Political Science

Program Objectives

The goal of study in Political Science is to maximize students’ capacity to analyze and interpret the significance and dynamics of political events and governmental processes, while intentionally building the practical skills needed to serve in both public and private settings. The purpose is not simply to arouse curiosity, convey factual information, or highlight the importance of political events and issues. Rather, Political Science is designed to help students understand how power and institutions shape the lines of public-private dynamics and to equip them to navigate, evaluate, and improve the political and policy decisions that affect communities. Eastern Oregon University has secured faculty which offer both breadth and depth of course offerings, which include various courses designed to prepare students for law and graduate programs or specialize in applied policy careers.

At Eastern, the Political Science faculty help students develop both intellectual and professional competencies. Students learn to conduct rigorous research; evaluate evidence and competing arguments; interpret data and public information; and communicate clearly to diverse audiences through writing, briefing, and public presentation. They also gain applied skills central to public service work, including policy analysis and writing, program and outcome evaluation, ethical reasoning, stakeholder and community engagement, negotiation and coalition-building, and an understanding of administrative and legal processes. These tools prepare graduates not only to be actively engaged citizens in a democratic society, but also to contribute effectively as professionals in public agencies, legislative and executive offices, local government, nonprofit and community organizations, public affairs, advocacy, and other mission-driven settings.

Courses in Political Science are an integral facet of a well-rounded liberal arts education and valuable to students from all academic disciplines. Every student at Eastern Oregon University will gain significant leverage in their personal and professional lives by enrolling in courses taught by our innovative and enthusiastic faculty in Political Science. Students will connect theory to practice by applying their knowledge and skills to real-world skill building through internships, service learning, simulations, civic and community partnerships, and other off- campus experiences during their time at Eastern. Whether a student choose to major or minor in Political Science, they will graduate prepared to serve, lead, and solve public problems with competence and integrity.

Learning Outcomes

Inquiry and Ethical Reasoning: Integrate normative and empirical approaches to analyze public problems, identifying the political ideas, values, and ethical assumptions that shape policy debates and governance choices.
Disciplinary and Policy Knowledge: Explain and apply major Political Science theories, concepts, and methods to understand institutions, political behavior, public administration, and the policy process across local, national, and global contexts.
Critical Thinking and Rural-to-Global Community Perspective: Evaluate how diversity, inequality, and power operate within and across societies, and analyze the interconnected political, economic, and social forces that influence public outcomes from the perspectives that begin with the rural and scale up to the global.
Research, Evidence, and Data Literacy: Formulate research questions; locate, assess, and interpret qualitative and quantitative evidence (including public data and documents); and use appropriate methods to draw defensible conclusions about political and policy issues.
Professional Communication and Public-Service Writing: Produce clear, persuasive, and audience-appropriate communication, including policy briefs, analytical memos, and presentations, by recognizing arguments, testing claims, and supporting conclusions with evidence in oral and written forms.
Applied Learning, Civic Engagement, and Career Readiness: Apply political and policy knowledge in real-world settings through internships, community partnerships, simulations, and other experiential learning opportunities, demonstrating professional skills such as stakeholder engagement, ethical judgment, collaboration, and practical problem-solving relevant to government and public service-adjacent careers.

Means of Assessment

Political Science students are evaluated in a variety of ways across the curriculum. Evaluation modes and strategies attempt to measure program learning outcomes. Objective exams measure student mastery of the concepts, critical thinking, and logic

Political Science students are assessed through a range of methods across the curriculum, with evaluation modes intentionally aligned to the program’s learning outcomes and its emphasis on applied service and graduate school preparation. Objective and applied examinations measure students’ understanding of core concepts as well as their ability to use logic, evidence, and analytical reasoning to evaluate political and policy problems. Writing assignments in multiple professional and academic formats include policy and legal briefs, analytical essays, critical reading syntheses, program or policy evaluations, and research papers of varying length which will strengthen students’ capacity to communicate clearly, argue persuasively, and support conclusions with credible evidence for specific audiences.

Experiential and collaborative assessments, such as simulations, role-playing exercises, case studies, deliberative forums, and group projects, develop practical skills central to both private sector and public service careers. Skills such as teamwork, leadership, negotiation, stakeholder engagement, and problem-solving in real-world contexts are core to assessment strategies at Eastern Oregon University. Throughout the program, students are also encouraged to reflect on their growth through self-assessment and revision, building metacognitive awareness and professional habits of continuous improvement while gaining a clear understanding of the evaluative strategies and standards used by faculty.

Programs

Major(s)

Minor(s)

Political Science Minor