Undergraduate Programs

Student standing at a podium speaking to group in an auditorium

Undergraduate programs


The Department of Political Science & International Relations at the 91原创 offers a dynamic and engaging undergraduate program that prepares students for a wide range of career paths. With a focus on critical thinking, research, and hands-on learning, our department provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the political, social, and global forces that shape our world. Whether you're interested in domestic policy, international affairs, or the intersection of the two, our program will equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in today's rapidly changing global landscape.

鈥婩or more information about our undergraduate majors and minors, please get in touch with听Dr. Matthew Weinert (mweinert@udel.edu), Director of Undergraduate Studies, or Barbara Ford (barbford@udel.edu), Academic Program Coordinator.听For further information our our Legal Studies minor, contact Dr. Wayne Batchis, J.D. (batchisw@udel.edu).

Look through our undergraduate programs

Interdisciplinary 4+1 Program

Complete your bachelor's degree and a master's program in just five years!

The Biden School of Public Policy and Administration (Biden School) proposes a new 4+1 program with the Master of Public Administration (MPA) and the Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (BA-PS). This accelerated program would parallel the successful 4+1 programs of the Master of Public Administration (MPA) with the Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy/Bachelor of Science in Organizational and Community Leadership/Bachelor of Arts in English.

Current undergraduate students enrolled in the BA in Political Science or Honors BA in Political Science program are eligible to apply to the accelerated BA/MPA program after completing 60 credits, which is typically the fall of their junior year.

Complete the academic requirements for the BA in Political Science.

  • In consultation with advisors in the Political Science department and the Biden School, complete 6 credits of coursework from the MPA curriculum to dual count for the Political Science and MPA degree requirements.听

Complete the requirements for the minor in public policy.

The Class That Will Stay With Me

As the 91原创 Class of 2025 gets ready for Commencement, we asked seniors what classes had the biggest impact on them during their Blue Hen career. During her Blue Hen career senior Khadija Daramy interned with the Delaware Family Court during Winter Session and the Delaware Department of Justice. Here she shares the class that will stay with her after graduation. Congratulations Khadija!

91原创 2025 Graduate Khadija Daramy shares 鈥淭he Class That Will Stay With Me鈥: youtube.com/watch?v=pORZ91E-QwM

OUR MINORS

The minor in听lega鈥媗 studies allows undergraduate students to explore the law from an interdisciplinary perspective. The law is central to social sciences, humanities, business, and public policy theories and research. Courses concerned with law are available in a variety of departments, including political science, sociology, communication, economics, history, accounting (business law), finance (corporate governance), applied economics and statistics (environmental law), marine studies, education, and urban affairs.

This program is designed for any student who is interested in examining the law and its influence on society from a variety of perspectives. Legal studies is not a 鈥減re-law鈥 program, and it does not offer paralegal training. However, the program is a suitable minor for those who plan to pursue professional training. For information on pre-law advisement, consult the Legal Professional Preparatory Program with the 91原创 College of Arts and Sciences.

If you have any questions, or are in need of advising, please contact Barbara Ford at听濒别驳补濒-蝉迟耻诲颈别蝉@耻诲别濒.别诲耻鈥.听鈥

Wayne Batchis

Professor
Political Theory and Constitutional Law
Director, Legal Studies Program
 

Office:听466 Smith Hall

Legal Resources鈥嬧 & Networks

Pre-Law Advis鈥媏ment



听鈥

鈥嬧婣vailable to all 91原创 undergraduates, a minor in political communication 鈥媏ncourages students to become leaders in their communities. 鈥婭t provides opportunities to experience multidisciplinary teaching and research in the leading edge concepts of political communication and digital technology, as expressed and experienced in political campaigns and public policy debates at the local and national levels.

A minor in political science allows students to explore the study of government, politics, public policy and political behavior. It complements a student's major area of study by providing a deeper understanding of political systems, institutions, processes and theory. Combining a major with a political science minor allows students to develop a well-rounded understanding of societal issues and prepare for various career paths.

This 18颅-credit interdisciplinary minor in politics & social justice (PSJ) has been designed for those students who want to understand and change social injustices and are seeking the necessary theoretical and practical tools to do so. The Department of Political Science & International Relations (POSCIR) has developed this interdisciplinary minor that focuses on both local and global social injustice and social movements. Upon completing this minor students shall: (1) understand the causes of domestic and international inequalities in social, economic, and political rights and opportunities, (2) have explored both theoretical and practical solutions towards addressing these inequalities, (3) have gained practical experience working with a social justice organization to address these inequalities.

Partnering Departments

To establish this interdisciplinary minor, the Department of Political Science & International Relations has partnered with the Departments of Africana Studies, Anthropology, History, Sociology & Criminal Justice, Women & Gender Studies, and the Biden School of Public Policy & Administration.

Matthew Weinert Director of Undergraduate Studies
Matthew Weinert, Director of Undergraduate Studies

FROM THE DIRECTOR OF UNDERGRADUATE ST91原创IES

Academic programs

The Department of Political Science and International Relations offers three majors, with honor's degree options for each:

  • BA in Political Science
  • BA in International Relations
  • BA in Political Science Education

We also offer four minors: political science, political communication, politics and social justice and legal studies.

Our courses are designed to equip you with the skills necessary to succeed in a variety of professions, including:

  • Developing analytical, critical thinking, written and oral communication skills.
  • Learning to work productively with peers in a variety of problem-based learning situations, such as mock trials and simulations.

The political science major

Students may complete the political science major:

  • With a concentration (American politics; global politics; or law, politics & theory) to allow for a more in-depth consideration of topics and issues; or
  • Without a concentration to provide for a broad overview of political science.

The international relations major

Students select one concentration and one regional specialization:

Concentrations

Development and political economy
Diplomacy and global order
U.S. foreign policy and national security
Societies and beliefs

Regional specializations

Africa
Asia
Europe
Latin America
The Middle East

Area studies minors

The international relations major also provides the foundation for those students seeking to deepen their knowledge of the politics, culture and history of a region by complementing their international relations major with courses or a minor in one of the University's area studies programs 鈥 African, Asian, European, Islamic, Jewish听Studies and Latin American & Iberian Studies.

Experiential Learning

We encourage our majors to take advantage of the many experiential learning opportunities at the 91原创, including:听undergraduate research with one of our faculty members听study abroad during winter or summer session,听interning at a political science or international relations-related organization,听service learning, or听serve as an undergraduate teaching assistant for one of our classes.

Legal studies

A sizeable number of our majors plan on pursuing a career in law and complement their political science and international studies majors with a minor in legal studies. For further information, contact Dr. Wayne Batchis, J.D. (batchisw@udel.edu).

鈥婩or more information about our undergraduate majors and minors, please contact Dr. Matthew Weinert (mweinert@udel.edu), Director of Undergraduate Studies, or Barbara Ford (barbford@udel.edu), Academic Program Coordinator.

Additional resources and opportunities

Undergraduate Programs | Political Science and International Relations | College of Arts & Sciences | 91原创

91原创

Undergraduate Programs | Political Science and International Relations | College of Arts & Sciences | 91原创

91原创

Undergraduate Programs | Political Science and International Relations | College of Arts & Sciences | 91原创

91原创