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33

full-time faculty teaching and conducting research in political science

66%

of Maxwell faculty conduct research focused outside of the U.S.

50

graduate students in residence; fewer than 12 admitted each year

Undergraduate Studies


Studying political science will help you understand the workings of political life at the local, national and international levels and will prepare you for a lifetime of active and informed citizenship. The Department of Political Science at Syracuse University has more than thirty full-time faculty that teach a wide variety of courses in multiple subject areas. We will guide you as you explore the world of politics and hone your skills as a researcher, analyst and writer.

Graduate Studies


Master’s and doctoral students receive broad training in quantitative and qualitative methods of social science research, while also concentrating in two of the following substantive fields: American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, public administration and policy, law and courts, or security studies. 
Mazaher Kaila

I am Maxwell.

Civic engagement is a core value for me. I have always aspired to help the communities I’m from.” Mazaher Kaila, a Maxwell alumna and third-year student at Syracuse University's College of Law, moved with her family from Sudan to Central New York when she was four years old. “I realized that to make meaningful change in society, I needed to understand the systems that power it—government and politics—and that’s insight I would gain by studying political science.”

Mazaher Kaila ’19, L’22

political science, law

Read Kaila's story, “A Powerful Voice for Justice”

Faricy Comments on the State of Negotiations on Funding the Government in Spectrum News Article

September 13, 2023

Spectrum News

Christopher Faricy

Christopher Faricy


The government could shut down on Sept. 30 unless the House and Senate can come to an agreement to try to fund the federal government before the fiscal year 2024. 

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has floated a short-term stopgap funding measure to fund the government, but with such a narrow majority, he has very little room for error.

“There are enough moderate Republicans in the House, along with Democrats in the House, to pass a spending bill out of the House that they know the Senate Democrats, which control the Senate, would agree to,” says Chris Faricy, associate professor of political science.

“But in doing that, you risk a backlash from the Freedom Caucus,” he continues. “And in the past, that backlash might be something that the speaker would kind of endure just to get something through, but Speaker McCarthy is in the position where the Freedom Caucus has teeth, where they could actually bring a vote to oust him from speaker.”

“It really is a delicate situation for the House speaker,” Faricy adds.

BaoBao Zhang Joins First Cohort of AI2050 Early Career Fellows

One of only 15 scholars chosen from across the U.S., Zhang will receive up to $200,000 in research funding over the next two years. Zhang will use the funding to partner with the nonprofit, non-partisan Center for New Democratic Processes to test whether public participation in AI governance is increased through the creation of public assemblies, known as “deliberative democracy workshops.”

Baobao Zhang

Assistant Professor, Political Science Department

Read More

Baobao Zhang

Faricy Comments on the State of Negotiations on Funding the Government in Spectrum News Article

September 13, 2023

Spectrum News

Christopher Faricy

Christopher Faricy


The government could shut down on Sept. 30 unless the House and Senate can come to an agreement to try to fund the federal government before the fiscal year 2024. 

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has floated a short-term stopgap funding measure to fund the government, but with such a narrow majority, he has very little room for error.

“There are enough moderate Republicans in the House, along with Democrats in the House, to pass a spending bill out of the House that they know the Senate Democrats, which control the Senate, would agree to,” says Chris Faricy, associate professor of political science.

“But in doing that, you risk a backlash from the Freedom Caucus,” he continues. “And in the past, that backlash might be something that the speaker would kind of endure just to get something through, but Speaker McCarthy is in the position where the Freedom Caucus has teeth, where they could actually bring a vote to oust him from speaker.”

“It really is a delicate situation for the House speaker,” Faricy adds.

Political Science Department
100 Eggers Hall