Why Is Political Science
an Appropriate Major
for Education Students?

• Political Science deals with the workings of our Government. Teachers at all levels need to get their students to understand civics and to become good citizens.

• How are females treated in school? The role of gender in education has taken on new prominence. Gender issues are covered in many Political Science courses, but particularly in "Politics and Sex" and "Political Socialization."

• Education is an increasingly multicultural enterprise. Political Science stresses the impact of institutions and policies on African Americans, Latinos, and other minorities. Multicultural concerns are integrated into many Political Science courses, but are especially prominent in courses such as "Urban & Suburban Politics," "The Politics of Poverty," "Constitutional Law: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights," and "African-American Politics."

• It is important to get school students to appreciate the fact that we live in an interdependent world. Political Science emphasizes this global interdependence in courses such as "Comparative Politics," "International Relations," "Latin American Politics," "African Politics," European Politics," and "International Political Economy."

• Education is part of the political process. That's why one member of the Political Science Department is a former School Board president (and a lawyer), why others write articles on teaching techniques in Political Science, why the Department has sponsored talks by people such as the late Marilyn Morhauser (a leading voice for school funding reform), and why books like Jonathan Kozol's Savage Inequalities: Children In America's Schools are required reading in some of our courses.

• Political Science is interesting. Political Science courses deal with issues like "What is justice?" (Classical & Medieval Political Theory), "Why do presidents act the way they do?" (American Presidency), "Why do we have wars?" (War and Peace), and "How can we manage the environmental crisis?" (Politics of the Environment).

If you share these concerns and interests, please consider the Political Science major.

For further information, contact Prof. John Mason, chairperson, Political Science Department, Science Bldg. 336C, x2188.