College of Arts and Sciences
Bentley Annex 266
Phone: 740.593.4373
Fax: 740.593.0394
polsba@ohio.edu
www.ohio.edu/cas/political-science

Matthew Layton, Chair
laytonm@ohio.edu
Maria Fanis, Advising Coordinator
fanis@ohio.edu

Overview

The Department of Political Science offers the B.A. and M.A. degrees and enrolls more than 350 undergraduate students and 20 graduate students in its various programs of study. Over 75 undergraduate courses and a variety of graduate courses are offered to prepare students for responsibilities as citizens, leaders, and professional political scientists in a democratic society and an interdependent world.

The Department provides internship opportunities for students to receive academic credit while receiving practical experience in legal settings, state and local governments, campaigns, and nonprofit organizations. We also help to place interns in government centers in Washington, D.C., and around the world.

Ohio University political science graduates regularly are admitted to the nation’s most prestigious law schools, receive scholarships and fellowship offers to outstanding graduate schools, and have achieved success in a variety of careers, including the federal government, state and local governments, law, journalism, education, and the business world.

The faculty comprises more than 20 professors in various areas of concentration: American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, law and politics, race and politics, and public administration. The richness of faculty diversity, background, and training contributes to an exciting teaching and learning environment, making political science one of the most popular majors at Ohio University.

Programs

The Department of Political Science offers the following programs:

Majors

Political Science (B.A.) - BA4201

Political Science Pre-Law (B.A.) - BA4203

Minors

Political Science Minor - OR4201

Special Opportunities:

The Pre-Law Major helps students organize their course of study, advising, and extracurricular activities in ways that will best prepare them for a career in the legal professions.

The Departmental Honors Thesis Option invites high achieving juniors to take a special seminar on research and thesis design and to spend part of their senior year writing an independent thesis.

The Political Science Honors Tutorial Program is a four-year course of study for exceptional students capable of a more independent approach to learning. Admission into the program is initiated through the Honors Tutorial College or through the Director of Studies within the department. Applications are typically accepted only from incoming students.  

The Public Affairs Internship Program allows students to complete up to six hours of credit working and learning in political and administrative offices anywhere in the world. The Department’s website has information on these and other opportunities: www.ohio.edu/cas/political-science .