Welcome to the Department of Political Science at Miami University!

Our department is a large and active one, with over two dozen full-time faculty working in all aspects of Political Science. We offer three undergraduate majors—Political Science, Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs, and Public Administration—and a Master’s degree and Ph.D. in Political Science. We offer a variety of courses covering the important issues and questions of politics, including constitutional rights and liberties, American foreign policy, politics in the major regions of the world (western and eastern Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, Africa, and Asia), the American presidency and Congress, public management, political philosophy, parties and interest groups, and international law.

We prepare our students for their futures, whether in advanced studies, careers, or as citizens. Our alumni go on to study at the best graduate and professional schools in the United States, including law school at Harvard, Yale, Duke, the University of Chicago, and the University of Michigan. Our students also go on to graduate school at Georgetown, Columbia, Yale, Indiana, and other top programs. The 2003 finalists for the Harry S Truman Scholarship competition includes three juniors from Miami—two are majors in Political Science, and one is an Interdisciplinary Studies major whose curriculum has included extensive work in our Department.

Our students prepare for careers in a wide variety of fields. While many go to law school, many others find careers in business, the Foreign Service, the armed forces, federal, state, and local government, law enforcement, lobbying, and non-profit organizations. Some of our alumni serve in Congress, at the White House, and in U.S. embassies abroad, while others are attorneys and business professionals. Some of our alumni have successful careers in academic political science, including the president of a university, deans, and department chairs.

Our students study with an expert and engaging faculty, who themselves are involved in a wide range of research projects. Several members of our faculty have received awards for outstanding teaching and in recognition of their scholarly research. Many of our faculty also have experience working in government and politics, and bring that experience to the classroom. We also encourage our students to take advantage of opportunities to undertake internships and other experiences in applied settings, and to study abroad. There are also several opportunities for students to engage in research projects of their own, often funded by college or university programs. We are committed to offering our students an interesting curriculum and challenging courses.

If you are interested in politics, or think you might be, check out our Department. Look over our website and, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me at barillrj@muohio.edu.

Ryan J. Barilleaux, Professor and Chair