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The Department of Political Science, Legal, and Urban Studies offers a variety of programs that help students build successful careers at the city, county, state, and federal levels, as well as in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Graduates work in Washington DC or in government offices around the world, while others have been elected or appointed to public office themselves. The department also has a high success rate of placing students in prestigious graduate and law school programs, including doctoral programs in political science.
Alumni in arts, humanities, and social sciences are employed or in graduate school within 6 months after graduation
Average starting salaries in Political Science, Legal, and Urban Studies (NACE)
Noteworthy Jobs and Mid-Career Salaries with 8+ Years of Experience (PayScale)
Legal studies equips students with the skills necessary to succeed in law school or any law-related career. Our courses emphasize critical reading, writing skills, verbal communication, and research proficiency. Legal studies promotes the values of public service and social justice, while helping students build a strong foundation for a legal education. Students are exposed to important facets of the law and the legal profession, such as: case law analysis, statutory construction, constitutional interpretation, and jurisprudence. More info »
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The major in political science is a comprehensive social science program that allows students to build a core foundation of knowledge in both domestic and international affairs. The program is designed to provide students with the conceptual, theoretical, and research tools that will enable them to understand, participate in, and change the institutions and practices—whether on the local, national, or international level—through which people make the decisions that affect their lives. It offers students the opportunity to take a variety of courses in U.S. politics, public policy, political theory, law, international studies, political behavior, diversity studies, and political economy. More info »
The Department of Political Science offers students the opportunity to earn a BA in political science and a master of public policy (MPP) via our five-year accelerated degree program. The program is targeted for high achieving students with a strong interest in public service. More info »
Forensic Studies is an interdisciplinary minor encompassing five departments. Students take courses in forensics, criminal justice, psychology, law, and the natural sciences. This program integrates different theoretical perspectives regarding the identification and collection of evidence, laboratory analysis, criminal behavior, crime scene investigation, civil liberties, and constitutional law. More info »
The interdisciplinary minor in international studies prepares students to engage with the concepts, ideas, and analytical tools necessary to understand relations among nation-states and between states and no-state actors. It will introduce students to various explanations of state behavior, whether economic, diplomatic, or cultural, in the context of history and contemporary and current events. Students will explore vital topics such as war, cooperation, foreign policy, international law, diplomacy, political economy, human rights, and cultural/perceptional issues that shape state behavior. More info »
Legal studies equips students with the skills necessary to succeed in law school or any law-related career. Our courses emphasize critical reading, writing skills, verbal communication, and research proficiency. Legal studies promotes the values of public service and social justice, while helping students build a strong foundation for a legal education. Students are exposed to important facets of the law and the legal profession, including: case law analysis, statutory construction, constitutional interpretation, and jurisprudence. The Legal Studies Minor is an abbreviated version of the major. More info »
The minor in Middle East studies prepares students to understand and engage with a region of great cultural, economic, and political importance. This is an interdisciplinary program, with courses drawn from many different departments (languages and cultures, art, Asian studies, geography, history, philosophy, political science, and sociology.), More info »
The minor in political science provides students with an abbreviated survey of the political science program that exposes them to some of the conceptual, theoretical, and research tools that will enable them to understand, participate in, and change the institutions and practices—whether on the local, national, or international level—through which people make the decisions that affect their lives. It offers students the opportunity to take a variety of courses in U.S. politics, public policy, political theory, law, international studies, political behavior, diversity studies, and political economy. More info »
The minor in public policy and administration introduces students to the structure, politics, process, and logistics of organizations, programs, and policies in the public sector (governmental and non-governmental). Students will critically examine the key challenges facing contemporary practitioners in the public sector and learn about potential challenges on the horizon. Thus, applied problem solving is a core component of the minor. It is expected that students will develop sound foundational knowledge of the work of the public sector and greater awareness of careers in the public sector via exposure to classic and contemporary texts and relevant case studies. This minor is especially beneficial to students who desire a program of study that allows them to apply the civic knowledge and critical thinking skills developed within the liberal arts and social sciences toward the examination of specific challenges and skills required within the modern public sector. More info »
The master of public policy (MPP) educates students to become critical and creative policy thinkers. Our program emphasizes courses in applied policy areas including environmental policy, immigration, social inequality, public management, urban policy, and labor policy. Our faculty members are highly distinguished in their respective fields and courses are designed to train students to understand complexities that exist among the economic, political, and social dimensions of public policy. The program’s interdisciplinary curriculum provides the training necessary to become an effective innovator and problem solver by integrating the practical and theoretical, and the domestic and international dimensions of policy making and management. As a graduate of the program, you will be prepared to work in a variety of settings—public policy, government, policy research, academia, journalism, law, non-profit management, NGOs—or to pursue further graduate studies. No previous training in public policy or social science is required. Our courses are designed to accommodate those with full-time jobs. More info »
You'll study with diverse faculty who are specialists in local, national, and international politics with expertise in political theory, American government, public policy, comparative politics, international relations, constitutional law, Latin American politics, research methods, urban science, and forensic studies. The Department is also home to the University’s pre-law program, which provides the foundational legal knowledge and critical thinking skills for success in law school. Students can earn selection in honor societies including Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science Honor Society) and Phi Theta Sigma Honors Law Fraternity. They can also participate in the Political Science Club, Model United Nations as well as study abroad programs.
In our political science, legal, and urban studies programs, students learn in-demand skills that employers have identified as critical for job candidates, including:
Our graduates are prepared for a wide range of careers. Legal Studies: Preparation for law school or graduate school, as well as careers in court administration, law office management, human resources management, dispute resolution, business, local, state, or federal government, and nonprofit and non-governmental organizations. Political Science: Careers in the public sector, non-profit sector, and the private sector, including electoral politics, education, business, law, journalism, government service, and nonprofit service, as well as graduate school or law school. Accelerated BA/MPP in Political Science and Public Policy: Policy analysts, program managers, legislative aides, researchers, public relations officers, lobbyists, human rights workers, security personnel, social studies teachers, and political journalists. Alumni have gone on to graduate school/law school, including Seton Hall, Rutgers, Fordham, Quinnipiac, Villanova, Duke, Loyola Marymount, University of Miami, and many others.
Our professors are proud practitioners in their fields and love to share their expertise beyond the classroom. Mentorship is at the core of our department, and it’s our goal that every student work directly with a faculty member to expand their knowledge and worldview.
Political science, litigation paralegal at DiFrancesco, Bateman, Kunzman, Davis, Lehrer & Flaum, PC
And we're ready to help you grow. At William Paterson, we provide students with the skills, knowledge, and experience they need to forge forward as a powerhouse—both in the classroom and in their careers. Apply today to discover your potential.
