Division of Political Science
| Important Links | |
Chair
Melody Rose, Associate Professor
Contact Information:
Division of Political Science
Mark O. Hatfield School of Government
Portland State University
P.O. Box 751
Portland, Oregon 97207-0751
503-725-3921
rosem@pdx.edu
The primary mission of the Division of Political Science is citizenship education: to develop citizens capable of responding effectively to diversity, ambiguity, and conflict within the context of a democratic society and an increasingly interconnected world. Our faculty and coursework deepen students' understanding of the American and global political systems, including such crucial topics as the nature of the policy process; the rules and procedures of local, state, national, and international political institutions; the crucial role of individuals, political parties, interest groups, and the media in the political process; the ways in which political culture shapes political demands and policies; the nature and character of alternative philosophical perspectives on public life and their relation to the western liberal tradition; and the impact of globalization on peoples, cultures, and environments. We seek to make our students more astute, critical, and articulate participants in, and observers of, the multifaceted phenomenon of politics.
The Division offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees. The undergraduate degree requires students to become familiar with the main subfields of Political Science: American politics, comparative politics, international politics, and political theory. The Master's degree requires students to pass examinations in two of these fields and to write a thesis or major research paper. Along with the undergraduate degree, the Division also offers students the opportunity to acquire a Minor in Law and Legal Studies. The Division also participates in the Hatfield School's doctoral program in Public Administration and Policy (PAP). Students with degrees from the Division of Political Science pursue a broad variety of careers, including advanced academic study, teaching, law, governmental and nongovernmental service, and political advocacy.
If you need more information, please call or visit our Division office in the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government, URBN 650, 506 SW Mill Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues) in Portland. You can also contact Veronica Randolph, Political Science Office Coordinator, by phone (503-725-3921) or e-mail (vrandol@pdx.edu) to request an information packet on either the Undergraduate or Graduate program.
News, Links and Events
