Political Science | Social Sciences and Cultural Studies

Table of Contents

The Scientific Study of Politics

Aristotle introduced empirical observation into the study of politics and is therefore considered by many to be the forebear of modern political science. He argued that the scientific study of politics is enabled by “practical reason,” aimed at creating knowledge for the sake of action. Aristotle maintained that political study helped us understand who we are as humans and how to construct happy, productive, and cooperative lives in society—striving toward what Aristotle called “the good life.”

Why Political Science?

The Political Science Undergraduate Major at WNMU maintains Aristotle’s concern with the scientific study of the nature of order and governance at every level of human society. Our courses are designed to explore, fundamentally, how power and resources are allocated in societies, and what the consequences are for the people who live there. The mission of the undergraduate major in political science is thus to train students to be politically literate citizens capable of understanding governments and political processes in the United States and abroad, the ways governments cooperate and compete on the global stage, and to learn how to develop creative and practical policy strategies that can help make our world better. Consistent with Aristotle’s teachings, the political science major emphasizes knowledge for the sake of action. It prepares students to be engaged in the business of governing and political decision-making, from the community level to the international stage.

Our program is the ideal home for students interested in politics, international affairs and important issues like the environment and civil rights, gender and politics, political economy, and inter- and intrastate conflict, to name a few. We explore these issues and others from diverse perspectives, both scientific and humanistic. Students engage with and analyze ancient and seminal texts in political philosophy and theory, discover the importance of case study analysis, and learn to collect and analyze qualitative and quantitative data to better understand and explain what we observe in our political world.

As a political science student, you will also learn to actively read and analyze source material, think critically and imaginatively about topics, build effective arguments, and learn to write evidence-based analyses with clarity and precision. These skills are essential to a wide range of careers, and will also help you think more openly about diverse points of view, relate better to those around you, and learn to become a respectfully engaged and capable citizen.

The versatile set of skills political science majors acquire are readily applicable to stimulating careers in local, state, and federal governments; nonprofit and non-governmental organizations; intergovernmental organizations; K-12 and college teaching; law and policy analysis/public administration; campaign management and polling/research; media and journalism; and the corporate/private sector, among others.

About the Political Science Undergraduate Major

You can pursue either the Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, or the Bachelor of Science in Political Science. Regardless of your choice, you will get a broad education in politics and government institutions through courses that sharpen analytical thinking skills, expose you to animated debates about theory and methodology, which have been an integral part of the discipline over the past half century; and challenge you to critically evaluate the rights and responsibilities of citizens living in political societies. As a political science major, you will have opportunities to take introductory, foundational, and advanced upper-division courses in the following four distinct subfields:

American Politics, which focuses on the American political system, including institutions (e.g., Legislative, Executive, Courts, and Bureaucracy) and mass political behavior (e.g., elections, public opinion, and the media).
Comparative Politics, which focuses on the U.S. and foreign governments outside of the United States, with an eye to comparing how different political systems affect political outcomes. Topics include the study of political and economic institutions, as well as mass political behavior across different contexts.
International Relations, which explores how nation states interact in the global system. Topics include the study of international conflict and the role that international institutions play in shaping nation states’ behavior.
Political Theory, which theoretically evaluates how individuals behave and ought to behave in a collective polity. Political theorists bring precision to fundamental–yet contested–key political concepts, such as freedom, equality, democracy, and justice.

Student Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course study, students should be able to

explain basic political structures, processes, policies, and their respective trade-offs, in US and global governments/governance;
discern between fundamental normative and empirical theories and approaches and assess the implications for real-world political developments;
apply knowledge of diverse theoretical and methodological approaches to studying current political affairs;
build effective arguments and write evidence-based analyses with clarity and precision; and
analyze source material and think critically and imaginatively about the topics under inquiry.

Degree Requirements

Political Science Degree Plan — Download Here

Here you will find a copy—courtesy of the Advising Office—of the POLS degree plan options. This document is used by students, advisors, and faculty mentors to keep track of courses already taken and to plan for upcoming courses en route to completing a POLS major (BA or BS) or POLS minor. To ensure timely and accurate completion of the major, POLS students are expected to consult with Advising regularly for guidance as they navigate the degree, in accordance with the program’s course rotation and prescribed course sequence.

Schedule an Advising Appointment

Click here to be directed to the appointment scheduling webpage for the Advising Office. To make an appointment for advising related to the POLS major or minor, please scroll down to “Behavioral Sciences & College of Arts and Sciences,” and select “Make an Appointment.” You may, of course, also reach out to Dr. Joel Blaxland or Dr. Michael Cook, faculty mentors, whose contact information appears below.

Admissions

Students may declare a major or minor in political science upon enrollment to the university. Generally, students will choose their major in the spring semester of their Sophomore year. You will want fill out a Declaration of Major form, available at the link below.

Declaration of Major Degree Form — Download Here

This form allows you to declare any major or minor at WNMU. For any questions with this form, please reach out to the registrar’s office.

https://form.jotform.com/wnmu_forms/declaration-of-major

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What can I do with a political science degree?
A. Political science students can gain a versatile set of skills that can be applied in a wide range of exciting careers in federal, state and local governments. They can obtain jobs in both the private and government sectors. They can also obtain jobs in law, business, international organizations, nonprofit associations and organizations, campaign management and polling, journalism, research, and education.

Q: Does the political science degree program offer online courses?
A: Yes, the political science degree program offers a major and a minor that can be completed entirely online.

Q: How do I Learn More?
A. You can contact our office manager:

Holly Anderson
Phone: 575-538-6634
Email: Holly.Anderson@wnmu.edu

Faculty Contacts

To help your path to political science studies at Western be as smooth as possible, our political science professors stand ready to address any questions you may have. We encourage you to reach out without hesitation.

Dr. Joel Blaxland
Associate Professor of Political Science
Best way to contact Dr. Blaxland is by email: Joel.Blaxland@wnmu.edu
Office: Off-Campus