Political Science

Political Science: Major

Holy Cross students who major in political science gain in-depth understanding of the American political system, other political regimes, the international system, and political philosophy. In uniformly small classes, students also improve their critical and analytical skills and competence in oral and written expression.

Political science is one of Holy Cross’ most popular majors. The major is rigorously structured so as to ensure breadth as well as depth, with courses required in each of the discipline’s four subfields. Department faculty conceive the most fundamental purpose of the major as helping students to become thoughtful, well-informed, and ethical citizens of a constitutional, self-governing republic. Political science majors have gone on to successful careers in local, state, and federal government, academia,  law, journalism, business, high-school teaching, nonprofit organizations, the armed forces, and the priesthood. 

Program Highlights

Students majoring in political science take courses in four main areas:
 
  • American government
  • political philosophy
  • comparative politics
  • international relations
students and a professor in a class
Subfields

Learn more about the political science department’s four subfields.

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Charles Carroll Program

The program brings guest lecturers to campus, funds a sophomore seminar and provides paid summer research internships.

Group of students in Washington DC
Washington Semester Program

Many political science majors spend a semester working, studying, and conducting research in Washington, D.C.

Political Science News

Mary Ellen Curran '86, stands in front of wrestling posters
Holy Cross Alumna Leads Nonstop Philanthropy From an Unexpected Source
Mention billion-dollar international powerhouse World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and the thoughts of many automatically land on its colorful characters and eye-popping feats of athleticism. But Mary Ellen Curran ’86 says there’s another story to tell. As the company’s senior vice …
People sit on a panel on a stage in front of a crowd
Holy Cross Hosts Prestigious Association of Literary Scholars, Critics, and Writers Conference
The 24th Annual Conference of the Association of Literary Scholars, Critics, and Writers (ALSCW) was held at the College of the Holy Cross from October 3-6, 2019. Hosted by Lee Oser, professor of English, the three-day event featured 17 seminars; …
students work on a farm
Learning Outside the Classroom at Holy Cross
Not all education takes place in an academic building — particularly at College of the Holy Cross, where outside-the-classroom learning opportunities range from local to global. Whether you’re contributing to community engagement or diving into summer research or spending a …