Knowledge Goals – students majoring in political science will be exposed to a wide range of substantive information about the world of politics, covering subjects such as:
- The history, characteristics, and impact of political institutions and systems, including international, national, state, and local governments
- The behavior of individual actors at both the mass and elite levels
- The processes involved in creating government policy and the impact of those policies
- The debates over the normative foundations of the state, the scope of its activities, and the nature of justice
Skill Goals – students majoring in political science will develop practical and marketable skills which will help them to apply that knowledge to any number of career paths. These skills include:
- Critical thinking – the ability to read and evaluate primary texts, ideas, theories, and political analysis
- Analysis/Research – the ability to pose and answer questions effectively
- Argumentation/Persuasion – the ability to use logic and evidence to build a persuasive argument
- Written and Verbal Communication – the ability to communicate ideas clearly on paper or through oral presentations
- Working in Groups – the ability to effectively coordinate with others on a project
- Practical Applications – the ability to take information gained through coursework and use it effectively in real world or simulated exercises
