Political Science Minor

Political science is the investigation of how people govern themselves. This investigation encompasses both normative and empirical dimensions, i.e., the goals and purposes of politics as well as the political behavior of people as individuals and in groups. Emphasizing public policy integrates the normative and empirical aspects of political science. Social and economic questions, which always have moral and ethical dimensions, are framed as policy questions and addressed in policy decisions within the political process. Many of the department’s political science courses deal explicitly with facets of science and technology policy. The political science curriculum thus provides an excellent adjunct to professional training in science and engineering.