In political science, we study all kinds of political
questions, from international conflict to U.S. elections, from war
to peace, and the power relations behind wealth and poverty. But
we also study the more subtle choices and arguments by governments
and people--in the U.S. and around the world--about "who gets
what." What do people believe about their country, their nation,
and their own political goals? How does a country determine who
gets land--or who should get land? Or who gets to vote--and who
should be allowed to vote? Why are some people and countries rich
and others poor--and what should be done about it? How do people
and governments achieve their goals? How does power actually work?
In addition, we try to understand the big questions of democracy
and dictatorship, public policy and popular activism. But we also
question what political power really is. Is it mainly about elections
and dictatorships, policing and military force? Isn't power also
economic? And what about the power of ideas, like national and group
identities, or racial and gender stereotypes? Many of our courses
therefore focus on these complicated factors shaping politics today:
not only wealth and power, concentrated in political centers like
Washington, D.C., but also ethnicity and race, gender and nationality,
and the role of the media in the U.S. and abroad.
About the Political Science Program
In addition to course work, the Political Science Department at
HWS coordinates closely with a number of excellent off-campus programs.
For our students interested in American politics and policy, the
Washington, D.C., program offers rare internship opportunities in
Congressional offices and other major institutions, as well as intensive
course study. Our semester programs to Geneva, Switzerland, and
Copenhagen, Denmark, are especially exciting for our students interested
in international politics and political economy. In addition, many
of our students have participated in the HWS programs to Ecuador,
Senegal, the Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Ireland, Scotland, Rome,
Madrid, Japan, and India.
Students are encouraged to develop the rigorous analytical skills
that will help them in their undergraduate education, their postgraduate
studies, and their role as citizens in their communities. We especially
encourage our students to make connections between internship opportunities
and their course of study.
At HWS, we examine four traditional areas or subfields of political
science:
In political science, we study all kinds of political
questions, from international conflict to U.S. elections, from war
to peace, and the power relations behind wealth and poverty. But
we also study the more subtle choices and arguments by governments
and people--in the U.S. and around the world--about "who gets
what." What do people believe about their country, their nation,
and their own political goals? How does a country determine who
gets land--or who should get land? Or who gets to vote--and who
should be allowed to vote? Why are some people and countries rich
and others poor--and what should be done about it? How do people
and governments achieve their goals? How does power actually work?
In addition to course work, the Political Science Department at
HWS coordinates closely with a number of excellent off-campus programs.
For our students interested in American politics and policy, the
Washington, D.C., program offers rare internship opportunities in
Congressional offices and other major institutions, as well as intensive
course study. Our semester programs to Geneva, Switzerland, and
Copenhagen, Denmark, are especially exciting for our students interested
in international politics and political economy. In addition, many
of our students have participated in the HWS programs to Ecuador,
Senegal, the Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Ireland, Scotland, Rome,
Madrid, Japan, and India. 
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