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.

students in a classroom with a powerpoint
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

Ron Lawson '75 in New York City
McFarland Center’s ‘Dismantling Structural Racism’ Series Featured on NBC Boston
Alumnus Ron Lawson ’75, chief operating officer of Care for the Homeless, is one of several prominent Black alumni taking part in a virtual discussion series with the Holy Cross community organized by the McFarland Center for Religion, Ethics and …
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Holy Cross’ Chapter of Sigma Delta Pi Earns National Award
Omicron Epsilon, Holy Cross’ Chapter of the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society Sigma Delta Pi, has been named an “Honor Chapter” for its outstanding activities in 2019-20, an award that was bestowed to only 11 out of 627 chapters nationwide. …
Mary Kate Vanecko '17 posts with boxing gloves in her senior year at Holy Cross
Vanecko Shows the World What It Means to “Fight Like A Girl”
Mary Kate Vanecko ’17 first discovered boxing as a way to cross-train while playing varsity lacrosse at Holy Cross. She liked it so much, she joined the boxing club at Trinity College in Dublin while studying abroad junior year. When …