Bryant students learn the link between business, politics, law

First class of Politics and Law students pursue graduate studies, government opportunities.

Bryant encourages students to use the limitless opportunities available to them to identify their passion. The theory is if you enjoy your job it won’t feel like work.

Kevin Dobbs ’09 (Gardner, MA) is a perfect example. At the beginning of his junior year, the University unveiled a new degree program in Politics and Law. Then a political science minor, Dobbs jumped at the opportunity to further his studies in a topic for which he quickly developed a keen interest.

“When I learned about the Politics and Law major, I was instantly drawn to it because of my deep desire to enter public service and tackle difficult public policy issues in the future,” he says.

Dobbs was part of the first group of seven students to receive a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Law at Bryant’s 146th Commencement in May. Currently he is exploring a career in government, focusing on national security and intelligence – an interest that spawned from classes on foreign policy and international relations he took with Associate Professor of History and Social Sciences John Dietrich.

“The classes opened my eyes to new topics, new complexities about life, and provided me a platform to speak up and get involved in the political process,” says Dobbs. “Professor Dietrich’s ability to explain complex theories and use examples as clarification was incredibly helpful during my time at Bryant.”

‘Setting policies of the future’

Dietrich, Bryant’s coordinator of Political Science, says the Politics and Law major unites the complementary disciplines of legal studies and political science. In addition to acquiring knowledge, students learn how to write and think critically to prepare them for the ever-evolving field. Currently, 39 students are majoring in Politics and Law.

“Students understand the process of policy creation, implementation, and enforcement in both domestic and international areas,” he says. “They are prepared to be active players in setting the policies of the future.”

Joseph Becker ’09 (Windsor Locks, CT) had already taken classes in legal studies when the new major was introduced. He says the new major provided a good complement to the strong business education he was receiving.

“The Politics and Law major opened my eyes to news ways of thinking and challenged me to think abstractly,” says Becker, who will enroll in a graduate program in management at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in September.

A third graduate, Joe Robertson ’09 (North Providence, RI), recently began a joint program at Syracuse University in which he will pursue a Master’s of Public Administration and a Master’s in International Relations. He was one of only 15 students to be accepted into the two year program offered by the Maxwell School at Syracuse, which has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the top school in public affairs the last five years.

Upon completing his degree in 2011, Robertson hopes to work in global security concentrating in intelligence and counter-terrorism.