Discover Political Science
Political science seeks to understand, to explain, and - sometimes - to evaluate how humans live and work together in public ways. To do so, political scientists focus on what happens in and around government and politics, how humans cooperate with and how they fight against one another, why some nations succeed and others fail.
Political scientists study voting and revolutions, the Supreme Court and the United Nations, the idea of justice and the nature of power, environmental policy, criminal law and gender politics - all in the pursuit of clearer knowledge about the characteristic ways humans interact in the public sphere.
Be Inspired by Our Faculty
Political science students have the opportunity to meet and work with faculty that have in-depth expertise covering diverse aspects of the discipline. Not only do our faculty excel in their own academic scholarship, but they also excel in imparting that knowledge to students.
Student-Centered
Students majoring in political science at Pacific gain a well-grounded liberal arts education that focuses on the knowledge and skills necessary to understand the public realities of their world and to live their lives as empowered citizens. They look in depth at the fundamental concepts and values that underlie human decision-making, examine the social and political structures and processes through which such decisions are shaped and carried out, learn to analyze complex organizational and legal phenomena and survey the inventiveness of cultures in devising a variety of ways to provide government.
They also become familiar with the contributions to their understanding that they can gain from related social sciences, such as economics, history, anthropology and psychology. In acquiring this knowledge, Political Science majors extend their analytical and research skills, polish their talents for written and oral communication, and sharpen their abilities for rigorous and independent judgment.
Learn Outside the Classroom
Our majors are involved in nearly every aspect of the university's life. In addition to participating in student government and groups like the Black Student Union, the College Democrats and the College Republicans, political science majors can be found at the core of Pacific's nationally ranked speech and debate team and on many of its athletics teams. In 2016, the department launched the Sacramento Governance Summer Program that gives students the opportunity to earn 8 units while studying and interning in Sacramento during the summer.
Build a Solid Foundation for Your Future
Many Pacific political science students find that an education in political science is an excellent foundation for careers in law, government and public policy, while others pursue careers in fields including education, marketing and technology. All of our students, however, graduate with a passion for knowledge that gives them a unique perspective as they move forward in life as well-rounded, thoughtful and dedicated citizens intent on making an impact in the world.