Understanding How Political Processes Shape Community Decisions

Our programs bridge the humanities and social sciences and provide hands-on learning opportunities for students.

About the Department

Our community provides a bedrock for academic exploration and intellectual engagement at UConn. We produce cutting-edge research that reflects our commitment to methodological and intellectual openness and diversity.

By the Numbers

900+
Undergraduate Majors

115
Honors Students

40
Faculty at Five UConn Campuses

40
Graduate Students

7
New Research Labs

Quick Links

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Find a Professor

Browse our faculty directory and explore how their research is working to address critical questions in political science.
 
Meet Our Faculty

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Academic Advising

Our advisors help students navigate their degree requirements, select courses, and make the most of their academic experience.
 
Connect With Us

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Undergraduate Courses

Explore a broad range of topics in political science, including political theory, international relations, and American politics.

Browse Courses

Research

Our Department is organized around five subfields that reflect the conceptual and theoretical questions addressed in political science:

  • American Politics
  • Comparative Politics
  • International Relations
  • Political Theory
  • Public Law

News

  • POLS Launches Pilot Alumni Mentorship Program
    The pilot POLS Alumni Mentorship Program will provide 10 political science majors an opportunity to gain career guidance and leadership support from high-profile alumni of the UConn Department of Political Science.
    Posted on October 21, 2025
  • Alumni Notes: Early Spring 2025
    Adam Kuegler (’17) is the first UConn Law graduate to be accepted to the Supreme Court Fellows Program. Dan Fata (’94), Jeffrey Dressler (’08), and Jaime Cheshire (’99)‘s service on the Afghanistan War Commission was mentioned in UConn Magazine.  Susette Talarico (’76) was awarded The President’s Medal at the University of Georgia for her profoundly […]
    Posted on March 31, 2025
  • Faculty Achievements: Early Spring 2025
    Dr. Matthew Singer’s paper “This Crisis Is Different: Weakened Economic Accountability During the COVID-19 Pandemic” was published in Presidential Studies Quarterly on Jan 15, 2025.  Dr. Zehra Arat, Dr. Jason Byers, and Dr. Sandy Grande were winners of the 2024-2025 Course Development Grant Competition to create new courses. Dr. Arat’s course will be “Women’s Rights […]
    Posted on March 31, 2025

Upcoming Events

    https://events.uconn.edu/live/json/v2/events/response_fields/location,summary/date_format/%25F%20%25j,%20%25Y/group/Political Science/max/4/start_date/today/end_date/6 months/
  • Feb
    18
    UCHI Faculty Talk: Sandy Grande
    Homer Babbidge Library
    12:15 PM

Featured Headlines

  • A group of young adults in a conference room listening to a presenter.
    Alexander Hamilton Society Launches at UConn

    The UConn chapter of the Alexander Hamilton Society was brought to campus this fall, bringing conversation about American foreign, economic and national security policy to Storrs

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Account avatar for UConn Department of Political Science

UConn Department of Political Science

3 weeks ago

Interested in completing credits and fulfilling requirements over the winter? The POLS department is offering a variety of courses that fulfill different subsections and categories/TOIs!!! Check out https://wintersession.uconn.edu/winter-courses/ for more information!! Lightbox link for post with description Interested in completing credits and fulfilling...

Interested in completing credits and fulfilling requirements over the winter? The POLS department is offering a variety of courses that fulfill different subsections and categories/TOIs!!! Check out https://wintersession.uconn.edu/winter-courses/ for more information!!

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Account avatar for UConn Department of Political Science

UConn Department of Political Science

3 weeks ago

BridgeUConn is having another “large” event that is partnering with Braver Angels on Immigration/ICE. The topic question is: How should the US immigration system be reformed to balance human rights with security and efficiency? The event will be on Wednesday, November 19th, from 6- 7:30 PM in FSB 220. Lightbox link for post with description BridgeUConn is having another “large” event...

BridgeUConn is having another “large” event that is partnering with Braver Angels on Immigration/ICE.

The topic question is: How should the US immigration system be reformed to balance human rights with security and efficiency?

The event will be on Wednesday, November 19th, ...from 6- 7:30 PM in FSB 220.

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Account avatar for UConn Department of Political Science

UConn Department of Political Science

3 weeks ago

Join us on November 19th for a First Generation Student Coffee Hour!!! There will be First-Gen faculty sharing their experiences and providing advice. It will be held in SHH 408 from 11am-12pm! If you love coffee☕ and want to have some meaningful conversations, join us!! We hope to see many of you there! Lightbox link for post with description Join us on November 19th for a First Generation...

Join us on November 19th for a First Generation Student Coffee Hour!!! There will be First-Gen faculty sharing their experiences and providing advice. It will be held in SHH 408 from 11am-12pm! If you love coffee☕ and want to have some meaningful conversations, join us!! We hope to see many of ...you there!

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