Why Study Political Science?
Political science majors study how laws are made. They learn the comparative structures of governments across the world. They also learn about public policy and its impact on society and the economy. Political science majors are prepared to pursue careers in public policy and administration, law, diplomacy, international development and foreign relations, environmental and gender politics, academia and socioeconomic research or campaign studies.
Why Study Political Science at Eastern?
Eastern’s Political Science major combines a core of political science courses with an internship or study abroad requirement to provide professional and analytical skills. Students gain an understanding of domestic and international political processes through classroom discussion; guest speakers and special events; political debates; and a review of current political issues. The major includes a track for students seeking certification to teach high school social studies. A Political Science minor is also available to other majors.
Salary Potential
Median salary
Public Administration
Median salary
Public Policy
* Center on Education and the Workforce, Georgetown University
Hands-on Learning
Clubs
Political science students run student clubs such as the Pre-Law Society, Campus Republicans, Campus Democrats, the Conservatives/Libertarians, and Campus Radicals that allow them to develop their own political platforms.
Internships
Internship options include the State of Connecticut and municipalities, the federal government in Washington, D.C., local law firms, and international opportunities. Political Science students also conduct and present their research on public policy.
Honor Society
The Alpha Beta Gamma chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national Political Science honor society, provides students with membership to the national professional society focused on political science and government.
Faculty Spotlight
Martin Mendoza-Botelho
Professor - Political Science and Department Chair
“Our students are very motivated. I enjoy seeing them progress during their time at Eastern. Whether it’s local politics, the environment, or national politics, they move from simpler understanding to a more complex perspective. Their thinking becomes more sophisticated and balanced.”
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Courtney Broscious
Associate Professor - Political Science
“I believe that institutions of higher education should be agents of social mobility and should provide an education that encourages students to develop flexible skillsets that can be applied in multiple settings.”
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Career Options
- Diplomacy
- Foreign service and international relations
- Grassroots activism
- Healthcare administration
- Law school
- Lobbying organizations
- Political campaigns
- Public opinion polling
- Public policy
- Working with elected officials
Successful Alumni
Recent Eastern students who earned a bachelor’s degree or a minor in political science are at the following companies and professional/graduate schools:
- CIGNA
- Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance
- Connecticut General Assembly
- Cornell University
- Department of Public Health
- Duke University
- Johns Hopkins University
- London School of Economics
- Syracuse University
- University of Chicago
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- U.S. Coast Guard
In the News
Post-election panel analyzes turnout and historical precedents
November 20, 2024
Eastern Connecticut State University hosted a “Post-Election Reflections” panel on Nov. 13. The discussion was moderated by history Professor Tom Balcerski and political science Professor Nicole Krassas. The panelists shared their perspectives on the 2024 election results, discussed key issues and explored what might come next.
Local political parties urge voter turnout
October 15, 2024
Major political parties visited Eastern Connecticut State University from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4 to engage with students during a weeklong schedule of events as a part of Eastern’s larger “Voting Matters” initiative. Representatives from the Democratic, Republican and Green parties gathered on campus to promote political involvement and voter turnout ahead of the Nov. 5 election.
‘Voting Matters’ kicks off with political panel featuring acclaimed professors
October 02, 2024
Eastern Connecticut State University began its “Voting Matters” week on Sept. 30 with a thought-provoking panel discussion featuring political science experts from prestigious institutions. With the 2024 election quickly approaching on Nov. 5, the panel provided valuable insights and answered students’ most pressing questions, aiming to encourage voter registration and turnout among the student body.
Alumni Testimonials
Cornell University
Quanece Williams ’16
Quanece earned her law degree at Cornell and works for a law firm in New York City. “My Eastern experience was transformative. As a student, I took rigorous courses, conducted research, served as a teacher’s assistant, and went on a global field course to Europe. I learned to think critically, seize new opportunities and strengthen my leadership skills.”
