Political Science

Prepare to engage the world through activism, policy work and informed political participation.

The department's four majors are effective tracks to future work and study in areas such as law, public policy, international affairs, governmental service and business. They provide the basic skills most often associated with liberal arts education. Writing, public speaking, collecting and assessing data, critical reading, independent thinking, and civic responsibility are central parts of the programs. Political Science faculty are well placed to assist students with internships in Washington, D.C., overseas, Montgomery, Birmingham and elsewhere. They are active in helping students obtain fellowships from graduate schools and national foundations.

"The Department of Political Science has done an amazing job at preparing me for the workforce. Not only have they provided me with opportunities to network - connecting me to different employers, but they have also aided in my internships and post-graduation plans." —Alex Rosales, Political Science Major

Department faculty actively assist students in a wide variety of areas. They play key roles in the Model United Nations, IR-Careers-in-DC programs and Pre-law advising, serve as faculty advisors for many student social justice and political groups, and run several honorary societies. our resources page helps current students get connected to the world of political science. Our excellent students are equally involved around campus and in the community, and stay connected to the world of political science through our resources page. The department has had great success in helping to place students in top law and graduate programs. You can learn about some of their stories on our Alumni page.

"I have had a phenomenal experience in the Political Science Program at Samford. The department is blessed with high-quality professors who genuinely care about your success. They are approachable and more than willing to help. I have had nothing but good experiences in the Department of Political Science." —Alexander Hall, Law, Politics and Society Major

Academic Programs

Undergraduate Majors

International Relations

Samford’s international relations interdisciplinary major combines elements of political science, history, world languages, and economics to help students develop a comprehensive understanding of the global system and their role in it.
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Law, Politics and Society

The law, politics and society interdisciplinary major gathers resources from the disciplines of history, journalism, sociology, philosophy, economics, family studies and communication studies to provide a comprehensive program for studying the law. Because the major was created in consultation with Samford’s Cumberland School of Law, the program also offers the opportunity to work directly with law faculty. With a rich selection of courses focused on jurisprudence, ethics, legal history, law and economics, criminology, international law, global human rights, media law, family law, Alabama and U.S. constitutions, and legal communication, the major provides outstanding preparation for internships, law school and legal careers.
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Political Science

The political science major helps students develop insight into how people function in communities, what justice means and how we can accomplish it, and how we set up laws and institutions to better function in groups. Emphasizing analytical and statistical skills, internships, travel, and participation in campus, community and international political organizations, the major is ideal preparation for careers in law, public policy, international affairs, government service and business.
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Public Administration

The public administration interdisciplinary major, shared by the Political Science Department and Brock School of Business, helps students develop specific policy and business knowledge, and develop powerful internship experiences on the way to leadership in a variety of careers
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Undergraduate Minors

Political Science

The political science minor is an ideal complement to any major or career that values insight into how people function in communities, what justice means and how we can accomplish it, and how we set up laws and institutions to better function in groups.
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