BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences in Political Science - Public Policy and Democratic Institutions in Urbana United States | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois structures its political science curriculum into five distinct disciplines: American Politics, Public Policy, Comparative Politics, Political Theory (also called Political Philosophy), and International Relations. These specialized branches each examine different aspects of political systems and governance. As students progress through higher-level courses, they discover connections between concepts and theories across these disciplines.The Political Science Department provides both major and minor options, including a general political science major/minor and a civic leadership-focused major with a corresponding political and civic leadership minor. Learners will master applying scientific methodologies to political analysis and develop skills in data interpretation.Students gain essential knowledge about key facts, classifications, and frameworks within their selected political science specialization. They learn to assess core theories in their chosen field while understanding political science's distinct nature compared to other social sciences.This civic leadership program investigates governmental structures and their operational dynamics. Through historical and current case studies, courses analyze the U.S. political framework's origins and its contemporary implications. The curriculum examines key institutions - including the executive branch, legislative bodies, judicial systems, administrative agencies, and party organizations - with emphasis on their structures and operational behaviors like electoral strategies and advocacy efforts.