Welcome to Political Science!

Baylor's Political Science Department is renowned for its high quality teaching and for professors who care about students. Our majors have gone on to become lawyers, journalists, politicians, lobbyists, diplomats, political analysts and teachers. We place students in top law schools around the country such as Georgetown and Harvard, and in top graduate programs such as Yale and Princeton. We offer a well-rounded education in all the major subfields in political science, numerous opportunities for hands-on political and legal experience, numerous opportunities for research and travel, and we do all this in the context of the small-school, Christian environment for which Baylor has become famous.

We have fifteen full-time faculty members, so students can be assured of getting to know professors individually, establishing professional relationships that last a lifetime.

We offer courses in American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, public administration, public policy, and public (constitutional) law. We also offer an undergraduate major in International Studies, a minor in Criminal Justice, and a pre-law track for political science majors who are interested in law school.

We are located on the third floor of Burleson Hall - Baylor's picturesque, Victorian-Gothic landmark. State-of-the-art facilities such as "smart classrooms" make class time a multimedia experience. Students can analyze political speeches as they occur, connect directly to political and academic venues through the web and study the effects of policies using advanced statistical software. Several computer labs are available for students in the department, as well as numerous lecture and seminar-type classrooms. Since faculty offices are located in the same building as student classrooms and computer labs, professors remain easily accessible when students need them most.

UNDERGRADUATES

All our undergraduates take courses from at least three sub-fields to become well educated across the discipline. Upon graduation, our students are superbly prepared for careers in local and national politics, law, political journalism, lobbying, foreign service, political campaigns, teaching and research. Any student who has been accepted to Baylor University as an undergraduate can declare Political Science as a major.

Undergraduates interested in careers in politics, or in simply becoming effective citizens, can take advantage of our Public Service Internship Program, which offers "hands on experience" in governmental and other public organizations; or our Washington Internship Program, which provides academic credit for a summer in our nation's capital. Finally, the Bob Bullock Scholars Program allows students to work in the Texas Legislature.

From Phi Sigma Alpha (the national political science honors society) to Sigma Iota Rho (the honor society in international relations), our undergraduates are active in numerous prestigious organizations. Undergraduates receive credit for participating in Model United Nations and Model Organization of American States. In addition, we have recently started offering credit and participating in Moot Court competition.

Prospective undergraduates who wish to major in Political Science at Baylor should begin by consulting the Baylor University Admissions Website. To visit Baylor's campus, follow this link to make arrangements. If you are a prospective undergraduate student, you may want to participate in one of Baylor's "Premiere Events." These are opportunities for prospective students and parents to meet with Baylor faculty, staff and students, and ask questions about life at Baylor. Events are held in the fall, winter and spring for high school and transfer students. A premiere event is a great time to get answers to your questions. Or if you simply wish to speak with someone in the Political Science Department, do not hesitate to contact us.

GRADUATES

Our graduate program in political science is growing at a rapid rate. We offer a PhD in political science (which has 24 students matriculated this fall, 2009). We also offer Master's Degrees International Relations (MAIR), and Public Policy & Administration (MPPA), as well as the joint Juris Doctor/Master of Public Policy and Administration (JD/MPPA).

Baylor graduate students benefit from close relationships with individual faculty members in their areas of research, from top-notch teaching and mentoring, and from the wealth of stimulating intellectual and cultural events around campus.

In short, we offer a student-centered, solid preparation in political science and we are excited for you to be part of the Baylor experience!