From the Chair

Welcome to the Department of Political Science at Vanderbilt University! We’re a community of more than 40 faculty, 40 graduate students, and over 300 undergraduate majors—all of whom are devoted to understanding politics.

Our faculty include some of the foremost scholars of American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory. We have particular strengths in the study of American political institutions, elections, and public opinion; the political behavior of citizens in developing democracies; and war and conflict around the world. No matter your interests in politics and political science, our faculty are well-positioned to guide you.

Our curriculum allows students to choose among courses about every region of the world and many different topics—human rights, education, environmental justice, migration, prisons, the military, and many more. Because our faculty employ cutting-edge methodologies in their research, students can also learn how to use, analyze, and interpret data.

For students who want to dive deeper, we offer research opportunities with individual faculty and in our research centers and groups: the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions, the Latin America Public Opinion Project, the RIPS Lab (Research on Individuals, Politics and Society), and the Laboratory for Research on Conflict and Collective Action.

Above all, we cultivate a welcoming environment in which faculty engage with students inside and outside of the classroom. We want students to make meaningful connections, learn deeply, and gain knowledge and skills that further their ambitions long after they graduate. Vanderbilt students who earn a degree in political science go on to careers in law, government, industry, academia, public policy, education, and many other sectors.

This mix of path-breaking research and dedication to teaching is a distinctive strength of our Department. On our webpage, you can learn more about the opportunities available to you in political science. If you are considering Vanderbilt and have the chance to visit us here in Nashville, we’ll be delighted to talk more about what the Department of Political Science can offer you.

Sincerely,

John Sides
Chair, Department of Political Science
William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Political Science