BA in Liberal Arts and Sciences in Political Science - World Politics in Urbana United States | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois organizes 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 explore 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 programs, featuring two concentration options. Students can pursue either a general political science major/minor or specialize in civic leadership through a dedicated major concentration and corresponding minor. Learners will master applying scientific methodologies to political analysis and develop skills in data interpretation.Students will acquire essential knowledge about key facts, classifications, and frameworks within their selected political science specialization. They'll gain proficiency in core theoretical approaches and learn methods for assessing these theories. Additionally, students will learn to differentiate political science from other social sciences while understanding its various subfields.The World Politics concentration examines governance systems and political behaviors across more than 200 nations globally. Key comparative topics include democratic and authoritarian systems, institutional structures (including parties, elections, and policy-making), electoral behavior and public opinion, identity politics, economic development in emerging nations, social transformations and conflict, plus the effects of globalization and cross-border influences like migration.