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Political Science Special Opportunities
The Department of Political Science is committed to teaching excellence. The faculty regularly integrate hands-on learning experiences into their classes such as United Nations and Congressional simulations, debates focused on contested issues in national and international politics, and interactions with political leaders and organizations.
Mehri Best Senior Thesis Award
Every year the department recognizes outstanding theses by nominating them for the Mehri Best Senior Thesis Award.
Most Recent Mehri Thesis Award Winners
Will Women Save The Planet? The Effects of Gender Quotas on Women’s Representation and Environmental Legislation – Awino Pauller Musyoka ’23
A Critical Civic Crossroad: Legislative Restrictions on Civic Education in US Public Schools to Suppress a POC Electorate – Kristopher Kremsner ’22
How the Affordable Care Act Impacted Women’s Health – Hannah Pettis ’21
America the Beautiful: For Some, but Not For All. – Jennifer Paszko ’21
Let’s Talk About the Elephants (Not) in the Room: The Causes Behind the Growing Gender Partisan Gap in Congress – Abby Meltzer ’20
Democracy and Protection of Human Rights: Evidence from Croatia and Turkey – Ariana Mattice-Lybrand ’19
Political Science Off-Campus J Term Programs
The department also directs off-campus January Term programs to various locations including Sustainable Public Policy in Arizona and Economics and Politics of Post-Communist Transition in the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Moldova.
Internships
The Department of Political Science encourages majors to complete at least one internship in the field. Internships provide opportunities to test theory in practice, to gather information for senior thesis research, to be active participants in the political process, and to investigate possible careers.
Student Research & Conference Participation
Political science majors have opportunities to work closely with faculty on their own research projects and as research assistants. Political science majors have a successful record of presenting their research at professional conferences and have even published their work in professional journals.
Our Students Present Their Research
The 2023 National Political Science Honor Society’s Undergraduate Research Conference, George Washington University, Washington, DC
Addy Colligan ’23 presented her research Post Dobbs Decision: The Role of Women Legislators and Governors in Abortion Policy. She found that the states that passed complete or near complete bans on abortion in the wake of the 2022 Dobbs decision have the lowest levels of women’s representation, in particular the lowest levels of Republican women. In other words, these bans are being enacted with very little input from women.
Jack Mahn ’23 presented his research, which examines whether Russia’s invasion of Ukraine represents a new type of challenge to the liberal world order.
Awino Musyoka ’23, Jack Mahn ’23, and Addy Colligan ’23 connected with Hartwick graduates Trevaughn Smith ’21 and Ed Holman ’21. Alumni attended the conference in support of those making presentations and participating in panel discussions.
Model UN and Political Science Honor Society
Political science students also have the opportunity to participate in Model UN and get involved in our award-winning chapter of the national political science honor society, Pi Sigma Alpha.
Career Opportunities
Hartwick political science graduates go on to earn graduate degrees in political science or allied fields such as public administration. Some find employment working for members of Congress, other government agencies, and they work as teachers, journalists, and business people, among other careers. A number of Hartwick political science majors work with our pre-law program to prepare for law school and go on to practice law in a variety of fields.
Other Special Opportunities for Political Science Students
Interning with the New York Assembly
Wick in Washington (job shadowing professionals in Washington D.C. )
Voter registration drives
The Stephen L. Green competition for student papers on issues in U.S. democracy
Student Government Association
Attending national political conventions
Volunteering for presidential political campaigns in New Hampshire
Graduate School Opportunities
Hartwick political science graduates are heavily recruited by the Cornell Institute for Public Affairs MPA Program. Our graduates consistently standout and are actively engaged in all the Cornell MPA program has to offer. They are successful and have forged exciting careers in the public and private sectors.
The Cornell Institute for Public Affairs program requires: strong writing and communications skills, solid data analytical skills, and the desire to engage in the world to make it better. These form the foundation of a Hartwick College degree.