Department of Political Science
The Department of Political Science at John Carroll University helps students broaden their intellectual skills so that they may critically analyze and evaluate topics in political science. As a political science student, you will learn about political institutions of government, political behavior, political method, and political theory. Our graduates have pursued successful careers in a wide range of fields, including government, politics, law, education, business, and journalism.
Study begins with an overview of this discipline’s basic fields. Afterwards, political science majors branch out into their elective courses, tailoring their studies to fit their interests and future career plans. So that our students may have both the intellectual and practical skills to succeed as alumni, all majors are encouraged to pursue extra-curricular activities, such as internships or participation in the various events we sponsor throughout the year.
Experience the Possibilities
Our department believes in the power of experiential learning. Under our mentorship, political science students have the opportunity to attend conferences, diplomatic simulations, and various events hosted at John Carroll and Cleveland. By applying what they learn, our students graduate with a unique sense of purpose.
Experiential Learning
Take your education beyond the classroom by practicing what you learn through lived experience.
Internships
One of our department’s missions is to prepare our students for their postgraduate lives, and internships can play a substantial role towards this effort, as they are a valuable way to gain professional experience, network, and to find a fulfilling career fit. They are also a way through which you may fulfill major requirements with our department; we offer up to six credit hours of academic credit for completed internships.
Experiences
We offer experiential learning courses—such as the European Union Simulation or Model Arab League—that aim at developing negotiation, leadership, and diplomacy skills. We also sponsor various events throughout the academic year, such as lunch roundtables with prominent academicians, judges, and politicians as well as the popular occasional series Rant on the Rails, which brings in both prominent and student panelists to discuss important issues at the local, national, and international level.
Fellowships
The NBC/John Carroll University “Meet the Press” Fellowship was created to honor Tim Russert ’72 and is awarded annually to a graduating senior with a major in either political science or communications. This nine-month fellowship is spent at NBC’s “Meet the Press” studios in Washington, D.C., where fellows assist with the weekly program's production while conducting collaborative research under the direction of the executive producer.
