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Utica University
Nathaniel Richmond Government 0054

Political Science

  1. Academics
  2. Our Programs
  3. Political Science

About This Program

You’re a critical thinker by nature. You’re fascinated by the intricacies of government, and you know that politics affect every aspect of our lives. Political Science may be the major for you.

Why Utica University

The Political Science major at Utica University helps students comprehensive understanding of the principles, processes, and structure of power and authority through richly interactive classroom learning, research, and real- world experiences. Taught by an accomplished faculty, the program focuses on skills that are highly valuable for the globalized world, with in-depth study of authority, diversity, leadership, conflict resolution, and collective mobilization.

The Center of Public Affairs and Election Research was launched on January 1, 2017 by the Department of Political Science at Utica University. The Center seeks to serve citizens, students, journalists, and scholars by providing research, commentary, and analyses of state, national, and international politics. We do this through our website, which provides free content designed for a general audience. Our team of over 50 contributors includes Political Scientists from around the country and throughout the world for an audience spanning more than 160 countries. The Center publishes articles on a wide range of topics from U.S. elections, to international security, China’s rising, and much more.

CENTER OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND ELECTION RESEARCH

Subscribe To Our YouTube Channel

The James Sherman Society is a non-partisan, student organization focused on politics and current affairs. The goal of this organization is to provide an opportunity for all students interested in political science to discuss issues.

Events under the auspices of the James Sherman Society:

  • Pizza and Politics: Through Pizza and Politics, the James Sherman Society invites guest speakers to discuss political issues and current affairs. Speakers range from Utica faculty and professors from other universities to professionals working in the field such as lawyers, public officials, and diplomats. This event is open to all students to attend. Pizza and Politics talks occur during the fall and spring semesters.
  • Northeastern Political Science Association: This is an annual trip open to students of all majors who are interested in politics. This is an opportunity for students to attend panels where academics present their research. As the Northeastern Political Science Association is often hosted in cities with high levels of cultural value in the U.S. such as Boston, New York City, or Philadelphia, students will also have an opportunity to tour these cities and learn more about the history of the U.S. This is a fall semester event.
  • Annual Awards Dinner: At this event the political science department’s faculty and students recognize the achievements of outstanding students. At this annual celebration, monetary awards are given to students in the following categories: professionalism, leadership, academic achievement, and outstanding graduating senior. This is a spring semester event.

For more information please contact Dr. Daniel Tagliarina at dctaglia@utica.edu

The Model United Nations Club at Utica University is focused on teaching students’ debate, interpersonal communication, and research skills in preparation for the annual Model UN conference that Utica University attends, the Harvard National Model United Nations in February (HNMUN).

Events under the Model UN Club:   

  • Harvard National Model United Nations (HNMUN) conference: This is the annual Model UN conference that the Utica Model UN team attends held in Boston in the Spring Semester. In the Model UN conference, participating students will be assigned a country to represent in a large conference in which they will have to assume the role of said country and debate from that position on an assigned topic. While the focus of the club has been to educate students important life skills, the Model United Club at Utica University have won awards competing in conferences with other schools. Students from all majors and backgrounds and welcome to join.
  • United Nations HQ trip: This is an annual trip where the Model UN club tours the UN headquarters in New York City. During this trip there will be guest speakers who are diplomats and officials at the UN who will speak to students about the inner workings of the UN and are available for questioning. Students from all majors and backgrounds and welcome to join.

For more information please contact Dr. Jun Kwon at jtkwon@utica.edu

This honor society recognizes the academic achievements of outstanding students who have taken political science classes.

Events under the Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society:

  • Annual Induction Dinner: Students who have enough credits to be considered juniors at Utica University and have taken a certain amount of political science classes, and who have achieved a high GPA, are eligible to be selected to join the Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society. During this fall semester induction dinner, inductees are celebrated for their achievements.
  • Speaker Series: Part of the Utica University’s chapter’s goal is to educate the college community and the wider community about important issues of the day. There are two public lectures are held each year, one during fall semester and another during spring.

For more information please contact Dr. Luke Perry at leperry@utica.edu

All majors take an internship appropriate to their academic and/or career interests.

POL470 - Government and Politics - Internship (3 to 15 credits). Below is a list of different internships students have completed in recent years. For more information please contact Dr. Dr. Luke Perry at leperry@utica.edu

  • U.S. State Department
  • U.S. Department of Homeland Security
  • U.S. Peace Corps
  • Americorps  
  • New York State Assembly
  • Onedia County District Attorney's Office  
  • Oneida County Family Court
  • Clean and Healthy New York
  • Mohawk Valley Refugee Center
  • National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee
  • Anthony Brindisi’s Congressional Campaign 
  • Claudia Tenney’s Congressional Campaign 
  • Emerge America   
  • Utica College Center of Public Affairs and Election Research

Contact Information

Office of Admissions

(315) 792-3006
admiss@utica.edu

Daniel Tagliarina, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Political Science
(315) 792-3307
dctaglia@utica.edu

General Information

Track

  • Major

Degree

  • B.A.

