Educating Curious and Engaged Citizens.
Our undergraduate and graduate degree programs train students for successful careers and civic engagement.
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The UConn Department of Political Science studies how the political process shapes the choices we face as a community.
We offer academic programs that bridge the humanities and social sciences. Our cutting-edge research reflects our commitment to methodological and intellectual openness and diversity. Our community provides a bedrock for academic exploration and intellectual engagement at the University.
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Undergraduates
Students can pursue a major, minor, or fast-track master's in political science.
Graduates
Our department offers Ph.D., master's degree, and graduate certificate options.
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Research
Our researchers expand boundaries and bring their knowledge to the classroom.
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Administration
Find contact information for our Department's administrators and staff members.
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News
- Successful Spring Awards Ceremony!The April 27th POLS Awards Ceremony was a smashing success! Thank you to all of the awardees and their families who joined us. Our keynote speech came from Ross Dardani (Ph.D. ’17), Assistant Professor of Political Science at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA. Enjoy photos from the event below!Posted on April 29, 2022
- 2022 Political Science Undergraduate and Graduate AwardeesCongratulations to all of our Spring Awardees!Posted on April 27, 2022
- Student Successes: Spring 2022Doctoral Candidate Volodymyr Gupan was cited in a Hartford Courant article entitled “Ukraine War Concerns UConn, ECSU academics.” Volodymyr comes from Ukraine and has family still there. Currently, he is teaching about the country in a class at UConn’s Hartford campus. POLS Major Damani Douglas ‘23 (CLAS) has been elected as the new Student member […]Posted on April 11, 2022
Upcoming Events
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Nov
3
“Picking A Side? Korea’s Complicated Pacific Strategy”4:00pm
“Picking A Side? Korea’s Complicated Pacific Strategy”
Thursday, November 3rd, 2022
04:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Storrs Campus Konover Auditorium
This public roundtable on South Korea’s place in US Pacific strategy builds on the February 2019 “Asia Maritime” panel discussion at UConn.
Panelists and further event details to come.
This event is free and open to the public.Contact Information: alexis.dudden@uconn.edu
More
Another great campus resource is the Center for Career Development! The Center for Career Development provides many events and opportunities for students to strengthen their professional skills. Learn more about the Center for Career Development here, and be on the lookout for events throughout the summer on their website! ...
Have you ever wondered what you can do with a degree in Political Science? Check out our most common career tracks to learn more about each profession! ...
One of the best resources for students on campus is the Academic Achievement Center, which aims to assist students in achieving the grades they want! You can read more about the AAC and their services here! ...
Join UConn Model UN! Meetings are every Thursday from 6:30-8:30. Email exec@ucmun.com for more info! ...
Today we're highlighting another book, edited by one of our lovely professors, Evelyn M. Simien. You can read more about Professor Simien and her book here. Be sure to come check out our bookshelf in our office (Oak 409) to see more books by our amazing faculty! ...
Please join us in congratulating Professor Jeremy Pressman for being selected as the recipient of the Graduate Faculty Career Mentor of the Year Award for the 2021-2022 academic year! ...
Congratulations to all of our 2022 POLS Award Recipients! The ceremony was wonderful and we are proud of all of you for your accomplishments! ...
This week for People of POLS we interviewed Professor Hertel! Swipe or keep reading below to see the interview!
Why political science?
For me, I have a very interdisciplinary Undergraduate degree, I majored in International Relations, and I also did a master's in international Affairs which was interdisciplinary as well. They often drew on History, Economics, Political Science, and area studies. I found that I really needed a single tool kit that would help me define myself within a field as opposed to being so interdisciplinary that it was hard to know what that tool kit was. I wanted to focus on institutions that marginalize people, I was really interested in how people stay poor, not as a fault of their own, but rather imbedded in systems of oppression and marginalization. Political Science gave me a chance to really look at the institutions that affect people's lives and the way that people shape their own institutional responses to that through social protest and mobilization. So, Political Science because I’m interested in Politics as a field because I'm really interested in potential ways of changing the structures that give rise to people's marginalization.
If you could go back in time and meet any political figure, who would it be and why?
Eleanor Roosevelt. I have always been really interested in economic justice issues and I am a Human Rights scholar with a focus on economic rights. I think Eleanor Roosevelt both helped us establish the modern Post WWII Human Rights framework by leading the process for the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She also married that with very profound social activism in the United States around racial and economic justice and I just find her a very compelling and interesting person. I am extremely intrigued by a person who uses their privilege, voice, and space in society to make a difference. She came from a very elite background and she had some significant family challenges to overcome but instead of being embittered or inwardly focused she chose to use that adversity as a spring board to helping other people overcome adversity. ...