Our Political Science Department offers a B.A. major, as well as a minor, in the discipline. Our students complement their Political Science studies with a well-rounded set of core requirements within the College of Arts and Sciences.
While recent studies have shown that about 40 percent of Political science graduates go on to a career in law, many of our students also choose the political arena immediately after graduation and can be found working with the U.S. Department of Defense, in public school systems, as legal counsel for Native American tribal governments, and as members of the legislative assembly in Washington State, the U.S. State Department and a number of other organizations and agencies. Others have entered the U.S. Peace Corps, the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, Teach for America, or other service organizations, while still others work in the private sector, health care, economic development and a number of other areas.
In keeping with Gonzaga’s Jesuit tradition and philosophy, we teach Political Science courses from our abiding sense of hope in the capacities of all men and women to build up and conserve systems and habits of justice, compassion, vitality and honor. Thus, our courses include sections on government and politics, while also including international elements and political thought courses.