Understand the people, policies, institutions and organizations that shape public life. As a student of political science, you will gain essential analytical and organizational skills that can be applied to exciting careers in government, law, business, international organizations, nonprofit organizations, survey research, journalism and teaching.

The Political Science Department is devoted to the study of politics and government; this includes the study of:

political institutions that exercise government authority, including legislatures, courts and administrative agencies;
political organizations through which individuals and groups seek to reshape the political landscape, including parties, interest groups and social movements;
public policies that reflect governmental efforts to regulate the actions of individuals and corporations, including civil rights, immigration and environmental policy;
the interactions between and among nation-states and;
transnational organizations that shape patterns of trade and development, conflict and cooperation, war, and peace.

full-time faculty teaching and conducting research in political science

66%

of Maxwell faculty conduct research focused outside of the U.S.

graduate students in residence; fewer than 12 admitted each year

Undergraduate Studies

Studying political science will help you understand the workings of political life at the local, national and international levels and will prepare you for a lifetime of active and informed citizenship. The Department of Political Science at Syracuse University has more than thirty full-time faculty that teach a wide variety of courses in multiple subject areas. We will guide you as you explore the world of politics and hone your skills as a researcher, analyst and writer.

Graduate Studies

Master’s and doctoral students receive broad training in quantitative and qualitative methods of social science research, while also concentrating in two of the following substantive fields: American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, public administration and policy, law and courts, or security studies.

I am Maxwell.

My time as a student at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School prepared me for my career in the music business in ways I never could have imagined. My passion for utilizing political and legal systems and structures to advocate for and protect people’s rights guides many of the most important decisions I make.”

Jacqueline Saturn ’90 B.A. (PSc)

President of Virgin Music Group North America, 2026 Maxwell | A&S Undergraduate Convocation Speaker

Read more.

Recent Faculty Books

Maxwell's Political Science Department faculty members publish award-winning books on a wide range of topics. Scroll a sample of recently published works below, or visit the Maxwell Faculty Bookshelf for more.

Gadarian quoted in Huffington Post article on coronavirus, partisanship

April 30, 2020

HuffPost

Shana Kushner Gadarian

Political Science Department

Campbell Public Affairs Institute

COVID-19

Political Parties

United States

HuffPost

Shana Kushner Gadarian

"Overall, there seems to be a lot of projection going on," said Shana Gadarian, associate professor of political science. "Normally, I think that people take cues from the president but since his messaging has been relatively muddled ... people seem to be filling in their preferred position for his." Gadarian was interviewed for the HuffPost article "Democrats Think Republicans Oppose Stay-At-Home Orders. Most Republicans Don’t." 04/30/20

See All News

Media Coverage

Portrait of a smiling person in a blue shirt, standing in front of a blurred brick building background.

Jun 10, 2026

Larsen Speaks to Newsweek About Funding Cuts to the CDC's National Wastewater Surveillance System

COVID-19, Federal, U.S. Health Policy, United States, Wastewater Surveillance

School News

Jun 8, 2026

How Approval Processes Drive Up Housing Costs in Major Cities

Housing, State & Local, United States, Urban Issues

Research

Jun 5, 2026

Heterogeneous Impairment Patterns Among Midlife Latinos in the United States

Aging, Disability, Health Equity, LatinX, United States

Media Coverage

Jun 5, 2026

Gadarian Speaks With ABC News About California’s Proposed Billionaire Tax

State & Local, Taxation, United States

BaoBao Zhang Joins First Cohort of AI2050 Early Career Fellows

One of only 15 scholars chosen from across the U.S., Zhang will receive up to $200,000 in research funding over the next two years. Zhang will use the funding to partner with the nonprofit, non-partisan Center for New Democratic Processes to test whether public participation in AI governance is increased through the creation of public assemblies, known as “deliberative democracy workshops.”