In Latin American Politics, Prof. Mariela Daby led an inclusive and intellectually stimulating conference where we discussed issues that had important ethical considerations: What is the relationship between dignity and equality? What does a process of meaningful reconciliation look like for marginalized individuals that have been subject to indiscriminate violence and state negligence?
What You’ll Study in the Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science
Learn the various intellectual approaches and statistical models used to understand the world of politics and public affairs as a political science major at Reed College. Our renowned faculty are scholars in a range of fields—including early voting, clientelism in Latin America, the politics of nuclear proliferation, environmental politics and policy, and the politics of marriage and the family—giving you a challenging and exciting program of study at Reed College.
Roadmap to the BA in Political Science at Reed
Learn from expert faculty in our exemplary political science department during your four years at Reed. Develop critical thinking skills to analyze past and present political movements, engage in real-world research, and study abroad.
Year One
Begin Your Academic Journey
Dive into the study of government, politics, and power through our introductory political science courses. Learn directly from our esteemed professors, who ensure a rich and engaging learning experience from day one.
And, of course, take Humanities 110, Reed’s signature course for first-year students. This yearlong class studies humanity’s history and cultural evolution, from ancient civilizations to modern-day societies. Cultivate disciplined thinking and enhance your writing skills to prepare for more advanced academic endeavors at Reed.
Year Two
Explore Research Opportunities
Continue your political science studies by taking additional courses, such as Environmental Politics and Policy and Democracy and Data. Take a statistics class to help you become comfortable crunching numbers, an invaluable asset in student research and your future career.
Gain hands-on research experience during the summer after your sophomore year. Become a research assistant for one of your professors and gain unique insights into the real-world activities of a political scientist. Reed College even offers financial support opportunities that fund summer research.
Year Three
Delve Deeper into the World of Political Science
Take specialized courses to explore two of four subfields within political science. For example, enroll in Nuclear Politics for the international relations subfield and Capitalism and Its Critics for the comparative politics subfield.
Your biggest milestone of the year is the junior qualifying examination. Passing this assessment shows you have a strong grasp of political theories and are ready for more rigorous independent research.
Your junior year is also the perfect time to study abroad. Learn about the political systems of other countries while living there. Depending on your foreign language proficiency, you can study in countries like Costa Rica or England.
Year Four
Ready for the Real World
Draw on the research and analytical skills honed throughout your first three years of study to complete your senior thesis. In this yearlong project, pose an important political science question and answer it through research and writing.
Your senior thesis showcases your ability to engage with serious scholarly materials by identifying competing viewpoints, pursuing appropriate methodology, crafting a persuasive document, and presenting and defending your work.
At the same time, you have the flexibility to choose courses that align with your personal interests, from studying political theories in the Hegel and Marx course to exploring Elections: American Style using quantitative data.
Why Study Political Science at Reed College?
Unique Areas of Expertise
Our political science department excels in the four traditional fields of political science: American politics and public policy, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory. What sets us apart is our in-depth knowledge in each of these areas.
In American politics & public policy, receive special insight into environmental politics and voting behavior. When it comes to comparative politics, our strength lies in our knowledge of Latin American politics. In the field of international relations, we focus on nuclear proliferation, war and armaments, and international finance. Within political theory, we specialize in areas such as liberalism, feminism, and post-Kantian thought. Experience the depth of expertise within our political science department as our faculty guide you through captivating coursework, research opportunities, and engaging debates.
Hands-On Learning in Classrooms
Your political science courses aren’t filled with lectures—instead, you learn by doing. For example, participate in a three-day nuclear arms control negotiation in Introduction to International Relations. In this simulation, represent one of 10–12 countries through speeches, plenary sessions, and email correspondence to address a global issue, such as North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction.
In many of our upper-level political science courses, you will work on a research project that you present to the class, receiving feedback from your peers as well as your professors. At Reed, learn analytical skills—not just facts.
My Favorite Courses
Abhi Rajshekar ’21
Political Science
Mayaki Kimba ’20
Political Science
Liberalism and Its Critics with Prof. Tamara Metz taught me how thought-provoking, engaged, and exciting political theory can be.
Careers for Political Science BA Graduates
Many Reed political science majors go on to careers in law, government, business, technology, and the nongovernmental sector. Jobs held by alumni include the following:
- Associate analyst, Social & Economic Policy, Abt Associates
- Chief of staff, Oregon State Representative Rob Nosse’s Office
- Director, Evergreen Strategy Group
- Managing partner and VP of strategy, Winning Mark
- Program coordinator, National Park Trust
- Renewables program manager, Bonneville Environmental Foundation
- Research director, Electing Women Alliance
- Senior digital strategist, National Education Association
Achievements of Political Science Major Alumni
Upon graduation, many Reed political science graduates are accepted into PhD programs, including at Yale University and the University of Pennsylvania. Some have also become professors at prestigious universities:
- Graeme Blair, associate professor, UCLA
- Gabriel Lenz, professor, UC Berkeley
- Sidney Rothstein, assistant professor, Williams College
- Josh Simon, assistant professor, Johns Hopkins University
- Elizabeth Wingrove, professor, University of Michigan
Our Political Science Department Faculty
Our professors stand out for their unwavering commitment to excellence in undergraduate teaching. Not only are they experts in their fields, they are also passionate mentors who foster collaborative research opportunities with students. Let their dedication inspire you to new heights of academic exploration.
