20
Our introductory course, Government and Politics, is capped at 20 students. Throughout your time at St. Thomas, you will be in small classes, which means you will have individualized attention from your professors.
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Democracy. Justice. Security. Political science at the University of St. Thomas explores significant questions surrounding these themes throughout your undergraduate career. You will join a close-knit community focused on research and community engagement.
Why Study Political Science at St. Thomas?
We live in a time of amazing opportunities and daunting challenges, and our political climate reflects that. As a political science student at St. Thomas, you will become knowledgeable about the world through the lens of politics. By strengthening your writing, research and critical thinking skills, you will be equipped for a variety of careers in the public and private sectors. Students also compete in Mock Trial tournaments, participate in Model UN conferences and present research at regional and national conferences. Our alumni have gone on to work in law, politics, government relations, non-profit organizations and more.
Performing Your Civic Duty
Course Requirements
Throughout your time at St. Thomas, you will complete required courses focusing on government, public policy, world politics, research methods and political theory. From there, you will choose courses based on your interests. Whether you are interested more in American or judicial politics, you will have the flexibility to pursue topics of interest to you.
Four-Year Plan
Our program is flexible, so you can choose courses that fit your interests and goals. We recommend connecting with a member of our faculty to plan your college career.
Degrees Awarded
- Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
- Minor in Political Science
Outside of the Classroom
Through a civic partnership, two political science majors intern with the Citizens League each year. The Citizens League is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization championing the role of all Minnesotans to govern for the common good and promote democracy.
Scholarships
Junior political science students can compete for the G.W.C. Ross Scholarship, an endowed fund named after a long-time department faculty member, for use in their senior year. Faculty select students based on their demonstrated academic excellence as measured by their GPA.
Course Requirements
Course Requirements
Throughout your time at St. Thomas, you will complete required courses focusing on government, public policy, world politics, research methods and political theory. From there, you will choose courses based on your interests. Whether you are interested more in American or judicial politics, you will have the flexibility to pursue topics of interest to you.
Four-Year Plan
Four-Year Plan
Our program is flexible, so you can choose courses that fit your interests and goals. We recommend connecting with a member of our faculty to plan your college career.
Degrees Awarded
Degrees Awarded
- Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
- Minor in Political Science
Outside of the Classroom
Outside of the Classroom
Through a civic partnership, two political science majors intern with the Citizens League each year. The Citizens League is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization championing the role of all Minnesotans to govern for the common good and promote democracy.
Scholarships
Scholarships
Junior political science students can compete for the G.W.C. Ross Scholarship, an endowed fund named after a long-time department faculty member, for use in their senior year. Faculty select students based on their demonstrated academic excellence as measured by their GPA.
How Politics Impacts Everything
We are dedicated to political inquiry and analysis, as well as teaching excellence. Our faculty, students and alumni are engaged citizens focused on promoting democracy and civil dialogue.
Dr. Caleb Goltz
In The Transgressions of Honeybees: How Law and Politics Caused Colony Collapse Disorder, Dr. Goltz uncovers how politically created and legally enforced standards for managing animals places high levels of stress on bees. This creates conditions potentially causing colony collapse disorder, and demonstrates how legal expectations for managing animals and property boundaries can be a major threat to our food supply and ecosystem.
Katy Sunnarborg Morgan ‘11
Katy is the Associate Development Officer for the University of Minnesota-Duluth Athletics Department. She writes annual appeals, plans events and solicits major gifts from individuals. She credits her political science degree for helping her learn to write with purpose, engage in civil dialogue and view world events through a different lens.
Erin Melody ‘19
Erin interned in Washington, D.C., and presented two papers at regional conferences. She presented her first paper at the 2017 Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities Women’s Studies student conference, and then presented her Seminar in American Politics paper at the student poster session of the Minnesota Political Science Association conference in 2018.
Career Paths
We give you the tools and knowledge you need to work in a variety of different industries after graduation.
- Law
- Data Analytics
- Campaign strategist
- Legislative assistant
- Intergovernmental relations
- Corporate or non-profit work
Personal. Connected. Engaged.
Political science students have access to a deep network of alumni, as well as faculty dedicated to teaching and research.
Professional Network
We have a strong and impressive network of political science alumni in Washington, D.C., that you can connect with and learn more about possible career paths.
Civil Engagement
Our graduates are civically engaged. Recent alumni were on the ballot in 2016 as lieutenant governor in the DFL primary election and city council races.
Active Researchers Dedicated to Your Success
Dr. Tim Lynch
Dr. Lynch researches elections and representation. He is creating a website to make information about U.S. Senate appointees more accessible.
Dr. Renee Buhr
Dr. Buhr spent her sabbatical in 2016 as a visiting researcher at the Centre Emile Durkheim, a part of the Sciences Po-Bordeaux in France.
Dr. Arijit Mazumdar
Dr. Mazumdar researches Indian foreign policy, their internal conflicts and South Asian politics.
Get Involved
Political science students engage with the public and the St. Thomas community by applying their skills and knowledge in student clubs and organizations.
The Model UN team represented Spain at the 2018 American Model United Nations International Conference in Chicago, and continues to participate in this conference each year.
Mock Trial teams has competed in invitational tournaments at the University of Minnesota, Hamline University and the University of Wisconsin-Superior.
Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society, recognizes academic excellence within the discipline. Members organize events and panel discussions, plus an annual banquet with a keynote speaker.
Exploring Politics From Multiple Angles
Our faculty and students are examining our current political climate from various lenses on national and international levels.
See the World
Dr. Renee Buhr will co-lead with Dr. Monica Hartmann (Economics) an embedded study abroad course to Northern Ireland. This course explores the impact of Brexit on politics, economics and the peace process.
The Past Informs the Present
Dr. Tim Lynch coordinated the “1968 and the War for America’s Soul” conference hosted by St. Thomas in fall 2018. Panels and breakout sessions included people who participated in events, and ended up changing and shaping our state and country fifty years ago.
"This will not be forgotten, folks"
As part of the SOLV Initiative in the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Angela High-Pippert organized a forum featuring the former mayor, a city council member and a citizen of West St. Paul. The panel explored how sexism and discrimination faced by women in politics motivated citizen participation in that city.
Teaching Abroad
Dr. Buhr returned to Sciences Po-Bordeaux in France in January 2019 as a visiting professor and taught a course on the challenges of American government in the Trump era to French university students.
Build Your Resume
Political science majors Sam Edgerton and Mitch Racine interned with the Citizens League, an organization working to ensure Minnesotans of all backgrounds and ideologies are empowered to take an active role in public policymaking.
Daunting Problems, Amazing Opportunities
Political science students at St. Thomas develop a practical skill set throughout their undergraduate career. No matter what their path is, their writing, research and critical thinking skills prepare them for a career in multiple industries.
Take the Next Step
There is more to learn about St. Thomas; including our ranking as a Best Value School by U.S. News & World Report, the many classroom and extracurricular activities that will be part of your student experience and so much more. Schedule a visit to see our beautiful campus or start your application today.