Location

  • Utica Campus
Utica Excellence, Utica Value

Political Science at Utica

My internship with a member of the NYS Assembly has been a great experience. During the budget process, I did a lot policy analysis, working out how proposals would impact the district and looking for alternatives.

Irakadeem Griffith Political Science (formerly Government and Politics)

Career Opportunities

Political Science majors develop skills that may be applied to a broad spectrum of professional endeavors, including:
    • Federal Government
    • State & Local Government
    • Law
    • Business
    • Non-Profit
    • Education
Jun Kwon Government and Politics class 0125

Choices

The Political Science program at Utica offers more than a dozen area of elective study, including Law, American Government and Politics, and International and Comparative Politics.
Supreme Court Building - government politics generic

Responsible Citizenship

A focus on developing knowledge and skills that are highly valuable for the globalized world with an in-depth study of authority, diversity, leadership, conflict resolution, and collective mobilization.

What You'll Learn

This major is designed to prepare students for careers in government service, law, and other positions which require an understanding of governmental policy and procedure. The program also prepares students for careers as social science teachers at the secondary or elementary level. Foundational coursework is complemented by electives in a variety of topics (such as American government, foreign policy, human rights advocacy, European politics, and more). The curriculum culminates with an internship experience, options for foreign study, and a capstone senior seminar and thesis.

Full Political Science Curriculum and Learning Objectives
Government Building generic

Political Science Faculty

Dr. Jun Kwon
Jun T. Kwon, Ph.D.
  • Associate Professor of Political Science
Luke Perry Government and Politics
Luke E. Perry, Ph.D.
  • Professor of Political Science
Professor Daniel Tagliarina
Daniel C. Tagliarina, Ph.D.
  • Associate Professor of Political Science
Corinne_Tagliarina_2
Corinne M. Tagliarina, Ph.D.
  • Adjunct Instructor of Government

A Degree That Works

Political science majors develop skills that may be applied to a broad spectrum of professional endeavors, including local, state, and federal government; law; business or non-profit; and education. UC political science alumni have taken leadership positions at:

  • City of Utica Urban Renewal
  • HSBC
  • Madison-Cortland ARC
  • New York State Senate
  • New York City Law Department (DOT)
  • Paige Marketing Communications Group
  • Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
  • Samsung
  • SourceMedia
  • United States Investigative Service
  • WellPoint, Inc.
Utica College - DePerno Hall
Alumni Voices Paul Joyce 18Play Video

Alumni Voices: Paul Joyce '18

Recent graduate Paul Joyce talks about the political science major at Utica and how amazing research opportunities, real-world learning, and mentorship made all the difference.

Student Voices Mikhail BushinskiPlay Video

Student Voices: Mikhail Bushinski

Political science major Mikhail Bushinski '17 talks about his program, his professors, and his experience on Utica's men's hockey team.

Student Voices Anthony SokolowskiPlay Video

Student Voices: Anthony Sokolowski

A brief conversation with Anthony Sokolowski, a political science major with a minor in philosophy of justice. Anthony talks about his experience at Utica, his professors, and his internship at the Office of the Oneida County District Attorney.

Utica University

Departmental News and Events

Read about media appearances, publications, field experiences, and campus events featuring faculty and students from Utica's political science program.

View Stories / Events

Political Science at Utica University

President Laura Casamento, Vasyl Yurkuts, Professor Maxim Gorbachevsky, and Chair of Utica University Board of Trustees Robert Brvenik accept honorary degree on behalf of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In the News

Utica University presents honorary degree to Zelenskyy at commencement ceremony

Utica University conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws degree to Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at its 2022 Undergraduate Commencement ceremony,...
David Young Miller, Class of 1969, stands in a classroom smiling.
Alumni

In Memoriam: David Young Miller ’69

Even in his Utica College days, David Young Miller ’69 was a “doer,” says his wife Marie Komarek Miller ’69...
Mikhael Bushinski 17 Nov 2021
Alumni

At multinational law firm Latham & Watkins, Mik Bushinski ‘17 helps tech innovators get their start

When Mik Bushinski ‘17 left Utica College, he left with dual degrees in Government and Politics (now Political Science), Economics,...
All Stories

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