Bachelor of Political Science

International College of Liberal Arts

Political Science addresses some of the fundamental problems facing human society. Questions concerning government policies aimed at achieving economic stability and growth, the gap between the rich and poor, the role of NGOs to affect social and political change, the relations between countries, the crisis of our democratic institutions, and the path to world peace are all on the research agenda of contemporary political scientists.

We address these and other similarly important issues in a multidisciplinary way, and, simultaneously, train you to think critically and reason analytically about the constantly evolving political landscape in Asia as compared to the rest of the world.

In addition to the knowledge you gain from the major, iCLA can also prepare you for graduate studies, and for a rich and rewarding career. iCLA’s Political Science graduates are well equipped for professions both in Asia and globally in the fields of international relations and diplomacy, public administration and government service, non-government organizations and community building, and research and business.

Why study Political Science?

Political Science is the study of relations between people and institutions as well as among institutions. It differentiates itself from disciplines such as Sociology or Anthropology which focus primarily on the relations among people in society or Psychology that investigates the individual.

It is a social science which contributes and, at the same time, borrows ideas from other disciplines such as Economics, Sociology, Social Psychology, and History.

In studying these relations, political scientists focus on the concept of power/power relations and how this power is used to design, shape or control policies. Examples of policies that we study are: welfare policies, environmental policies, labor, health, etc. So, we are concerned about issues such as poverty, environmental sustainability, employment, health and social care, etc. In this regard, we often analyze the relations between public, private and nongovernmental sectors in our societies. Therefore, we explore how these sectors work together and how their behaviors affect the formulation of new policies.

Political science also investigates the power relations among countries, what is usually known as international relations. Included in this sub-field are the diplomatic relations between governments, for example, China-Japan or North and South Korea or Russia and the USA to mention a few.

What can I do next?

By nature, Political Science majors make great employees in any field because of their ability to communicate effectively, think critically, and solve complex problems in an empathetic fashion. These timeless skills make them attractive to employers in all walks of society.

Political Science majors who graduate from iCLA can pursue careers in both Asia and globally such as: Public Administrators, Diplomats/Experts in International Relations, Nonprofits / Non-Governmental Organization Leaders, Journalists, Law Enforcement, Political Consultants, Community Organizers, and Research Analysts. The Political Science major at iCLA also prepares students for a smooth admission into graduate schools in fields such as: Political Science, Public Administration, Law, and Journalism.