Political Science

Simply said, politics is about power; it's about who has it and what they do with it, and who wants it and how they get it. Political science, then, is the academic field that closely examines the processes, principles, and structure of government and political institutions and how these institutions interrelate on intra- and international scales.

Majors & Minors

Hiram College offers a major and a minor in political science. To qualify for the major, students must successfully complete nine courses from the department. Majors and their advisor also identify additional courses outside of the department that will enhance the major course of study based on the student's area of interest. The minor requires successful completion of five political science courses.

The Program

Hiram's political science program engages students in a serious examination of the origin and evolution of political philosophy within national and international contexts. Students will read fundamental, original texts from political philosophers such as Machiavelli, Kant, the founders of the American government, de Tocqueville, and others. Upper-level classes emphasize specialized coursework in areas that include international relations, regional studies, public policy making, comparative politics, and political philosophy. To cultivate a broad understanding of political science, majors are required to take one course from each of the department's four subfields: American politics, comparative politics, international politics, and political philosophy. All majors also must complete foundation courses in American politics, comparative politics, international politics, and political philosophy. Demonstrated proficiency in a foreign language is optional.

Requirements for Departmental Honors

Honors in political science will be awarded to students who meet Hiram College's requirements for departmental honors. Those requirements include the following criteria:

• A cumulative GPA of at least 2.8.
• A departmental GPA of at least 3.6.
• A sum GPA (cumulative GPA + departmental GPA) which equals 6.8.
• Further requirements for departmental honors such as papers, examinations, performances, or productions. These will be determined by each department conferring the honors.

In addition, a student must be recommended by the department for honors. Criterion number four for political science students includes an independent study course through which students must produce a paper of substantial length and quality. Honors candidates in political science will be examined on their paper by the faculty of the department and by an external faculty evaluator.

Hands-on Learning

To develop an understanding of the procedures that enable political efficacy, Hiram's political science department strongly encourages students to participate in off-campus internships. These internships reflect students' personal interests and are commonly hosted by organizations that include government offices, non-profit organizations, think tanks and research institutions, law firms, and more. Every year a number of Hiram political science students who are interested in national politics serve as interns on Capitol Hill in the offices of Senators and Congressional Representatives. Most recently, students have interned with Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Congressman Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Congressman Joseph Hoeffel (D-PA).

The department also will assist students with identifying internship experiences. For example, a student who was interested in issues of gender equity obtained an internship with the White House Project in New York City, a non-partisan organization dedicated to advancing women into positions of leadership, including the U.S. presidency. Through this internship, the student contributed to two major research projects, one titled, "Who's Talking: An Analysis of Sunday Morning Talk Shows" and another on female candidates in gubernatorial and senatorial elections.

In addition to assisting students with locating and securing internship opportunities, the political science department actively coordinates the Hiram chapter of the Model UN program. This organization provides Hiram students with the opportunity to simulate the complex environment of international relations while role-playing solutions to contemporary global problems. Annually, students in Hiram's program participate in regional and national Model UN conferences hosted by Harvard University and Mc Gill University in Montreal, Canada. Internships also are available through The Washington Center, an organization that coordinates semester-long and summer internships for academic credit with a number of different institutions in Washington, D.C. Go to www.twc.edu for more information.

After Hiram

The rigor and breadth of Hiram's political science program has helped graduates launch successful professional careers and gain acceptance to prestigious graduate programs. Recent graduates of Hiram's political science curriculum have pursued careers in the fields of government, education, and law. Examples of current job titles held by Hiram political science graduates include: budget analyst with the Office of Management and Budget, public prosecutor, special agent with the secret service, tax lawyer, and urban planner. Young alumni have pursued graduate degrees from universities that include Baylor, Cincinnati, George Washington, Northeastern, Ohio State, and Princeton, among many others.