Philosophy

Philosophy is a discipline that studies topics important to nearly everyone, such as knowledge, justice, morality, truth, freedom and reality.

Philosophy addresses fundamental questions about human knowledge and existence from constructive and critical perspectives. Students examine important historical and contemporary theories concerning ethics, social justice, reality, and the nature and extent of knowledge. Logic is also central to philosophy since the critical evaluation of the reasons given for ideas is as important as the study of the ideas themselves. For this reason, philosophy classes are well known for the presentation of philosophical problems and issues in a manner that stimulates questions, discussion, and a general appreciation for the pursuit of truth.
 

Political Science

“Political science delves into the study of governments, public policies, and political behavior. It is a social science which uses both humanistic perspectives and scientific skills to examine the United States and all countries and regions of the world.”

As a political science major, students study how groups of people collectively make decisions.  To do so, our majors draw upon a diverse array of intellectual traditions.  For example, when studying elections, students learn about the laws and institutions governing elections, the psychology of voting, and consider how these elections then shape society.  When studying Middle East or European Politics, they consider the wide range of political institutions, economic systems, and social organizations that shape the national and international politics of these regions.  Upon completing their degree in Political Science, students will have gained vital skills, such as document analysis, writing, data analysis, research, and public speaking.  Along with these critical life skills, our students also gain extensive knowledge from faculty that specialize in both American Politics and International Politics.