Politics
The Department of Politics has attempted to develop a balanced and diversified curriculum which covers the major subfields of the discipline. While very much aware of the perennial questions of government and society which puzzled political philosophers such as Aristotle and Plato, the Department is concerned that its students be well-versed in the affairs and contending theories of the contemporary world.
The Department is also committed to the development of rigorous analytical skills, the arts of communication (both spoken and written), and experiential learning. Professors are closely involved with the programs in applied ethics, international relations, Asian studies, peace and justice, and Latin American and Caribbean Studies. Thus, while it is designed to provide a broad liberal education, the politics curriculum is also appropriate for a large number of career orientations, especially:
- Law
- Government
- The media
- Teaching
- Business
The politics major, one of the most popular at Fairfield, offers a diverse and up-to-date curriculum designed to acquaint you with the discipline of political science and its various subfields (political theory, American politics, comparative politics, international relations). It provides students with the skills needed to succeed in the job market or to go on to law, business, or graduate school. Members of the department stress:
- The development of strong critical thinking and analytical skills
- Oral and written communication skills
- The experience of politics through active participation in classroom discussion and debate, internships, and independent research projects
Faculty members in the department have intellectual interests in all the subfields of political science and are involved in a great number of the University's area studies and specialized minors including applied ethics, Asian studies, Black studies, the Honors Program, international studies, Irish studies, Latin American and Caribbean studies, peace and justice studies, Russian and East European studies, and women's studies.
