About

The Political Science Department provides students with the intellectual framework to understand the complexities of political affairs and the analytical and practical skills necessary to succeed in a rapidly changing world.

Students are immersed in the four primary areas of the discipline: American politics, international relations, comparative politics and political theory They interact with an award-winning teaching faculty. Students acquire the knowledge and skills for further study in graduate or law school, or will be prepared for careers in public service and related fields.

Students also have the opportunity to work with UMaine’s International Affairs Program, the Leadership Studies minor, the Legal Studies minor, the Cohen Institute for Leadership and Public Service, the Honors College, and the School of Policy and International Affairs.

The department is recognized for its outstanding instruction and scholarship. Political science faculty members have received the University of Maine Distinguished Professor Award, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Outstanding Faculty Award for teaching and advising and the University of Maine Trustee Professorship. Faculty members’ articles are frequently published in the top journals and books in the discipline, and many faculty regularly present their work at regional, national and international forums. Political Science faculty are frequent contributors in local, state, national, and international media, and faculty research informs a wide range of public issues.