Bachelor of Arts in
Political Science

Learn about American political institutions including the presidency, Congress, courts, state and local government, and political parties; as well as political processes like elections, public opinion, urban politics, minority politics, political behavior, and public policy formation. With a location in the state capital, you will have unique opportunities to study ongoing research projects at the intersection of politics and public policy.

Citizenship is a central concept to the study of politics with deep historical roots and increasing tension in modern political life. Courses in this concentration focus on the concept from both the theoretical and empirical standpoints in the U.S. and globally. You will examine citizenship from the individual and institutional perspectives. You will also learn what it means to be a citizen from a legal and a normative vantage point, as a political identity, and in the public policy process.

As discussions of economic and political inequalities become increasingly present in our political debates, issues of equality and inequality have become central to the polity. Courses in this concentration focus on these issues by examining the intersection of law and social policy as it pertains to underrepresented groups. You will examine debates about group identity, civil rights and liberties, discrimination and the meaning of justice in a democracy.

Learn about current changes in the world and the comparative study of political systems. Course topics include civil-military relations, political economy, gender and LGBTQ rights, human rights, political violence and terrorism, contentious politics, foreign policy, regional integration, nationalism, ethnicity and international relations, international conflict and security, international regimes, WMD, and economic statecraft. Focus in areas such as Latin America, Southeast Asia, Europe, Israel-Palestine and China.

The rule of law, often overlooked and sometimes contentious, plays a central role in everyday American life. Courses in this concentration focus on the development and operation of the legal system, the work of the branches of government and the interactions of these political institutions with the public. You will learn to consider how laws are constructed and implemented, how they affect ordinary citizens, and the impact they have on public policy debates and political change.

Comparing policy in the U.S. with those in other nations will provide you with critical insight in a globalized world. Courses in this concentration build an understanding of macro level development by examining the connections between politics and economics. You will learn about nation building, social safety nets, the changing role of nation states and national institutions, and the controversial influence of money on people and policies.

Political theory encompasses studies from traditional texts to contemporary theory, including critical theory, deconstructive readings of political theory, theories of political judgment, and German social and political theory.

This program provides you with a firm grounding in the history of political theory, interpretive theory and the philosophy of the social sciences, and the various strands of contemporary theory.

Public law at the University at Albany has a national reputation for the quality of its program. You will study with faculty in areas related to law, legal actors, and legal systems. Learn about  national and subnational legal processes, the relationship between law and state development, the relationship of law and the legal system to public policy, interest groups, the media, and the political system in general. You will also have opportunities to examine doctrinal issues in constitutional and public law, as well as the relationship of private law to public policy in the United States and around the world.

International conflict and security dominate the politics of most areas of the globe and are key components of our foreign policy conversations. Courses in the concentration focus on the expanded understanding of the concept of security as states and non-state actors develop new strategies, tactics and tools to challenge the established order. You will study patterns of political violence, migration politics, and how nations and the international organizations respond to modern day threats.