History
Morgan Considine ’16
Morgan is director of data for the Connecticut School Finance Project, an organization that provides nonpartisan information about education finance to state and local governments. “History is intertwined with a lot of subjects, including government. Government analyses are done from a historical perspective; we want to understand what’s been done in the past in order to inform decision making in the present.”
Political Science
Leigh Generous ’19
Leigh is in quality assurance/quality control at American Distilling. “I worked as an intern at the Organization of American States (OAS), where hemispheric events are monitored, discussed, and analyzed in real-time. I feel incredibly lucky to be on the front lines of international relations. It was fascinating to witness transactions between the OAS and heads of state from member countries as they finalize agreements.”
Student Life
Alex Cross ’12
Alex is the dean of students at American International College in Springfield, MA. “My experiences as a double major and resident assistant (RA) led me to a job in the career field I wanted, helped me develop lifelong mentors, and made me marketable across the field.”
Political Science
Sierra Colon ’17
Sierra is academic services coordinator at the University of Connecticut’s Hartford campus. She interned in South Africa for the Surplus People Project, a nonprofit organization that supports farm workers. “Traveling abroad is very valuable. By living in another culture you start to understand other viewpoints, which expands your knowledge of how the world works.”
International Policy
Jonas Bjornes ’18
Jonas earned his master’s degree in international social and public policy at the London School of Economics. He is now a senior communications advisor at the Institute for Energy Technology in Norway. “My political science degree from Eastern was extremely helpful for my graduate studies, because the core classes covered theories and methods that were examined to a greater extent in my social policy-related courses.”
Political Science
Isabelle Lastrina ’24
Isabelle will be working towards her law degree at Quinnipiac University. “My professors had a large role in preparing me for law school. Being in the Department of Political Science has allowed me to curate relationships with my professors and they have become a great support system for me every step of the way of my journey. Being able to take some law-related classes will also prove helpful.”
Fulbright Scholar
Adam Murphy ’18
Adam won a Fulbright scholarship to study the Indonesian language on the island of Java, Indonesia. “I’m honored to have been selected for such an amazing program, which enabled me to continue learning about Indonesia and its wonderful people.” Murphy is now in a master’s program in public policy at the University of Connecticut.
Pre-Law
Isabelle Lastrina ’24
Isabelle is using a scholarship from the Connecticut Bar Association to prepare for law school.
“Since I was about 14 years old, I have been interested in politics, changes in government and how that affects people on the ground.” In spring 2023, she was an intern at Qualey, Williams & Aikens Attorneys at Law. On campus, Isabelle is the secretary of the Pre-Law Society.
General Assembly
Olivia Puckett ’11
Political Science major Olivia Puckett received her master's degree in public administration at the University of Connecticut, and is a performance auditor for the Connecticut Auditor of Public Accounts. “I hope to use my education and legislative experience in obtaining an analyst or manager position in the legislature.”
Public Policy
Jessica DeFelice ’16
Jessica DeFelice received her master’s degree in public policy at Oregon State University and works at Penn State University as a human resource technologist. “Eastern’s rigorous academic training provided me with the skills to successfully conduct research and proficiently author and present arguments. I look forward to a career of shaping policy in the public and nonprofit sectors.”
Financial Analyst
Tess Candler ’18
Political Science and Economics double-major Tess is a financial manager at Cognex Corporation. “Eastern was a great place to develop my research skills because professors are truly interested in working with students. Whenever I approached a professor about independent study, I was met with enthusiasm. The fact that Eastern is a small, primarily undergraduate school contributed to that environment.”
Columbia University
Olivia Anderson ’21
Political Science major Olivia Anderson ’21 earned her master’s degree in climate and society at Columbia University and is now a climate analyst at Eversource. She developed interest in this field while researching her Honors Thesis at Eastern. “Climate change is something I have a passion for learning about and I believe understanding opinions of it will help inform climate policy in the future.”
