Political Science

The minor in Political Science prepares you for a world shaped by political questions and decisions. You will learn key facts, terms, and background information on critical political issues, so that you can understand primary documents, academic literature, and coverage of these issues in the popular press.

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 also will learn the research methods of the field, so that you can produce your own analysis of public policy issues and independent research.

Bryant’s curriculum includes international relations, global politics, security and diplomacy, and human rights and ethics.

Students select one of the following:

• POLS 256 Government and Society in America
• POLS 291 Honors Contemporary American Politics
• GLOB/POLS 241 Introduction to Global Politics
• GLOB/POLS 290 Honors Politics of the Global System
• Two 300- or 400-level political science courses
• One 400-level political science course

A minimum of 12 credit hours is required for the minor. 

The major in Politics and Law is a unique program that brings together the complementary disciplines of Political Science and Legal Studies. This approach is reflected in its learning goals, its curriculum, its co-curricular opportunities, and the diverse intellectual make-up and personal commitments of its faculty members and students.

Political Science courses explore  government, comparative politics, and global politics. In Legal Studies, students learn about a variety of legal problems and develop insights into the ways that cultural forces, social change, intellectual debate, and historical developments shape law.

Students examine the theories and conceptual models used to describe, explain, and predict events, so that they move beyond seeing political events as simply a series of distinct cases.