Department of Political Science
Welcome
to the webpage
for the Department
of
Political Science, Justice Studies and Public Administration
The Department
is home to Political Science, Justice Studies, and Public Administration.
On behalf of the faculty and staff, welcome to the Department's home page. In
keeping with the mission of the University to be student centered, we invite
you to browse our webpage or come in and visit in person.
My colleagues teach a variety of courses that run the full range of Political Science, Justice Studies, and Public Administration. Courses are taught by scholars who are nationally and internationally renowned in their fields. They conduct research on the most important political and social issues of the day. The Department has a long tradition of excellent teaching. This year we will welcome four new faculty members to our ranks. Please see the latest departmental news.
Feel free to browse at your leisure; the list on the left can provide links to the faculty, course offerings, pre-law advising, internship information, and a variety of things related to the Department and the disciplines of Political Science, Justice Studies, and Public Administration more generally.
We hope that our
web site answers many of your questions and informs you regarding the resources
and services that are available through our department. If you have additional
questions, or if you are unable to find the information that you need, please
do not hesitate to contact one of us personally. Our phone numbers and email
addresses are included as part of the web site.
What is Political
Science?
The Columbia University Encyclopedia defines Political Science as the study
of government and political processes, institutions, and behavior. Others have
defined Political Science is the systematic study of the allocation and transfer
of power in decision making. It is the study of the authority allocation of
resources. As one famous political scientist, Harold D. Lasswell wrote, political
science is "who gets what, when, and how."
Government and politics have been studied and analyzed since the time of the ancient Greeks. However, it is only with the general systematization of the social sciences in the last 100 years that political science has emerged as a separate discipline of academic study. Political science is commonly divided into a number of subfields, the most prominent being political theory, American national government, public law, comparative government, and international relations.
Valuable and sophisticated discussions of almost all the areas of political science can be dated as far back as Plato and Aristotle. Through the centuries, the questions of political science have been discussed in contexts varying with the changing perspectives of the time.
What Can I do with a Degree in Political Science?
Most occupations seek college educated individuals who can communicate (write and speak), solve problems, assimilate and apply new information and work cooperatively with others. Political Science graduates use their education in a wide variety of fields. Career is typically related to personal career interests, work values and transferable skills than any specific academic major. The analytical and communication skills that one gains in Political Science coupled with the substantive knowledge of government and politics are attractive to a range of employers.
Many of our students are interested in going to law school or graduate school, but training in Political Science can prepare students for a variety of other careers and jobs: teaching, government work, work on campaigns and in politics, social work, writing, business, lobbying, journalism, public service, paralegal work, work in the justice system, research assistant, analyst, Hall of Fame baseball player (although honesty compels me to note that additional skills are needed here) and with graduate work in political science, that list can grow exponentially.
Dr.
Richard Pacelle, Chair
Department of Political Science
Georgia Southern University
Carroll Building / P.O. Box 8101
Statesboro, GA 30460-8101
Telephone (912) 478-5698
Fax (912) 478-5348
Webmaster: Rebecca Davis