The field of political science is divided
into four subfields: American politics, comparative
politics, international politics, and political theory.
Collectively, courses in these areas introduce students to
the study of the institutions of government, the processes
of decision making (domestic and international), the content
of these decisions (public policy), and their impact on
society. The field of political science is also concerned
with questions of how governments should be constituted and
how politics should be carried out.
The study of political
science has traditionally provided a solid foundation for
careers in government (national, state, and local),
diplomacy, law, and business as well as in teaching and
journalism. For this reason, political science in one of the
most popular undergraduate majors in America and one of the
fastest growing at Brewton-Parker College.
The curriculum in
political science consists of introductory courses, a wide
variety of topics courses, and a capstone seminar. Students
are encouraged to undertake internships in government
offices and interest groups at the national, state, and
local level. They also have the opportunity to pursue
independent research with individual professors. A limited
number of juniors and seniors are able to spend a semester
in the American Studies Program in Washington, D.C. The
Political Science Program also encourages students to engage
in political science studies abroad.
