Skip to content
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”

Reeher Discusses the Biden-Trump Debate with AFP, The Globe and Mail, The Hill and Newsweek

July 1, 2024

Agence France Presse,NEWS10 ABC,Newsweek,Spectrum News,The Globe and Mail,The Hill,WRVO

Grant Reeher

Grant Reeher


President Joe Biden and former President Trump took to the stage last week for the first debate in the 2024 election. Grant Reeher, professor of political science and director of the Campbell Public Affairs Institute, was interviewed by  several media outlets before and after the debate. 

“I'll be looking for whether former president Trump tries to become more 'presidential' in any respect, though the campaign trail would suggest the answer to that is no,” says Reeher in the Agence France Presse article, “Trump and Biden do battle in first US presidential debate.”

“I don’t think this is a debate where either side is coming in saying ‘I hope our guy hits a home run,’ ” Reeher tells The Globe and Mail. “They’re coming in saying ‘I hope our guy doesn’t strike out.’ ”

In The Hill article, “Biden faces high-stakes moment in CNN debate with Trump,” Reeher says, “All he can do is avoid the downside there. That’s the victory. If he goes in and he’s lively and he’s engaged and everything, that’s all good, but you’re not going to walk away and say that issue is done now.”

Reeher was also quoted in the following Newsweek articles:

How Joe Biden Can Avoid Suffering Loss to Donald Trump in First Debate.” According to Reeher, “Biden's biggest strength is to show the contrast in leadership styles, to provoke Trump somehow into going even further over the top in his rhetoric, and through that insert concerns about Trump's mental stability when it comes to things like national security."

Who Won the Debate? Analyst Says Biden Won 'On Points'.” Says Reeher, “Trump seemed to bring almost every issue back to immigration and the harms he asserted were coming from that—that was obviously one of his main strategies. President Biden seemed to address different policy questions more in their own terms. He talked fast and in a staccato, hoarse whisper.”

Will Joe Biden Be Replaced? How a Contested Convention Would Work.” Reeher says Biden looked and sounded “frail and confused” at Thursday's debate, which may damage his reelection hopes. “I don't think he did very much to dispel the concerns about his age that his detractors are emphasizing, and probably added to them.”

Grant Reeher also spoke with several media outlets about the congressional elections in New York state.

News10: “NY elections could impact balance of power in Congress

Spectrum: “With general election matchup set between Williams and Mannion, NY-22 race shapes up

WRVO: “CNY congressional race expected to get national attention

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

Reeher Discusses the Biden-Trump Debate with AFP, The Globe and Mail, The Hill and Newsweek

July 1, 2024

Agence France Presse,NEWS10 ABC,Newsweek,Spectrum News,The Globe and Mail,The Hill,WRVO

Grant Reeher

Grant Reeher


President Joe Biden and former President Trump took to the stage last week for the first debate in the 2024 election. Grant Reeher, professor of political science and director of the Campbell Public Affairs Institute, was interviewed by  several media outlets before and after the debate. 

“I'll be looking for whether former president Trump tries to become more 'presidential' in any respect, though the campaign trail would suggest the answer to that is no,” says Reeher in the Agence France Presse article, “Trump and Biden do battle in first US presidential debate.”

“I don’t think this is a debate where either side is coming in saying ‘I hope our guy hits a home run,’ ” Reeher tells The Globe and Mail. “They’re coming in saying ‘I hope our guy doesn’t strike out.’ ”

In The Hill article, “Biden faces high-stakes moment in CNN debate with Trump,” Reeher says, “All he can do is avoid the downside there. That’s the victory. If he goes in and he’s lively and he’s engaged and everything, that’s all good, but you’re not going to walk away and say that issue is done now.”

Reeher was also quoted in the following Newsweek articles:

How Joe Biden Can Avoid Suffering Loss to Donald Trump in First Debate.” According to Reeher, “Biden's biggest strength is to show the contrast in leadership styles, to provoke Trump somehow into going even further over the top in his rhetoric, and through that insert concerns about Trump's mental stability when it comes to things like national security."

Who Won the Debate? Analyst Says Biden Won 'On Points'.” Says Reeher, “Trump seemed to bring almost every issue back to immigration and the harms he asserted were coming from that—that was obviously one of his main strategies. President Biden seemed to address different policy questions more in their own terms. He talked fast and in a staccato, hoarse whisper.”

Will Joe Biden Be Replaced? How a Contested Convention Would Work.” Reeher says Biden looked and sounded “frail and confused” at Thursday's debate, which may damage his reelection hopes. “I don't think he did very much to dispel the concerns about his age that his detractors are emphasizing, and probably added to them.”

Grant Reeher also spoke with several media outlets about the congressional elections in New York state.

News10: “NY elections could impact balance of power in Congress

Spectrum: “With general election matchup set between Williams and Mannion, NY-22 race shapes up

WRVO: “CNY congressional race expected to get national attention

Political Science Department
100 Eggers Hall