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Department of Political Science
Welcome to our website! Political Science at KSU offers many opportunities for students to expand their horizons, from city councils to the UN Security Council. This is an exciting time to learn about all that politics is about: the fight for democratic freedoms, human rights, the global environment, racial equality, social welfare, and other vital causes. Our faculty brings politics to life, preparing students to be more informed citizens who are highly competitive for a wide variety of careers.
Students in our BA program have three distinct “tracks” in which to focus their studies: American Politics, Transnational-Comparative Politics, and Public Policy and Administration. Students in our MA, and PhD have the three areas of concentration to choose from: American Politics, Transnational-Comparative Politics, and Conflict Analysis and Management (proposed to begin offering in the Fall of 2013). In addition, the department offers a Masters of Public Administration (MPA) and an undergraduate degree in Applied Conflict Management.
Our full-time faculty is committed to meeting the needs of students while expanding the frontiers of political knowledge through their research in all areas of political science. I hope you will take the opportunity to learn about their work and the many other programs they manage on a daily basis. Our staff in 302 Bowman Hall is always on hand to provide more information – or to steer you in the right direction of the professor down the hall!
I hope to see you soon in one of our classrooms. Feel free to contact me personally ( abarnes3@kent.edu) if you’d like more information about Poli Sci at KSU.
Political Science Among Top-Earning Majors
The starting median salary for a Political Science undergraduate is $41,300. That is more than majors in Business Administration, Business Management, Information Technology, Biology, and Psychology. For list of median and mid-career salaries click here.
News & Highlights
- Paul Marnecheck appointed to the Greater Cleveland Partnership. Congratulations to Paul Marnecheck, who has been appointed as a Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE) Manager, Small Business Solutions at the Greater Cleveland Partnership. - Posted May. 15, 2013
- Dr. Hancock appointed to lead Peace Studies Section of the ISA Dr. Landon Hancock was elected in 2012 to a two-year term as Chairperson of the Peace Studies Section of the International Studies Association (ISA). The ISA is the premier academic organization connecting scholars of international relations around the world. The Peace Studies Section that Professor Hancock is overseeing is the third largest section of the ISA, with over 600 members. - Posted Dec. 28, 2012
- New Doctoral track in Conflict Analysis and Management in Political Science PhD The Kent State Department of Political Science and the Center for Applied Conflict Management announce the creation of a track in “Conflict Analysis and Management” in the Political Science Ph.D degree.* KSU’s Department of Political Science has offered a popular doctorate since the late 1960s. The Center for Applied Conflict Management (CACM) is a long-time leader in peace and conflict studies both in the state and nationally. - Posted Dec. 14, 2012
- Congratulations to Dr. Bridgett King on the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Dr. Bridgett King was awarded the Political Science Department's annual Thomas R. Hensley Teaching Award for Outstanding Graduate Teaching for AY 2011-12. Dr. King received her Ph.D. in May 2012 and is now a Voting Rights Researcher in the Democracy Program in the Brennan Center for Justice at the NYU School of law. - Posted Dec. 13, 2012
- Congratulations to Dr. Christopher Banks on his newly released book! Congratulations to Dr. Christopher Banks, constitutional scholar and Associate Professor on his newly released book “The U.S. Supreme Court and New Federalism From the Rehnquist to the Roberts Court.” - Posted Sep. 5, 2012
Julie Mazzei Dr. Julie Mazzei has been selected for the 2010-2011 Arts and Sciences Distinguished Teaching Award. Dr. Mazzei is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science and she teaches courses in comparative politics and international relations. Her work focuses on human rights and political violence, particularly in Latin America and her book, “Death Squads or Self-Defense Forces? How Paramilitary Groups Emerge and Challenge Democracy in Latin America” was released in 2009.
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Dr. Ryan L. Claassen has recently been promoted to Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science. Dr. Claassen’s research interests include American politics, elections and political behavior, public opinion, public law and methodology. His work has appeared recently in American Politics Research, The Journal of Politics, Political Behavior, and Political Research Quarterly. Also he was recently awarded a $40,000 grant from the Spencer Foundation (Chicago, IL).
