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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Holy Cross Produces Record Number of Fulbright Scholars
Fourteen recent graduates from the College of the Holy Cross have been awarded Fulbright grants to work and teach abroad during the 2013-14 academic year. This marks a record high number of Fulbrights awarded in a single year for the …
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Princeton Review: History, Math and Political Science at Holy Cross Among Great Programs
Three departments at the College of the Holy Cross—history, mathematics, and political science—are ranked among the best in the Princeton Review’s “Great Schools for 20 of the Most Popular Undergraduate Majors,” which ran in conjunction with the Princeton Review’s annual …
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Blog: Schirripa ’14 Excited to Get First-Hand Look at Law Practice
NAME Bridget Schirripa ’14 HOMETOWN Lexington, Mass. AREAS OF STUDY History and political science double major in the prelaw program WHERE SHE’S INTERNING American Transit Insurance Company in Brooklyn, N.Y., where she will be a legal intern for the private …