American Government and Politics: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Program Overview

Explore the foundational structures and dynamic forces shaping American governance through a rigorous academic examination of political systems, institutions, and civic behavior. This program equips students with analytical tools to understand how power is structured, exercised, and contested across levels of government and society.

• American political theory: Examine core philosophical frameworks that underpin democratic governance, including liberty, justice, and the social contract.
• Political parties and interest groups: Investigate the role of organized political actors in shaping policy, influencing elections, and mobilizing public opinion.
• State and local governments: Analyze the functions, powers, and policy-making roles of subnational jurisdictions within the federal system.
• Constitutional law: Study the interpretation and application of the U.S. Constitution, including landmark judicial decisions and civil liberties.
• Federalism and national institutions: Explore the division of powers between federal, state, and local governments and the evolution of national administrative structures.
• Executive and legislative politics: Delve into the operations of the presidency, Congress, and the policy-making processes within these branches.
• Judicial politics: Assess the role of the judiciary in governance, including judicial selection, decision-making, and the impact of courts on public policy.
• Popular attitudes and media influences: Evaluate how public opinion, political socialization, and mass media shape political behavior and institutional legitimacy.
• Political research methods: Develop skills in empirical analysis, survey design, data interpretation, and qualitative inquiry to study political phenomena.
• Applied political analysis: Apply theoretical and methodological knowledge to real-world issues such as electoral reform, civil rights, and public policy challenges.