Political Science
Political Science at Providence College
To be human is to be political. So claimed Aristotle, who stated that human beings are, by nature, the “political animal.” Political science is the systematic study of political institutions, ideas, identities, events, and behaviors. As such, political science seeks to understand collective power — specifically, how and by whom such power is acquired, exercised, and challenged. Students who major in political science at Providence College examine politics in a variety of contexts and from a variety of perspectives, both domestic and international. Graduates of the program find that a degree in political science from Providence College opens doors to a wide range of careers in the public and private sectors. The major also enables our students to become engaged and responsible citizens of their communities.
DEGREE PROGRAMS
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Students complete 11 three-credit courses, including Political Science 101 and an upper-level seminar of their choosing. Majors must take at least one course in each of the subfields of American politics, comparative politics, political theory, and international relations, and a course on quantitative and qualitative methods. Students also complete four electives, which may include courses from the main subfields and others that cross subfields and disciplines.
Minor in Political Science
A minor in political science is a valuable addition to many other fields of study, including sociology, economics, public and community service studies, global studies, and business. Minors must complete PSC 101 and five additional political science courses of their choosing. At least two of these must be at the 300 or 400 level.
Certificate in Public Administration
The Public Administration Program prepares students for careers in a variety of public service sectors and graduate degrees in public administration (MPA) and public policy (MPP). The program consists of core courses in political science as well as three courses in other disciplines on ethics, economics, and finance.
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Take classes, live in D.C., and work an internship in the Washington Semester Program
Find placements in research and policy internships via the Rhode Island State Government Internship Program
Publish articles co-authored with department faculty in prominent scholarly journals
FACULTY
Small class sizes mean that majors can really get to know their professors. Our faculty come from diverse backgrounds and hold degrees from some of the finest institutions, including Berkeley, Brandeis, Brown, Columbia, Penn, Rutgers, Michigan, Notre Dame, Syracuse, UMass-Amherst, and UTAustin.
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IN THE NEWS
RECENT DEPARTMENT UPDATES
AFTER PC
Several PC political science alumni serve in elective office in federal, state, and local governments. Many of our graduates also have been quite successful in business, including some of the world’s most successful corporations such as Oracle, General Electric, Bloomberg News, and Chase Manhattan. In addition, a large number of our students eventually seek graduate or professional degrees in a variety of specialties, including business, law, health policy, public administration and public policy, secondary education, and environmental policy.
91%
of 2019-2023 political science graduates are employed and/or attending graduate school
66%
are employed only
18%
are attending school only
7%
are employed and attending school
Due to rounding, some totals may not correspond with the sum of the separate figures.
Selected Places of Employment/Service
Aflac Group Insurance
Analytic Partners
Anderson Frank International
Ankura Consulting
Arpin International Group
Audit Analytics
Big Think
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of RI
Boston University
Carousel Industries
Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick
City of Boston
CLEAR
Dell EMC
Disney
Ernst & Young
EdVestors
FDIC
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Guidepoint Global
Hasbro
Hudson Valley Justice Center
IGT
Imperium Consulting Group
Lifespan
Massachusetts United States House of Representatives
New Harbor Group
New York Credit Union Association
New York Legal Assistance Group
Nuzzo and Roberts, LLC
Orangetheory Fitness
Porter Law Group
Rice Cohen International
Samuel Christensen Law Firm PLLC
Strategic Benefit Advisors
Teach for America
Third Bridge
US Department of Justice
US House of Representative
Wayfair
Selected Graduate Schools
Boston College
Boston University
Brooklyn Law School
Charleston School of Law
Columbia University
Endicott College
Fairfield University
Fordham Law School
London School of Economics and Political Science
Michigan State University
New England Law
Northeastern University
Northern Illinois University College of Law
University of Notre Dame
Providence College
Relay Graduate School
Roger Williams University
Seton Hall Law School
Southern Methodist University
St. John’s University
St. Mary’s University, Twickenham
Suffolk University Law School
Syracuse University
Tufts University
UC Hastings College of the Law
UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School
UMASS Dartmouth School Of Law
University of Connecticut School of Law
University of North Carolina School of Law
University of Pennsylvania
University of Tennessee
Vanderbilt Law School
Western New England University School of Law
ADDITIONAL CONTACT INFORMATION
Dr. Susan McCarthy
Assistant Department Chair
401-865-2626
SMCCARTH@providence.edu
Andrew Meehan
Admin
Howley 318
401-865-2434
ameehan@providence.edu
