Political science is the study of government, individual and institutional behavior in the public sector; relations among nation-states; and theories of politics.

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Political science addresses the fundamental issues confronting modern society - globalization, war, inequality, poverty, the environment - and seeks to evaluate the processes, policies, and theories that have been devised to deal with them.

The University of New England’s Political Science Department, located on UNE's seaside University Campus in Biddeford, Maine, has developed a unique program for its political science majors.

Crossing Boundaries

We have made it a priority to recruit professors whose research and teaching interests cross the traditional boundaries that divide many political science departments into separate groups studying American government, international relations, political theory, or comparative politics.

Political science majors at UNE study all these topics, but often in the context of courses that cut across boundaries to investigate crucial political issues like "The Politics of Power," "The Politics of Evil," "Globalization: Origins, Politics and Culture" or "Late 20th Century Social Revolutions.

Concentrations

Political science majors may choose:

• A general concentration, which provides wide exposure to the fields of political science.
• A pre-law concentration.
• An environmental politics concentration.
• A global politics concentration, which offers an opportunity to focus on foreign political systems and international relations.

The department also offers Political Science majors the opportunity to select electives in the Department of Education necessary to become middle or high school teachers (grades 7 - 12) in the area of social studies.

Small Classes and Personal Attention

Political science classes at UNE range from 8-25 students. Our political science majors receive a great deal of personal attention from the faculty.

Our majors work closely with a member of the faculty to plan, research and write a senior essay on a topic of their choice. This essay provides tangible evidence to graduate schools and potential employers that our graduates have developed strong skills in critical thinking and writing.

Working closely with students on projects, such as senior essays, makes it possible for our faculty to write recommendations that speak convincingly to graduate schools and potential employers of the qualities our graduates will bring to a career or a graduate program.

Internships/Study Abroad/Practical
Experiences Outside the Classroom

In recent years, for example, our students have interned with Maine's U.S. Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins and Maine Congressman Tom Allen.  Others have pursued studies in South Africa, Namibia, England, Germany, Jordan and Egypt.  Other experiences linked to the classroom are attending the Model United Nations and representing UNE in a collegiate mock trial competition.