The College of Arts and Sciences
polsci.buffalo.edu
Political Science
Political science is the study of governments, how they emerge, how they are
shaped by constituent needs and demands, how they function or malfunction,
how they affect the lives of citizens and how they change. The Department of
Political Science offers a range of courses and areas of concentration which
enable students to gain a comprehensive understanding of government and
politics as well as the analytical skills by which this knowledge is acquired
and the communication skills necessary to convey it to others.
Why Study Political Science at UB?
Career Opportunities and Future Studies
As our range of possible concentrations suggests, students
interested in law school, public affairs, government services,
graduate school or international studies develop analytic,
communication and critical thinking skills to prepare
them for a career or future graduate study. Political science
students learn a variety of methods for understanding
human behavior, theorizing about it, rigorously analyzing
data, and speaking and writing about these ideas clearly
and concisely. Political Science majors have gone to work
for polling firms in DC, national and local elected officials,
and large companies like Microsoft. Recent graduates have
gone on to pursue doctoral study at places like Oxford and
University of California, San Diego, as well as master’s study
at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
The undergraduate study of political science prepares students
for a wide variety of professional opportunities. Graduates go
on to earn advanced degrees in law or political science, or build
upon their internship experiences to pursue careers in politics
or governments. Students in political science have quite varied
backgrounds, interests, and career aspirations. So the department offers a range of concentrations that allow students interested in law school, public affairs, government service, graduate
school or international studies to select a program of study that
will provide a solid educational foundation aligned with their
own interests. For those wanting greater variety, the core concentration allows students the most flexibility in designing a
curriculum to meet their individual needs.
Faculty
For more information, contact
Department of Political Science
University at Buffalo, SUNY
520 Park Hall (North Campus)
Buffalo, New York 14260
Phone: 716-645-2251
Fax: 716-645-2166
mclellan@buffalo.edu
polsci.buffalo.edu
Our faculty teach a
wide range of courses in
American politics, public
law, international relations,
comparative politics and
research methods. The faculty
comprises active scholars who
are frequently recognized
for their contributions to the
profession. All are members of
the American Political Science
Association, and several are
active participants in local
media coverage of current
events and political issues.