Samantha Vokaty, '08, a political science major performs independent research on the variations in state elections. Under the guidance of Professor Christopher Robinson, Votaky recently compared New York’s closed primary with Minnesota’s open primary. New York requires voters to register with a party before voting in primary elections, while Minnesota’s open primary does not mandate that voters declare an affiliation.  Her thesis states that a state-regulated, closed primary is preferable to a loosely followed open primary because of the positive effect it has on voter and state politics.

Recently, Vokaty presented her research at the inaugural “Independent Sector Undergraduate Research Exposition,” at the Legislative Office Building in Albany, N.Y. She was one of six Clarkson students, and only 70 students state-wide, selected to attend....more

The Political Science program at Clarkson will help students understand the political context in which they live, including the nation state and other institutions. They will develop an appreciation of the complexities and processes of social justice, reflect upon the sources of their modern identities, examine relations between humans and the natural world, and engage in critical reflection on the politics of science and technology.

Many students in Political Science are interested in graduate and professional education. Law schools have always valued the analytical and communication skills of political science students.

You can prepare for law school through any of our degree programs and supplement your preparation through the minor in Law and Society, whose requirements you can meet without extra courses.

Why Clarkson?
The Political Science program at Clarkson differs from those at many other institutions in three important ways — broader perspectives, external fields, and computer competencies.

Political Science majors at Clarkson benefit from the outstanding scholarship and personal attention of faculty in political science, anthropology, history, literature, psychology and sociology.

Faculty work individually with students to prepare them for careers in a world economy that demands creativity in analyzing problems, expertise in technology, and an understanding of diverse perspectives.

External field
A required external field of five or more courses prepares students for their future careers.

Chosen from one of Clarkson's many programs and departments, external fields may be in such defined pre-professional areas as pre-medicine, pre-law, pre-business, pre-physical therapy, psychology, or computer science; alternately, students may create their own external field, tailored to their specific career interests.

Through Clarkson's state-of-the-art computing resources, you will acquire skills using the latest communication tools. Also, thanks to our small size and friendly, collaborative culture, you'll rub shoulders with peers in technology-based majors so that you gain an appreciation of their mindsets and perspectives.