Political Science

Political science is the study of political values, institutions, processes, and policies. It focuses on the system of governance by which societies set their public priorities and policies and on how government touches the individual. Political science deals with basic questions about power, authority, social values, and political manipulation—the ways that societies determine their collective priorities and attempt to bring them into being.

Political scientists examine the theory and practice of government and politics within the history of political ideas and philosophy, as well as in contemporary political practice. They use the tools and methods of the social sciences to seek knowledge of political institutions and processes, and to learn how to think critically about public policies and their consequences. Political scientists also attempt to evaluate how behavior (individual, group, and mass) affects political institutions, and how institutions shape and constrain political choices.

The department is organized into four major fields of study: political theory, American government and politics, international relations (covered by the Department of International Affairs), and comparative politics. Several subfields—public law, law and public policy, and political economy—intersect with these main areas and provide avenues for more focused and advanced specialization. Courses are offered in each concentration at the introductory and advanced levels. In addition, political science majors can undertake independent study under individual faculty supervision, including practical applications and experiences such as internships with elected officials, interest groups, and government agencies. The department’s annual semester of study in Washington, D.C., one of the more distinguished programs of its kind in the country, includes interviews with some of America’s most influential politicians and decision makers, combined with a rigorous curriculum of in-class instruction.

Course sizes are small, ranging from fewer than five students (at the upper level) to 34 students (at the introductory level).

The political science department actively uses international, national, regional, state, and local political resources to supplement students’ education. Students regularly visit the Oregon state legislature and are introduced to the parliamentary system through coursework and trips to Victoria, British Columbia.

The department encourages students to take advantage of Lewis & Clark’s program in Washington, D.C. This program is designed to introduce students to the very core of our nation’s political system and involves a full academic schedule, including classes taught by Lewis & Clark professors and guest lecturers. Encounters with top decision makers are exciting and valuable aspects of studying in Washington, D.C. Supreme Court justices, key administrators, and members of Congress are all on the program’s agenda. This program brings students so close to the excitement of the political arena that many choose to return to Washington, D.C., after they graduate.

The department facilitates student internships with public and private agencies. Internships give students practical experience related to law, politics, or administration. In the past, students have worked with city governments, law firms, civil rights groups, House and Senate offices, planning agencies, and state administrative agencies.

Political science majors conclude their studies at Lewis & Clark with a senior thesis. Each student selects a topic of interest and then works closely with a faculty adviser to design research objectives. This project culminates with a presentation to the department of a seminar paper based on the original research. Majors who produce a thesis of outstanding quality and who have demonstrated exceptional scholarship throughout the program receive honors at graduation.

The department has been successful in helping launch students into postgraduate careers. Students wishing to pursue graduate work in political science, public administration, public affairs, public policy analysis, or law find they are exceptionally well prepared after completing Lewis & Clark’s rigorous political science major. Those who decide to enter the working world after graduating find that the skills they’ve learned—including critical thinking, analysis, and writing—are important tools in almost any profession. Lewis & Clark graduates are found throughout the professions and the nation: in Congress, in federal agencies, in the Oregon state legislature, and in state administrative agencies. They also work in city government in planning, budget analysis, and personnel management. Lewis & Clark graduates are in private law practices and law firms, and because knowledge of politics often extends into other spheres, graduates also pursue careers in business and finance, journalism, medicine, the clergy, and education.

Examples of student research

• “Oregon’s Elite and Their Public Schools.”
• “Political Participation of 18 to 24 Year Olds.”
• “Evolution of the Jury.”
• “Evaluating the Ostensible Ideology of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.”
• “The Expansion of Rights and Communicable Diseases.”
• “Plato, Freud, and the Self.”

Examples of student internships

• Americans for Democratic Action.
• Face the Nation, CBS News.
• USA Today, polling division.
• National Mining Association.
• American Civil Liberties Union.
• Portland city commissioner.
• Bonneville Power Administration.

Examples of positions obtained by political science graduates

• Graduate student, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
• Campaign manager, U.S. Senate campaigns.
• U.S. ambassador to Mongolia.
• Representative, U.S. Congress.
• Public utility commissioner, Montana.
• Treasurer, Clark County, Washington.
• Dean of admissions, Cornell University Law School.
• Manager, waste cleanup, Super Fund site.
• Professor of political science, Georgetown University.
• Manager, Benson Hotel.
• Administrator, Oregon Ballet.
• Public relations manager, Nike.
• Lobbyists: Salem; Washington, D.C.; Olympia, Washington; and Sacramento, California.