Political Science
Overview
A concentration and a minor
You’re fascinated with the democratic and political process. You follow The Drudge Report, Huffington Post, WSJ, and CNN on Twitter and Facebook. You’ve have campaigned for class president or another office or served as a campaign manager, and you can picture yourself speaking about public policies – whether as the interviewer or the expert.
In Bryant’s Political Science program, you will gain a working knowledge of foreign and domestic politics. You will study how governments and citizens act, and interact, in the making of public policy. You will develop a global perspective along with critical thinking and communication skills. You will deepen your ethical sensibility through the study of fundamental ethical questions that are intrinsic to politics.
You will examine the theories and conceptual models used to describe, explain, and predict events, so that you move beyond seeing political events as simply a series of distinct cases. You learn the research methods of the field, and will produce your own analysis of public policy issues and independent research.
Students interested in Political Science may also pursue the major in Politics and Law.
Future careers, post-grad opportunities
Studying political science will help you develop valuable skills in analytic thinking, decision-making, and communication, abilities that are crucial to your success throughout life. Political scientists are well prepared for advanced study in law school, international relations, political science, or public administration and for careers in government service, business, education, journalism, policy analysis, and in the nonprofit sector.
Political Science faculty
Political science experts, Bryant faculty members are renowned for their in-depth knowledge of topics ranging from US presidencies, politics and feminism in Japan, to the Abu Ghraib prison scandal. They regularly publish papers, speak at professional events, and contribute to book reviews. They have won awards for excellence in teaching and grants from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, and the National Science Foundation, among others.
Requirements
For an 18-credit concentration:
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Choose two courses from the following: • Government and Society in America (POLS256) or the Honors equivalent: Contemporary American Politics (POLS291) • Introduction to Global Politics (POLS241/GLOB241) or the Honors equivalent: Politics of the Global System (POLS/GLOB290) • Comparative Politics (POLS361) |
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Two 300- or 400-level political science courses (students may count POLS361, if they have taken POLS241 and POLS256 or equivalents) |
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Two 400-level political science courses |
For a 12-credit minor:
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Government and Society in America (POLS256) or the Honors equivalent: Contemporary American Politics (POLS291); or Introduction to Global Politics (POLS241/GLOB241) or the Honors equivalent: Politics of the Global System (POLS/GLOB290) |
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Two 300- or 400- level political science courses |
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One 400-level political science course |
To learn more, please contact:
John W. Dietrich, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Political Science Coordinator
Department of History and Social Sciences
jdietric@bryant.edu
EMPOWERED TO BE INVOLVED
Paulina Odame ‘14
Major: Politics and Law
Concentration: Economics
Minor: Business Administration
Odame has her sights set high – on the United Nations. Hailing from Accra, Ghana, she is majoring in Politics and Law – a precursor to her planned entry into law school.
“I’ve always had a passion for leadership, and I want to participate in a variety of activities that will help me grow as an individual and learn from my experiences and surroundings,” she says.
“Because I am very comfortable and happy at Bryant, I feel empowered to become more involved.” She is a Resident Assistant, a member of the International Student Organization, and the Multicultural Student Union.
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PASSION FOR POLITICS
Rich Holtzman, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Political Science
Politics is what gets Assistant Professor Holtzman out of bed in the morning. The political science guru – recognized by students for Excellence in Teaching in 2009 - has published numerous articles on U.S. politics and presidential rhetoric. His recent work focuses on narrative interpretations of the causes of the financial crisis, including an upcoming journal article, “What’s the Problem, Mr. President?: Bush’s Shifting Definitions of the 2008 Financial Crisis.”
Holtzman joined Bryant in 2006 after completing his doctorate at the University of Texas at Austin. His current research projects focus on public policy and the scholarship of teaching and learning.
CAMPAIGN CEO
Ann Marie Habershaw ’84, CPA, MBA
Working at: Obama for America
Obama for America, the Democratic National Committee, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee are just a few of the heavyweights on Habershaw’s resume. She has carved a niche for herself in the political arena as chief operating officer, running the day-to-day operations of liberal campaigns.
“Bryant has a reputation for excellent business education,” says Habershaw. “One of the most important lessons I learned in college was that the financial strength and transparency of any organization are key to its success, and understanding these aspects allows you to move into senior leadership positions in any area.”
