Department of Political Science

Political science is the empirical and theoretical study of systems of governance and power, political attitudes and behavior, and public policy and law, both abroad and in the United States. The Department of Political Science teaches students the critical thinking, analytical, and communicative skills needed for understanding how governments and politics function in contemporary and historical contexts. Alumni of the department work in fields related to government, public administration, business, law, and policy research and advocacy.

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Faculty Highlights

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Scholarship Repository Readership

The University of Richmond's Scholarship Repository shares faculty publications with a world-wide audience. The map below shows where articles from political science faculty are being read around the globe.

Feature Stories

Free speech advocate Greg Lukianoff gestures with his hand while talking to the McDowell Student Fellows on Feb. 3.

Speaking his mind

Civil liberties activist defends free speech as critical in the quest for knowledge.

Michael Tropp at the Millard Fillmore grave.

Alumni

Richmond alum travels across the country to explore presidential gravesites

History enthusiast Michael Tropp tells about his visits to 39 burial sites of the nation’s leaders and meetups with contemporary politicians.

University of Richmond Wins Champion Title at 25th Anniversary of the VFIC Applied Ethics Bowl

16 student teams from independent colleges and universities located throughout the Commonwealth deliberated over four rounds of case studies with ethical dilemmas related to Ethics and Artificial Intelligence.

Alumni

How one former Richmond football player crafted a unique career path

Alum Seyoum Settepani has gone from the gridiron to layouts in Vogue magazine, but the heart of his day is spent as a foreign service diplomat and restaurateur.