Ad Victorem it Cervisia et Aeternam Gloriam! ;^)
The scope of our discipline is broad and diverse, reflected in both the faculty and students of the department. We introduce our majors to four key sub-fields of Political Science (Political Theory; American Institutions; Public Administration; Quantitative Methodology) and encourage them to enhance their knowledge of each through their upper division studies. All upper-division courses in this major place a premium on oral and written analytical skills and it is common for courses to require both oral and written research projects in addition to essay examinations.
The department meets the needs and interests of students in four major categories: those interested in a general understanding of public affairs; those who seek the in-depth knowledge and experiential learning obtained from the major; those who seek the advanced understanding, applied knowledge, and professional competence provided by an applied master’s degree concentration; and those who seek the mastery of the knowledge of a discipline and the methods of social science inquiry that will enable them to be researchers and teachers in higher education. At all these levels, students focus on public affairs in the United States. To a lesser degree, we focus on the public affairs of other countries, the international arena, and the nature of non-profit organizations.
Mission Statement:
The mission of the Department of Political Science is to promote scholarship, leadership and responsible citizenship among students at the University of St. Thomas. The Department provides a solid liberal arts curriculum that exposes students to the principal sub-fields of the discipline and develops transferable skills of liberal learning. Through service learning, internship programs, and a robust curriculum, the Department offers students experience in politics, government, and the law. The Department encourages interdisciplinary study in the arts, sciences, and professions, and global awareness through participation in study abroad programs. Actively involved in research, teaching and applied scholarship, the Political Science faculty serves as mentors to students seeking academic challenge and civic involvement.
Vision Statement:
The Department of Political Science aims at being recognized as a leader among Political Science programs at institutions of comparable size and character. Pursuant to this goal, the Department is committed to excellence in teaching, scholarship, and mentoring. By offering a distinctive program that includes opportunities for independent research, experiential learning, and off-campus study, the Department promotes scholarship in the Political Science discipline, civic participation, and leadership.
Political Science supports the University of St. Thomas' Mission/Vision/Strategic Plan by providing an opportunity for our majors to gain an in-depth understanding of Political Science and related social sciences and a firm background in the normative, historical, qualitative, and quantitative dimensions of these disciplines. Normatively speaking, the Department seeks to promote civility, practical reason, and enlightened, public-spirited citizenship.
