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

700+
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

  • 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
  • Student Successes: Early Spring 2025
    Mariam Vargas (’25), Dylan Steer (’25), & Alan Cavagnaro (’25) were among the students who were selected to attend the United Nations 29th Annual Climate Change Conference of Parties in Baku, Azerbaijan in November. San Lee (Ph.D. Candidate) will present her dissertation chapter titled “The Use of the CEDAW for Advancing LGBTQIA+ Rights” at the […]
    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

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The POLS department would like to introduce our two student workers! These wonderful students will be the faces you'll see behind the desk at the office and they will be making sure our department runs smoothly this year! Thank you Jess and Brenna!!!

Welcome (back) Huskies! Come Join the Political Science department for a welcome reception!

We can't wait to see you all!

Interested in Study Abroad for POLS but nervous about applying? Join a WebEx how-to event hosted on September 3rd to learn everything needed to complete the process with ease!

Click the link below to join the meeting:
...https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fuconn-cmr.webex.com%2Fmeet%2Fcarina.adams-szabo&data=05%7C02%7Cpols%40uconn.edu%7Ce509ea3106074d91025408dde4d234ec%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C638918313662478008%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=BM%2FZY%2Fz6IELxpR3fvfHQqvZlJH1z7KX%2BUSv7PBhphHk%3D&reserved=0

ONE WEEK TILL CLASSES SO ONE MORE TIP!!! This tip is about POLS 2998 classes! These classes update every semester to reflect the current political environment! If you’re interested check out the pols website and you will be able to find all the 2998 classes and their focus! I’ve personally ...taken so many I’ve lost count🤭 they are amazing and will keep you updated on current events! Thanks for tuning in for weekly tips and I will see you next week for the beginning of the fall semester🥳🥳

Guys it’s the second to last tip of the summer 😢 this week’s tip is about common career paths for political science majors!! If you’re curious these are discussed in depth in our pamphlets located in our office which is SHH 409! Stop by to pick them up🤩 the common career tracks include ...business government and even legal professions and many more! See you next week for the final tip of the summer and make sure you’re starting to prepare for the fall while soaking up your last weeks of summer 🥳🥳

YAY it’s tip Tuesday 🥳 this week is about e-mails from your advisor or me!! Make sure to get into a good habit of checking your emails. I have the outlook app on my phone so I can see my emails without having to go on my computer! These emails from me or your advisor are important and can ...include information about internships, scholarships, events and deadlines!! Keep this in mind when the fall semester begins and check your email as much as u can! The fall semester is fast approaching and we only have two more tips before the first week of classes so get ready 😱😆

Another Tuesday another tip🤩 this week’s tip is about the Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills!!! This center provides assistance with career skills and can help with materials such as resumes, cover letters and more! They are a great resource and are beyond helpful! They are located in... the Wilbur Cross building in room 202 from 8am to 5pm!!! Tune in next week for another tip 😛

It’s Tuesday so it’s time for another tip 😍😍 this week’s tip is about office hours!! Office hours are the best resource especially if you are struggling in a class or have questions about the material. In my time at UConn I’ve been to so many office hours and always leave having a ...better idea about the topic. Additionally, meeting and chatting with professors is the best way to stand out and create a relationship with the professor! It may even help if you need a letter of recommendation! Keep this in mind for when the fall semester starts and I will see you next week for another tip 🤭🤭

It’s time for another tip 🤩 this week’s tip is about managing your course load. Personally a planner works the best for me but for others it may be a calendar or another organizer! Either way it’s highly recommended that you find what works best for you to help reduce your stress of ...managing courses, clubs, social life and other extracurricular activities!! Tune in next week for another tip😌

PS. If you want a planner, Amazon and staples have some good ones 🤫.