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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”

Maxwell Students, Faculty Among SOURCE and Honors Grant Recipients

January 13, 2023

The awards provide up to $7,500 in support for original undergraduate research projects.

Eleven Maxwell School students have been awarded grants from the Syracuse Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (SOURCE) and the Renée Crown University Honors Program. The awards support undergraduate students by helping them apply what they learn in class to their own original research under the guidance of a faculty mentor. In addition to further pursuing a topic of their interest, SOURCE grants improve students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

The students receiving funding are among 78 student award recipients from across all Syracuse University schools and colleges. A team of faculty reviewers selected grant recipients from a pool of 143 student applicants.

In addition, seven Maxwell mentor-led projects have been awarded SOURCE Research Assistant grants which will fund the hire of undergraduate students to take part in research.

The SOURCE and Honors Program funding supports timely and diverse undergraduate scholarly research. The grant programs strengthen the University’s position as a preeminent and inclusive student-focused research institution and provide resources to support undergraduate student research participation. The next application cycle for summer 2023 and academic year 2023-24 grants will be due in February and March. Find out more on the SOURCE website.

SOURCE Student Award Recipients

Bailey Davis, international relations

Zitong Huang, history

Nathalie Melo, policy studies and health humanities

Margo Moran, political science and communication and rhetorical studies

Christin-Delaine Tetteh, political science and television, radio and film

Renée Crown University Honors Program Student Award Recipients

Hamelin Batista Camilo, political science

Megan Cooper, international relations and English and textual studies

Ella Farrell, policy studies and information management and technology

Bailee Roberts, sociology

Amelia Thibault, geography and history

Isabella Wilson, political science and policy studies

Faculty Research Assistant Grants

Lamis Abdelaaty, associate professor of political science and senior research associate in the Campbell Public Affairs Institute and the Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration (PARCC) (project: Refugees in Crisis)

Mark Brockway, faculty fellow in political science and religion and senior research associate in PARCC (project: Religion and Partisan News Coverage of the Supreme Court); with research team member Hailey Womer 

Kristy Buzard, associate professor of economics, Melvin A. Eggers Economics Faculty Scholar and senior research associate in PARCC (project: Quantifying GATT Trade Liberalization); with research team member Zeyuan (Victor) Xiong

Minju Kim, assistant professor of political science (project: How do Arbitrators as Individuals Affect International Investment Disputes?)

Hannah Patnaik, managing director of the Maxwell X Lab (project: Maxwell X Lab Research Assistantship); with research team member Leonard M. Lopoo, professor of public administration and international affairs, Paul Volker Chair in Behavioral Economics and director of the Maxwell X Lab

Guido Pezzarossi, associate professor and undergraduate director of anthropology (project: Biopolitics of Colonial Labor in Guatemala: Marriage Networks, Reproduction and the Colonial Census)

Austin Zwick, assistant director, assistant teaching professor and honors director of policy studies and senior research associate in the Autonomous Systems Policy Institute (project: Global Smart Cities Policy Mapping)

Published in the Spring 2023 issue of the Maxwell Perspective

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

Maxwell Students, Faculty Among SOURCE and Honors Grant Recipients

January 13, 2023

The awards provide up to $7,500 in support for original undergraduate research projects.

Eleven Maxwell School students have been awarded grants from the Syracuse Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement (SOURCE) and the Renée Crown University Honors Program. The awards support undergraduate students by helping them apply what they learn in class to their own original research under the guidance of a faculty mentor. In addition to further pursuing a topic of their interest, SOURCE grants improve students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

The students receiving funding are among 78 student award recipients from across all Syracuse University schools and colleges. A team of faculty reviewers selected grant recipients from a pool of 143 student applicants.

In addition, seven Maxwell mentor-led projects have been awarded SOURCE Research Assistant grants which will fund the hire of undergraduate students to take part in research.

The SOURCE and Honors Program funding supports timely and diverse undergraduate scholarly research. The grant programs strengthen the University’s position as a preeminent and inclusive student-focused research institution and provide resources to support undergraduate student research participation. The next application cycle for summer 2023 and academic year 2023-24 grants will be due in February and March. Find out more on the SOURCE website.

SOURCE Student Award Recipients

Bailey Davis, international relations

Zitong Huang, history

Nathalie Melo, policy studies and health humanities

Margo Moran, political science and communication and rhetorical studies

Christin-Delaine Tetteh, political science and television, radio and film

Renée Crown University Honors Program Student Award Recipients

Hamelin Batista Camilo, political science

Megan Cooper, international relations and English and textual studies

Ella Farrell, policy studies and information management and technology

Bailee Roberts, sociology

Amelia Thibault, geography and history

Isabella Wilson, political science and policy studies

Faculty Research Assistant Grants

Lamis Abdelaaty, associate professor of political science and senior research associate in the Campbell Public Affairs Institute and the Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration (PARCC) (project: Refugees in Crisis)

Mark Brockway, faculty fellow in political science and religion and senior research associate in PARCC (project: Religion and Partisan News Coverage of the Supreme Court); with research team member Hailey Womer 

Kristy Buzard, associate professor of economics, Melvin A. Eggers Economics Faculty Scholar and senior research associate in PARCC (project: Quantifying GATT Trade Liberalization); with research team member Zeyuan (Victor) Xiong

Minju Kim, assistant professor of political science (project: How do Arbitrators as Individuals Affect International Investment Disputes?)

Hannah Patnaik, managing director of the Maxwell X Lab (project: Maxwell X Lab Research Assistantship); with research team member Leonard M. Lopoo, professor of public administration and international affairs, Paul Volker Chair in Behavioral Economics and director of the Maxwell X Lab

Guido Pezzarossi, associate professor and undergraduate director of anthropology (project: Biopolitics of Colonial Labor in Guatemala: Marriage Networks, Reproduction and the Colonial Census)

Austin Zwick, assistant director, assistant teaching professor and honors director of policy studies and senior research associate in the Autonomous Systems Policy Institute (project: Global Smart Cities Policy Mapping)

Published in the Spring 2023 issue of the Maxwell Perspective

Political Science Department
100 Eggers Hall