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Clemson University College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences Department of Political ScienceClemson University College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences Department of Political Science

Department of Political Science

Flags of different countries flying outside of the United Nations building

Welcome to the Department of Political Science at Clemson University. The department offers two undergraduate degrees and two graduate degrees. At the undergraduate level, we offer the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Political Science, which include courses in American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, public administration and public policy. Our graduate programs include the Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) program and the Ph.D. in Policy Studies program. We also offer four undergraduate minors, including political science, public policy, global politics, and political and legal theory. Our courses foster original research and critical thinking through student participation and intensive faculty-student interactions.

Political science majors encounter a wide range of topics related to government and politics. Our courses fall into several subfields—American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, public administration and public policy. Through their studies in political science, students will enhance their knowledge along with their critical thinking and empirical skills regarding the academic study of politics.

More than 1500 political science majors have graduated from Clemson University since the creation of the Department of Political Science in 1974. Stimulated by a faculty committed to excellence in research and teaching, political science majors have an impressive record of success on campus and beyond their academic training.

  • A Place To Learn

    The Department of Political Science offers courses in American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, public policy, and public administration. Students have the option of earning either a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in political science. Graduate degrees include a Master of Public Administration and a Ph.D. in Policy Studies. 

    Political science majors enjoy many small classes that foster research, critical thinking, student participation, and faculty-student interaction. The department is known for both teaching excellence and rigorous academic standards. Since 1990, political science faculty have won the Alumni Master Teacher Award, the Centennial Professorship Award, and numerous other teaching awards.

    The department also provides several opportunities for political science majors to work on research teams led by faculty members. In the past, students have participated in teams dealing with research topics such as domestic violence and civil wars, congressional voting, U.S.-China relations, the religious rhetoric of American presidents, community and economic development, comparative politics, and local government. Several students have presented their research at major political science conferences including the Midwest Political Science Association’s conference and the “Posters on the Hill” conference sponsored by the Council on Undergraduate Research that is held in Washington, D.C.

  • A Springboard to A Great Career

    Political science graduates have carved out successful careers in law, government, journalism, and teaching. Many of our majors have attended graduate and law schools at leading institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Michigan, Virginia, Rice, Texas A&M, Duke, Notre Dame, Georgetown, Texas, American, Vanderbilt, Georgia, Pittsburgh, North Carolina, Pennsylvania State, University of Arizona, CUNY Graduate Center, University of Pennsylvania, Emory, Florida, Wake Forest, Florida State, and South Carolina.

    Departmental alumni have worked for major law firms in Atlanta, Dallas, Washington, Charlotte, and New Orleans. Political science majors also have held careers on the staff of U. S. senators and representatives; in the CIA and Secret Service; in radio, television, and print; in banking, real estate, and commerce; in state and federal judgeships, and in state legislatures.

     

  • A Distinguished Faculty

    Political science faculty have authored or edited nearly four dozen books on topics such as democratization, religion and politics in the United States, Latin American politics, political ideology, presidential executive orders, racial and ethnic politics, treaties and executive agreements, Chinese politics, John Adams, public budgeting, ethnic conflict, Benjamin V. Cohen, and the Supreme Court. The faculty have also written scores of articles for academic journals including American Political Science Review,American Journal of Political Science, Journal of Politics, Political Research Quarterly, Social Science Quarterly, Presidential Studies Quarterly, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Political Behavior, Congress & the Presidency, International Studies Review, American Politics Research, Administration & Society, Political Communication, International Journal of Press/Politics, Journal of Contemporary Asia, Public Administration Review, Policy Studies, and Politics & Gender.

    In addition, faculty have won grants from, among others, the Fulbright, Olin and MacArthur foundations, the Twentieth Century Fund, Center for the Study of Religion, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woodrow Wilson Center, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, U.S. Institute of Peace, and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. One faculty member was elected as an APSA Congressional Fellow in 2013-14, where he worked as a domestic policy fellow in the U.S. Senate.

    Frequently on call by the press, faculty have been quoted in the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, CNN, CBS, BBC, National Public Radio, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, National Law Journal, Voice of America, Le Monde, Guardian (UK), and Newsweek. Several faculty members have gained practical experience serving as former heads of federal and state commissions, advisors to governors, and strategists for congressional and gubernatorial campaigns.

