Political Science
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Why Major in Political Science at Allegheny College
Explore politics, public policy, and political behavior in the U.S. and around the world. As a political science student, you’ll investigate and debate enduring values and issues — like freedom, justice, and power — while learning to solve problems facing society today.
Unusual Combinations
Students often combine Political Science with:
Division
- Social and Behavioral Sciences
Program Type
- Major
- Minor
Number of Credits
46 for major20 for minorWhere Political Science Alumni Work Today
Research & Operations Manager
Protect Our Care
Kelsey Evans ’20
Project Manager, Digital Innovations
Federal Reserve Board
Alex Sproveri ’13
Senior Advisor for Policy, Risk, and Compliance
USAID
Domenic Ionta ‘07
Executive Deputy Chief of Staff
Shapiro Administration
Larry Hailsham Jr. ’15
Producer
NPR
Milton Guevara ’18
Western PA Regional Field Director
Blue Wave America
Katherine Zemaitis ’21
Lawyer
Keybank
Hannah Firestone ’19
Co-founder
She Leads Africa
Afua Osei ’08
Head of Financial Crime Forensics
Goldman Sachs
Madelyn Yarbenet ’10
US Diplomat
US Department of State
Dominic Randazzo
The Political Science Department here at Allegheny is life changing. I have benefited from amazing opportunities, such as an internship with a refugee resettlement agency and completing published research. This, combined with a faculty who study a wide range of topics and who want to know you on a personal level, has prepared me to be successful in the next steps of my journey.
Your Four-Year Journey
Year 1: Understanding
Take introductory courses on political theory, the U.S., or international politics. Don’t forget to enroll in Latin America, Europe, China, or the Middle East survey courses. Political Science classes are high-energy spaces with diverse approaches — lectures, discussion, simulations, debates, and visiting speakers.
Year 2: New Approaches
Begin research with a faculty member; several collaborations have led to co-authored publications! Politics in Popular Culture, Law and Courts, Human Rights, and Immigration are popular course choices during the second year. Consider applying for internships with local governments; in Washington, DC; or with a non-governmental organization.
Year 3: Delving Deeper
Take the Junior Seminar, an advanced research-based course to prepare for their Senior Comp and complete summer internships. The Dotson Fund financially supports political scientists’ internships in Washington, D.C., where we have an extensive alumni network. Our partnership with the Robert H. Jackson Center offers another unique opportunity, but our students intern in locations around the globe — from Brussels, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, and right here in Meadville!
Year Four: The Comp
Research and write a unique thesis for their Senior Comp. You’ll also have the opportunity to take advanced classes on topics like Race and Politics, Civil Wars, Congress, and Social Policy in European Democracies.
Research and Internships
As a Political Science student, you can expand your interests and gain valuable experience through a wide range of opportunities on the Allegheny campus and beyond.
The Center for Political Participation (CPP) works to address issues that students care about — and gives them the tools to be politically active. The CPP plans and supports events encouraging political participation, such as:
- Town hall meetings
- Short courses
- Debate and election watch parties
- Local candidate forums
- Get-out-the-vote efforts
Students from any major can apply to be a CPP Student Fellow; this leadership group helps to plan and advance the center’s initiatives.
In this professional development program, Law and Policy, you can combine your academic goals with opportunities in international or domestic law and policy, including career education.
Allegheny’s affiliation with the Robert H. Jackson Center allows students to intern, conduct research, participate in enriching programming, and extend their professional network.
The center advances the legacy of Robert H. Jackson, who served as solicitor general, attorney general, associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, and chief U.S. prosecutor at the Nuremberg War Crimes Tribunal.
Political Science students can pursue their passions in a wide range of student-led organizations, including:
- Andrew Goodman Foundation Student Ambassadors
- Allegheny Student Government
- College Democrats
- College Republicans
- Mock Trial
- Women of Color in Politics
- Amnesty International
- Model UN
- Pre-Law Club
- Allegheny College Socialists
- Student Alliance for Prison Reform
- Student Coalition for Labor
- United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
Many Political Science majors participate in a cooperative program with Carnegie Mellon University in the area of Public Policy. Students spend three years taking courses at Allegheny and two years at CMU, resulting in a combined B.A./Master’s in less time than is usually required to earn both degrees.
Faculty and Staff
Email: bharward@allegheny.edu
Phone: 814-332-3027
Associate Professor
Ph.D., M.A., University of Illinois; B.A., University of Wisconsin
Email: abloeser@allegheny.edu
Phone: 814-332-3345
Featured News
Academic Excellence: Paving the Way for Bright Futures
When talking with alumni about their Allegheny experience, whether they graduated in 1974 or 2024, one thing always stands out – the connection our alumni have with faculty. Our College has a rich legacy of faculty who go above and beyond in their interactions with students, serving as teachers, mentors, facilitators, career connectors, and more.
Related Programs
Pre-law students study a broad-based curriculum at Allegheny in order to develop skills that are absolutely crucial for law school and law careers.
We prepare globally-minded graduates for international-facing careers. Explore global issues and how nations and regions interact around the world. Examine the influence of history, international politics, economy and development, and culture. Study a language and study abroad. Do it through an interdisciplinary lens.
As a Community and Justice Studies student, you'll learn about systems of power and inequality, engage with communities, and graduate ready to build a more just and egalitarian world.
Address:
520 North Main Street
Meadville, PA 16335
Contact:
814-332-4351
info@allegheny.edu
admissions@allegheny.edu
