Political science is concerned with the systematic study of all forms of political behavior and the ideas on which they are built. Students of political science study the way governments are structured, operate and affect the governed.

The Department of Political Science attracts students with diverse interests and perspectives, each interested in some facet of the relationship between the government and private life. Upon learning and weighing quantifiable data pertaining to political issues, students are prodded to delve deeper, recognizing the tensions between the individual and the group that are inherent in living as a part of a community. Drawing on their liberal arts backgrounds, students within the Department of Political Science bring many perspectives and viewpoints to each issue, ensuring that they have well-rounded responses to today's dilemmas.