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Political Science

Study power, conflict, and the choices that shape public life. Political science at Skidmore College asks you to examine how governments work, why democracies endure or fail, how wars begin and end, and how laws and institutions shape the world around you.
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Our students learn to build a clear argument, test it against evidence, anticipate counterarguments, and write with precision — skills that matter in a wide range of professions. You’ll also gain the knowledge to participate more thoughtfully in civic life, from understanding elections and constitutional systems to examining political ideas and the institutions that put them into practice.

What will you learn?

Skidmore’s political science curriculum is deliberately flexible. It gives you the full intellectual breadth of the discipline — American institutions, comparative government, international relations, and political theory — without locking you into a single track before you’ve had a chance to discover what interests you. 

Where will you go?

Political science graduates work everywhere — in government, law, policy and advocacy, journalism, business and consulting, and international organizations. They also attend graduate programs at the most competitive institutions in the world.

Career paths Recent employers Graduate schools and programs
  • Budget officer
  • Campaign manager
  • Entrepreneur
  • Environmental administrator
  • Journalist
  • Judge
  • Lawyer
  • Policy analyst
  • Politician
  • Social worker
  • Americorps
  • Brookings Institution 
  • Center for American Progress
  • Conde Nast
  • Fleetwood Strategy London
  • Google
  • NBC
  • New York Times
  • Peace Corps
  • U.S. Department of State
  • U.S. Senate and House of Representatives
  • Columbia University 
  • Georgetown University 
  • Harvard University 
  • Johns Hopkins University 
  • New York University 
  • Northwestern University
  • UCLA
  • University of Edinburgh
  • Tufts University 
  • Yale University 

Observe NY politics up close

Cassidy Goda ’28 says the prestigious summer pre-law fellowship she took part in thanks to a connection with Government Law Center Director Pat Wildes ’12 and Associate Professor and Chair Bob Turner opened doors for her. It’s among the many opportunities Skidmore students can access in one of the most important state capitals in the country, just 30 miles from campus. 
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Politics in every scene

Our alumni apply what they learned in the Skidmore Political Science Department across industries.
Tyler Arnot stands on the bleachers at Skidmore College.

A global humanitarian

Tyler Arnot ’08 has made it his life’s work to ensure children across the world have access to the transformative power of education — even in the most challenging of circumstances.
Read Tyler's story
Leighla Waterman stands holding a basketball.

In play for the NFL and NBA

Leighla Waterman ’21 enjoys making a “tangible impact” as a consumer insights analyst for the New Orleans Saints and the New Orleans Pelicans.
Read Leighla's story
Fred Braunstein sits in a classroom.

An on-task lawyer

Drawing on a career spanning civil rights advocacy to intellectual property law, Fred Braunstein ’08 brings a broad legal perspective to his work as the in-house principal counsel at Taskrabbit.
Read Fred's story

Cross oceans and aisles

About 70% of political science majors study abroad — in destinations in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and Oceania.  
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Teacher-scholar-practitioners

Our faculty aren’t simply experts who have studied politics — they have practiced it, and they are steadfast advocates for their students.
Chris Mann sits on a stage.

Incredibly informed

Associate Professor Chris Mann explores how credibility shapes the choices we make — from our personal lives to our civic engagement — and why informed participation is essential to a healthy democracy.
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Revolutionary perspectives

Associate Professor Natalie Taylor co-teaches The History and Political Thought of the American Revolution with History Professor Tillman Nechtman, asking students to inhabit the worldviews of historical figures.
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Beau Breslin stands in front of a copy of the U.S. Constitution.

Constitutional analysis

Professor Beau Breslin, an expert on the U.S. Constitution, joined forces with Prairie Gunnels ’28 to explore how different generations might frame constitutional priorities today.
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Where free speech and expression matter

Skidmore is a place where free speech, respectful dialogue, academic freedom, and civic engagement are central to the liberal arts experience.
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Faculty

Award-winning. Creative. Thoughtful and supportive.
Meet your professors