  • Faculty and Staff Directory
    Name Title Phone/Email
    Arneson, Lydia Administrative Coordinator 864-656-6712
    lydia@clemson.edu
    Bundrick, Alfred Senior Lecturer, MPA (864) 656-7135
    ALFREDB@clemson.edu
    Carey, Robert Senior Lecturer 864-656-0372
    CAREY2@clemson.edu
    Curtis, K. Amber Associate Professor 864-656-0213
    ACURTI2@clemson.edu
    Dickes, Lori Professor, MPA Program 864-656-7831
    LORID@clemson.edu
    Fine, Jeff Senior Associate Dean, Clemson University Honors College 864-656-4762
    JFINE@clemson.edu
    Horne, Robert Assistant Professor 864-656-3233
    rwhorne@clemson.edu
    Hu, Xiaobo Professor
    XHU@clemson.edu
    Hunter, Sara Lecturer
    sghunte@clemson.edu
    Jadoon, Amira Assistant Professor 231-C Brackett Hall
    ajadoon@clemson.edu
    Jennings, Alexis Operations Coordinator 864-656-0765
    award7@clemson.edu
    Kalesnikaite, Vaiva Assistant Professor (864) 656-0690
    vkalesn@clemson.edu
    Lasser, William Alumni Distinguished Professor 864-656-4762
    LASSER@clemson.edu
    Mazique, Shea Administrative Assistant 864-656-3233
    cmaziqu@clemson.edu
    Morris, Michael Emeritus Faculty (864) 656-3990
    morrism@clemson.edu
    Olson, Laura Thurmond Professor 864-363-8547
    LAURAO@clemson.edu
    Peake, Jeffrey Professor (419) 464-6307
    JPEAKE@clemson.edu
    Phillips, Stephen Lecturer 864–656–3233
    scp@clemson.edu
    Ransom, Bruce Professor 864-656-1650
    BII@clemson.edu
    Rhodes-Purdy, Matthew Associate Professor
    MHRHODE@clemson.edu
    Taydas Onur, Zeynep Associate Professor of Political Science 864-656-3235
    ZTAYDAS@clemson.edu
    Teklemariam, Nathan Assistant Professor
    nteklem@clemson.edu
    Thompson, C. Bradley Professor, Clemson Institute for the Study of Capi (864) 656-1724
    tthomp2@clemson.edu
    Trask, Tara Senior Lecturer 864-656-3233
    ttrask@clemson.edu
    Turner, Brandon Associate Professor, Director, Graduate Studies
    BTURNE2@clemson.edu
    Ura, Joseph Professor and Chair, Department of Political Science (864) 656-3233
    jura@clemson.edu
    Wales, Michael Lecturer 864-656-3233
    mdwales@clemson.edu
    Wallner, James Lecturer
    jwallne@clemson.edu
    Warber, Adam Professor of Political Science; Director of Undergraduate Studies (864) 656-1828
    AWARBER@clemson.edu
    Woodard, David Emeritus Professor, Thurmond Professor of Politica 864-656-3551
    JUDITHW@clemson.edu
    Affiliated Faculty

    Eric Daniels

    Parttime instructors

    Michael Cunningham, Visiting Lecturer

    Meredith-Joy Petersheim, Visiting Lecturer

    Aron Tannenbaum, Visiting Lecturer

  • Contact Us

    For more information about the Department of Political Science at Clemson University, please contact us at:

    Department of Political Science

    232 Brackett Hall
    Clemson University
    Clemson, SC 29634-1354
    Phone: (864) 656-3233
    Fax: (864) 656-0690
    Email: polisci@clemson.edu

    Department Administration

    Joe Ura, Ph.D.
    Chair, Department of Political Science.
    jura@clemson.edu

    Academic Advising

    Dr. Adam Warber is the undergraduate advisor for juniors and seniors in the Department of Political Science. You can contact him at awarber@clemson.edu or 865-656-1828.  

DEGREES

Pre-Law in Political Science

Are you interested in attending law school? Political Science is the most popular undergraduate major of law school attendees. Clemson University and the Department of Political Science offer a wealth of courses, information and resources that will help you build the skills necessary to make you an attractive applicant at law schools across the country.

Explore Our Pre-Law Offerings
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Political Science News

Department of Political Science
Department of Political Science | 232 Brackett Hall