Political science involves the systematic study of how people and societies make the political decisions that affect their lives.
Highlights
Vice President Quayle '69 visits Alma Mater
The 44th Vice President of the United States and 1969 graduate of 69ɫƵ took time to have breakfast with our Political Science students after being featured as one of our Ubben Lecturers.
Professor Bruce Stinebrickner and President Bill Clinton
Two members of the Georgetown University Class of 1968 had a few minutes to exchange personal greetings and reminisce: former president Bill Clinton and Political Science Professor Bruce Stinebrickner. Clinton was visiting DePauw that day to give a lecture marking the 25th anniversary of the Ubben lecture series.
Clinton and Stinebrickner were classmates at Georgetown, and both later earned degrees at Yale, in law and political science, respectively. The two Hoyas kept in touch during Clinton’s years as governor of Arkansas, and in 2008 they re-connected in Iowa and later in Putnam County, Indiana, during the Hillary Clinton campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Clinton was a student government leader at Georgetown, and Stinebrickner played varsity basketball and co-captained the Hoya hoopsters in his senior year. It was in those contexts, according to Stinebrickner, that the two got to know each other at Georgetown.
Access President Clinton's lecture article here:
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We Shape the World
Our students apply their knowledge to real-world issues. Read more about the things they've done on our Student Projects page.
Political science major Omobolaji “BJ” O. Teriba '15 (center) stands with New York Times columnist David Brooks and a fellow student. Brooks joined a list of Ubben Lecturers that includes Bill Clinton, Ron Paul, Margaret Thatcher and Colin Powell.
International security scholar Deepa Prakash discusses an active summer in world news and how terrorism shaped her career and classroom.
A Look Back: Benazir Bhutto's Visit to DePauw
Benazir Bhutto was the first woman to lead a Muslim-majority nation, serving as Pakistan's 11th prime minister. In 1997, ten years before her assassination, Bhutto visited 69ɫƵ to give an Ubben Lecture.
Many political science courses analyze the American political system, but there are also courses on political systems in other countries and regions (Europe, the Middle East, China, India and the Third World more generally), on relations among and between nations, and on issues and questions that transcend the politics of any particular place. Majors go on to successful careers in elected and appointed government positions, journalism, business, research, education, and law.
Sample Courses:
Elements of Political Theory, American National Government, Political Parties, African American Politics, China and India in the 21st Century, Muslim Political Thought
Our Alumni
Vernon E. Jordan Jr. '57
Civil rights lawyer and presidential advisor Vernon Jordan received The American Lawyer magazine's Lifetime Achievement Award.
Douglas Hallward-Driemeier '89
Hallward-Driemeier argued for the right to same-sex marriage before the United States Supreme Court.
