B.A. in Political Science

 The B.A. in Political Science at Otterbein prepares students to lead, engage, and contribute responsibly to their communities. The program highlights how political and social institutions shape daily life. It also encourages students to analyze the forces that operate within political systems, including law, policy, race, class, gender, and the economy. Because political life is complex, the major promotes critical assessment, self-reflection, and close study of the methods and perspectives used in political analysis. The program also emphasizes excellence in teaching, research, and mentoring to ensure that students develop strong analytical skills. As a result, majors learn how to interpret political events and design ethical solutions to real-world problems.

The Department of History and Political Science offers both a B.A. major and a minor in Political Science. The curriculum includes courses on executive leadership, legislative processes, judicial processes, media, public law, international relations, comparative politics, and political theory. These areas provide a broad, balanced introduction to how governments function and how political actors shape policy.

Curriculum Structure and Academic Focus

The Political Science major is organized around three main areas: American Law and Politics, Global Politics, and Political Theory. During their first year, students develop a strong Political Science foundation across American or Comparative Government, Political Philosophy and Global Politics. Students also take a writing intensive methods course that examines the procedures, materials and research tools used by political scientists. After this foundation, students choose upper-level courses that deepen their knowledge of each core area. These advanced courses help students evaluate political institutions, compare global systems, and understand major debates in political thought. For full program requirements, students can review the Otterbein University Catalog.

Faculty Expertise and Career Preparation

Otterbein’s Political Science faculty bring extensive expertise and diverse research interests to the classroom. Faculty areas include American national institutions, state and local government, legislative and judicial processes, American law and politics, public administration, public policy, and political philosophy. This breadth of knowledge supports a rich learning environment and gives students access to multiple perspectives.

Because the degree is grounded in the liberal arts, students develop skills that transfer to many fields. Graduates pursue careers in government, public administration, non-governmental organizations, law, journalism, and business. They also gain strong writing, analysis, communication, and problem-solving skills that help them succeed in a fast-changing political and global landscape.