The discipline of political science has four main subfields:
- Political philosophy: The theoretical study of the enduring themes of political life;
- Comparative politics: The comparative study of political regimes, institutions, and movements;
- American politics: The analysis of American political thought, institutions, and public policy; and
- International relations: The systematic study of foreign affairs.
PSCI 101-102: The Quest for Justice is our non-required, introductory course for first-year students. This year-long course is taught as a first-year seminar, with class size kept to a maximum of eighteen students. There are usually eight or nine sections of the course, all with common readings. Sessions are conducted through discussion, thereby helping students overcome any reservations they may have about their capacity to make the transition from high school to college work.