Welcome to the Political Science Department
Image "May the first principles of Sound Politicks
be fix'd in the minds of youth."
- Benjamin Franklin

Edward Mansfield Chair
Anne Norton Graduate Chair
John Lapinski Undergraduate Chair


Penn's Political Science Department is experiencing a renaissance. Over the past decade, our faculty has grown by 50%, an increase in quantity that has been matched by gains in quality. The strength of our faculty in each of four major subfields (American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory) is being built with an eye to excellence embracing a variety of approaches and methodologies. The department’s combination of distinction and diversity has resulted in a rapid expansion of the undergraduate program and a newly invigorated Ph.D. program.  Our faculty and graduate students play key roles in numerous centers and organizations across Penn's campus whose missions bear on topics of interest to political scientists. We hope you will explore the links on this page that offer a glimpse into the variety of our programs, activities, and classes, as well as an introduction to the accomplishments of the people who comprise the Political Science Department at Penn.



NEW COURSES FOR SPRING 2010

132-601 Leadership & Democracy
198-302 Political Violence & the Modern World
231-401 Race & Ethnic Politics
332-401 Discourse & American Politics
398-302 Popular Culture: Islam in the West
498-302 Social Movements
498-303 Politics of Globalization & Development
498-304 Politics of Oil
498-305 Congress and Elections
536-401 Civil Religion
598-301 War and Peace


 
© 2009 University of Pennsylvania Political Science Department
School of Arts & Sciences | University of Pennsylvania