classes

Environmental Policy

Through group discussions, reading assignments, and field excursions, this class takes you on a journey though the history and controversies of federal environmental policymaking, policymaking tools, and the impacts of globalization on how we perceive and manage environmental issues.

Classical Political Thought

Are we political animals by nature? Is happiness only found through political engagement? Discover how the writings as old as those of Aristotle and Xenon still inform our current political discourse.

Introduction to Comparative Politics

Examine a selection of advanced industrial democracies, communist and post-communist states, and developing countries to understand the real differences in political systems, comparing major concepts, key institutions, and political behavior within a historical and social context.

Special Programs in Political Science

campus of American university in Washington DC

StudyAway Programs

Emory’s Department of Political Science offers opportunities for you to advance your studies both domestically and abroad through our summer program in Berlin and semester programs at Bard College in New York City and at American University in Washington, D.C.

“I work a lot with students in public policy. It's interesting when they focus on current events, like cybercrime and hacking, the far-right movement in Europe, developments in terrorism, or the DREAM Act, because there's not a lot of published research. They have to apply theories to current events, and that's a big challenge.”

Chris Palazzolo Woodruff Library subject librarian for social sciences, French, government, and international documents