The Department of Political Science offers courses in American government and law, parties and elections, state and urban politics, political theory, comparative government, public administration and international relations. Political science majors enjoy small classes that foster student participation and faculty-student interaction. The department is known for both teaching excellence and demanding standards. Since 1990, political science faculty have twice won the Alumni Master Teacher Award.
Innovative courses prepare students for careers in the global economy.
Students who wish to sharpen their language skills, for instance, can take international relations courses taught in French and Spanish. In constitutional law courses, students argue cases in the department's moot court room. The department offers a special honors program for students who wish to do advance research under the direction of a particular faculty member. A Training Ground for Leadership Four political science majors have won Clemson University's Norris Award, given to the outstanding graduating senior. Clemson's first recipient of the Harry S. Truman Scholarship came from political science, as did the University's first winner of a national ROTC scholarship.