(See also History/Political Science Joint Major 514)
Department of Political Science, School of Arts and Sciences
Website:
https://www.polisci.rutgers.edu
Chair: Richard Lau
Undergraduate Director:
William Field
Professors:
Ross K. Baker, B.A., M.A., Ph.D., Pennsylvania
Douglas H. Blair, B.A., Swarthmore College; M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D., Yale
Susan J. Carroll, A.B., Miami (Ohio); M.A., Ph.D., Indiana
Cynthia Daniels, B.A., Ph.D., Massachusetts
Eric Davis, B.A., SUNY (Binghamton); M.A., Ph.D., Chicago
Milton Heumann, B.A., CUNY (Brooklyn College); M.Phil., Ph.D., Yale
Robert Kaufman, A.B., Ph.D., Harvard
Jan Kubik, B.A., M.A., Jagiellonian (Poland); Ph.D., Columbia
Richard R. Lau, B.A., Stanford; M.A., Ph.D., California (Los Angeles)
Beth L. Leech, B.S.J., Northwestern; Ph.D., Texas A&M
Jack Levy, B.S., Harvey Mudd College; M.A., Ph.D., Wisconsin (Madison)
Manus I. Midlarsky, B.S., CUNY (City College); M.S., Stevens Institute of Technology; Ph.D., Northwestern
Lisa Miller, B.A.,
Virginia; M.A., Ph.D., Washington
Andrew Murphy, B.A., North Carolina (Chapel Hill); M.A.,
Ph.D., Wisconsin (Madison)
Kira Sanbonmatsu, B.A., Massachusetts; Ph.D., Harvard
Associate Professors:
Peter Dennis Bathory, B.A., Oberlin College; Ph.D., Harvard
R. Daniel Kelemen, B.A., California (Berkeley); Ph.D., Stanford
Mona L. Krook, B.A., Columbia; M.A., Ph.D., Stanford
Susan Lawrence, B.A., Furman; M.A., Ph.D., Johns Hopkins
Assistant Professors:
Stacey Greene, B.S., Loyola (New Orleans); M.A., Ph.D., California
(Los Angeles)
Xian Huang, B.A., M.A., Peking; Ph.D., Columbia
Michael Kenwick, B.A., Illinois (Urbana-Champaign); Ph.D., Pennsylvania State
Summer Lindsey, B.A., M.A., M.A., Ph.D., Columbia
Yalidy Matos, B.A., Connecticut College; M.A., Ph.D., Ohio
State
Katherine McCabe, B.A., Harvard; M.A., Ph.D., Princeton
Andrey Tomashevskiy, B.A., Kean; M.A., New York; Ph.D.,
California (San Diego)
Hannah Walker, B.A., Washington State; M.A., Rutgers; M.A., Ph.D., Washington
Associate Professors of Teaching:
William Field, B.A., Connecticut College; Ph.D., Brandeis
Richard Ewan Harrison, B.Sc., Bath (UK); M.Sc., Ph.D., Bristol (UK)
Assistant Professor of Teaching:
Yvonne Wollenberg, B.A., Northern Colorado; M.A., William Paterson; Ph.D., Rutgers
Teaching Instructor:
Christine Cahill, B.A., Iowa; Ph.D., California (Davis)
Lecturer:
Danielle Hanley, B.A., Cornell; M.A., Hebrew; M.A., Ph.D., Pennsylvania
The political science major is designed to engage students with the philosophical and practical problems of political organization, action, and governance and to encourage critical thinking about the nature of citizenship, rights, and duties in the modern world. The undergraduate political science curriculum is divided into three general areas: theoretical approaches to politics, American institutions and politics, and foreign and international politics. While majors may choose to focus their studies on one of these areas, they are required to develop a solid intellectual foundation and understanding that spans all three and to approach the study of political science within the broader context of the social sciences.
Students completing the political science major are expected to develop the ability to read and listen critically, to reason analytically and engage in thoughtful moral judgment, and to write and speak clearly and forcefully. The major emphasizes the enhancement of key intellectual skills and qualities of mind--the habits of questioning, debating, challenging, and shaping coherent and persuasive arguments and interpretation--and seeks to involve undergraduates in the active research life of the department.
Coursework is organized into two general levels. Classes at the 100 and 200 levels are regarded as introductory and are designed to familiarize students with general concepts, basic knowledge, and modes of inquiry, as well as to serve as a foundation for additional coursework. Classes at the 300 and 400 levels focus on more specialized issues, questions, or problems. In general, students should complete appropriate introductory coursework before enrolling in upper-division classes.
Political science majors are strongly encouraged to take advantage of opportunities to engage in experiential learning at Rutgers. These opportunities include the one-semester Washington Internship Program, Rutgers Study Abroad, and internships supervised by the department.
Prior to declaring a major in political science, a student must complete at least two 100-level political science courses with an average grade of C or better. These courses can be counted toward major credit.