Mission Statement

To offer undergraduate and graduate degree programs including:

• Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
• Bachelor of Science in Public Administration and Public Policy
• Bachelor of Arts in International Relations
• Master of Public Administration (MPA)

In all programs we seek to develop critical thinking about our political and social values and objective analysis of political systems and structures. In all programs we seek to achieve a high quality of teaching.

The undergraduate degree in political science offers a broad education in American political processes, public law, comparative and international politics and political theory. It serves the student who has an interest in public affairs; it particularly serves those who intend to go to law school.

The undergraduate degree in international relations seeks to prepare its graduates with the tools to work in the global economy. Students are exposed to political science-based international relations coursework, as well as to economics, history, philosophy, and a foreign language of their choice.

The undergraduate degree in public administration is a liberal arts degree even though it also provides an orientation to public service careers. The MPA degree is a professional one and it is designed primarily to educate people for service in government and related agencies; we want to meet professional standards and expectations in the design of our public administration programs.

• In the case of the MPA degree, we seek to be in conformity with the guidelines of the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).

To develop the research and publishing capabilities of our faculty. A high quality of teaching cannot long be maintained if the faculty is not actively pursuing research interests. The department should foster and encourage the research capabilities of our faculty

• Individual and collaborative research efforts are to be encouraged and supported by a positive attitude toward research innovations. We give maximum support for flexible leave and staffing policies to help foster research activities.
• The department maintains its own development fund, raised largely through faculty contributions, for seeding innovative research projects.
• The department is committed to the provision of computer support services to individual faculty members.

To support and strengthen the teaching capabilities of the faculty. The department provides opportunities to develop new courses and new ways of teaching existing courses. Courses do not 'belong' to individuals but rather to the department and should be assigned to achieve the best working of its programs.

• The Department Development Fund provides support for innovative teaching techniques.

The full development of the foreign and comparative politics field of the department is aided by utilizing the international studies competencies of our comparative politics faculty in the International Studies course offerings. Historically, we have undertaken commitments to international studies courses as new faculty positions have been authorized for the department.