Undergrad News
Internship Workshop - April 16th Read more ... 
Senior Celebration - May 14, 2008 Read more ...
Matt Giancola '08 to run for state legislature Read more ...
Danielle F. (Bionda) Hughes '91 A Woman on Wall Street Read more ...
David M. McCarthy ’86 (political science), making it on Wall Street Read more ...
Jeremy Hollister ’96 (political science), founder, president and creative director of Plus et Plus Read more ...
Department Awarded First-Year and Senior Seminar Grants. Read more ...
George Hertz ’69 (government now political science), is a "Man on the Move Motivated by New Challenges" Read more ...
Henry Barr ’68, gives "A Leader’s Advice: Get Involved and Give Back" Read more ...
Christine G. Solt '92 (political science), selected for Boston Business Journal’s 2007 “40 Under 40” Award Read more ...
Attending UMass is a rewarding experience for Katrina Cessna ’08 Read more ...
Daniel Torres ’07 (political science and economics) is spending the summer at the Denmark International Study Program in Copenhagen. Read more ...
Senior Celebration was held May 17, 2007 Read more ...
Policy Debate Team at University of Massachusetts Read more ...
Undergraduate Program
Contemporary political science examines social and political behavior and practices, the varied contexts in which they occur, and the ideas and ideals which motivate persons in public life. Departmental requirements seek to develop a critical perspective toward the structure and operation of political systems and the major philosophical questions presented by these systems, acquainting students with different substantive areas and exposing them to several different methods of analysis, such as historical, legal, institutional, theoretical, and empirical. The department encourages its majors to pursue a diverse course of study, concentrating in the discipline of political science, but including other social sciences, history, journalism and English.
Life After UMass: What Can I Do With A Political Science Degree?
How can political science help you in “the real world?” Political science is part of a liberal arts education. Unlike the education you might receive at a business school, for example, a liberal arts education is not intended to “train” you for a specific job. Rather, a liberal arts education is intended to deepen a student’s overall intellectual understanding and abilities, to foster “the examined life.”
While the benefits of a liberal arts education are good in themselves, they also produce skills that employers and graduate schools find very attractive. As part of a liberal arts education, the political science major builds skills in writing and analysis that are critical in today’s world. You will learn to analyze the great political events and ideas of the world and express your findings in clear, persuasive prose. You will use the tools of both scientific measurement and rigorous, logical thinking to examine everything from a small town meeting to an international summit on terrorism. You will examine great ideas such as justice and equality, and consider their presence in our contemporary political world. The vast scope of political science means that you are not only learning key skills that will always be in demand, but you are also learning to be flexible—and in today’s global economy, this ability is priceless.
What can you “do” with a political science major? Just about anything. From careers that are closely related to politics, such the rapid growth in jobs in local, state, and federal government, to those careers that will apply your skills to non-governmental areas, such as publishing, journalism, non-profits, and the media. Political science is frequent major for “pre-law” students. Former political science majors have been American presidents, artists, and bankers—there are few limitations on what can be done with a strong liberal arts education in political science.
For career assistance (current students, alumni, and employers), please visit the Career Services Office.
