Department of History and Political Science

While fairness, social justice, personal liberty, and equality are often in short supply in today’s ever-changing world, they are necessary to ensure a sense of morality. Those concerned with these issues must seek to gain an understanding of who makes the rules that society is governed by and why, and how these rules affect certain core values.

Political science is concerned with contemporary public affairs, problems in other political systems, and contemporary international politics, as well as with historical growth, evolution, and decline of various types of governments.

Overview

PLNU offers a political science major through the Department of History & Political Science. Students will take a core curriculum consisting of classes that focus on American government, the Presidency, Congress, and more. Higher level requirements include modern courses like Women in Politics, Human Rights, Political Behavior, and Global Governance. Classes are required from each separate concentration: American government, international studies, comparative government, and theory. In addition, the political science major at PLNU incorporates a strong liberal arts education with encouragement to pursue a life of public service.

Special Features:

• Opportunity to earn student scholarship for excellent work and public service.
• Capitals Program offers students a chance to spend one semester in Washington D.C., The United Nations, or a foreign capital city. There students gain first-hand experience of how government works and policy is facilitated.
• Access to student lounge with coffee, chairs, and newspapers.
• Opportunity to be part of student-led leadership teams that plan events and activities for political science students.