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For Prospective Students

Thank you for taking the time to visit our website and for considering majoring in Political Science at Truman.  In our department you will find a faculty that cares deeply about your success as a student and in your life and career beyond. We hope that you will come and join what Dr. John Wahlke, Past-President of the American Political Science Association, called the best undergraduate political science program that he had ever seen.

Our program offers you:

A Focus on Undergraduate Education in Small Classes

Unlike many universities where students are taught in a large auditorium or by graduate assistants, political science at Truman is taught in small classroom settings by professors with doctorates. Students benefit from and enjoy the academic interactions with faculty and fellow students.

The political science department at Truman is a national leader in efforts to improve the teaching of college-level political science.  The department is the home of the Journal for Political Science Education, which is the leading publication in this area and sponsored by the Political Science Education section of the American Political Science Association (APSA).  Our faculty have been leaders in creating the national Teaching and Learning Conference, sponsored by the APSA, and play important roles in organizing and presenting papers at the meeting.

Critical Thinking Skills

Our program develops strong critical thinking and analytical skills in our students.  Truman political science focuses on the cultivation of very strong research and writing as well as oral presentation skills. Moreover, our focus on the underlying theories that drive political behavior gives our students a deep understanding of why things happen in the world of politics.

Placement in Top Graduate Schools and Law Schools

Since 2003, we have placed 63% to 79% of our graduates in graduate programs or law schools.  Examples of institutions that our graduates have gone on to attend include Harvard Law School, Duke University,  University of Chicago, Syracuse University, Ohio State University, The University of Michigan, American University, George Washington University, Washington University, University of Missouri, and St. Louis University.

Faculty Advising in the Major

After the freshman year, all political science majors will have a political science professor as an academic advisor.  Here you will receive expert advice on courses and other academic issues, and have a close working relationship with a professional who can advise you on the next step in your career, whether it be law school, graduate school or a job in government or in the private sector.

Study Abroad

Many of our political science majors choose to spend a semester or more studying at a university in another country.  Our students have studied at universities in Britain, Germany, Spain, Greece, Australia, and China, to name a few.  Students work with their academic advisor and Truman’s Center for International Education to ensure that all courses taken abroad will meet major and university requirements at Truman.

Student Research and Presentations

Truman’s Political Science program emphasizes building strong research skills in our students.  Many students choose to present their research projects, whether completed as part of a class requirement or outside of class, at Truman’s Student Research Conference or at the annual meetings of regional and national professional associations.

Not only do students benefit from working with faculty on their research, but many times faculty will co-author papers with students and they will present these together at conferences or publish them in professional journals.