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

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Students Conduct Cutting-Edge Research Across Disciplines Over the Summer
For 106 students, the summer was spent pushing intellectual boundaries and creativity while conducting leading research across a range of disciplines: 61 students engaged in research in the sciences; 38 in the humanities, social sciences, and fine arts; and seven …
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Holy Cross Graduate Drafted to the Boston Red Sox For the Second Year in a Row
Dominic Lovullo, a history and political science major who graduated from Holy Cross this past May, was selected to play with the Boston Red Sox. Media outlets including ESPN, the Boston Globe, and CBS Boston have been highlighting that Lovullo, 22, …
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Holy Cross Students Attribute Liberal Arts Education to Their Win at the International Business Ethics Case Competition
Holy Cross students James Barone ’17, Daniel Apadula ’17, James O’Connor ‘18, and Abigeal Lynch ’19 placed first in their division for the 25-minute presentation portion at the 20th International Business Ethics Case Competition (IBECC) held from April 20 to …