Political scientists examine elections, governance, social movements, policies, and political parties to learn how people relate to one another.
By studying political science, you will train yourself to become an active, well-informed citizen in the classroom, the community, and the world.
You will also gain valuable skills in writing and communicating, analysis, and critical thinking to prepare for careers in government, law, nonprofits, diplomacy, academia, and more.
Why study political science at Macalester?
Let’s start with the classroom. Led by innovative teachers, your classes will be interactive and hands-on. While studying the rhetoric of campaigns and elections, for example, you will create your own press releases, stump speeches, and bumper stickers. Other classes may feature classroom debates or simulations in which you develop, present, and defend a policy proposal. As you discover your interests, you can pursue opportunities to collaborate with faculty members on research, or serve as a course preceptor. Throughout your interdisciplinary education you’ll be supported, challenged, inspired, and pushed by your Poli Sci peers—one of the most engaged and informed groups of students on campus.
Our Chuck Green Civic Engagement Fellowship allows you to put your ideas into action. Each year, 12 students are selected to co-create a spring seminar. Each student receives a grant to complete a full-time, on-site summer project to implement in collaboration with a local community organization. Recent projects have included domestic violence prevention; lowering pharmaceutical drug prices in partnership with Minnesota’s attorney general; mental health for queer and trans youth; immigrant rights; literacy; and arts for social change. We have high expectations for you and all you can accomplish in political science.
Life after Macalester
Macalester’s Political Science Department has a strong reputation that will help open doors for you wherever you land.
Bilingual English Development and Assistant Program
BlueCat Motorcycle
BOKS Program
Book Culture
Booz Allen Hamilton
Bridge International Academies
Broward County Metropolitan Planning Organization
Cadreon
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
Capitala Investment Advisors - Charlotte, NC
Catholic Migration Services
Center for American Progress
Center for Transforming Lives
ChainSafe Systems
Chemonics International
Citizens League
City Year
Collins, Buckley, Sauntry & Haugh
Conklin Company, Inc.
Connections Media LLC
Costco Wholesale
Croatian American Association
DC Bully Busters
Delve
Department of Defense - Washington, DC
Dialpad
Doist
DreamWorks Animation
Duke University
Durham Exchange Club Industries
EAB
EnviroIssues
Environmental Defense Fund
Evology Creative
Ferdinand F. Peters Esq. Law
Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen and Loewy, LLP
Fredrikson & Byron Immigration
Frey Law Office
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Friendship Public Charter School
Fulbright Scholar Program
Fusemachines
Galveston Independent School District
Georgetown University
Glacier Guides
Global Kids
GoodRx
Greenwich Academy
Habitat for Humanity
Halfaker & Associates
Hispanic Advocacy for Community Empowerment through Research
Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota
International Rescue Committee UK
Irene Fernando for Hennepin County Commissioner District 2
J. Selmer Law, P.A.
Jasculca Terman Strategic Communications
Johns Hopkins University
Johnson Becker PLLC
Just Truffles
Kids of Summer Sports
Kidzu Children's Museum AND Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA
Kipsu
L.A. Fitness
Law Office of Cheryl David
Macalester College
MacDonald Montessori School
Massachusetts Rivers Alliance
MBC Global Media
Meridian Institute
Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport
Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Minneapolis Youth Coordinating Board
Minnesota Department of Revenue
Minnesota House of Representatives
Minnesota Senate
Naral Pro-Choice Washington
National Community Reinvestment Coalition
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services - Lincoln
New Mexico Immigrant Law Center
New York City Hedge Fund
Nuclear Security Working Group
Office of Governor Mark Dayton
Office of Governor Walz and Lt. Governor Flanagan
Office of the Minnesota Attorney General
Optum Consulting (UnitedHealth Group)
Parks and People Foundation
Pesticide Action Network North America
Pike Market Child Care and Preschool
Podcast Review: A Los Angeles Review of Books Channel
PriceWaterhouse Coopers
Pritzker College Prep
Pritzker Hageman, P.A
Proskauer Rose LLP
Providence Public Schools
Prudential
RAICES
Rebiotix
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
Rights and Resources Initiative
Rotary
RPA Advertising
School Year Abroad
ShareProgress
Slalom
Social Impact
Stand for Children
Startup Guide
Steps to Success
Stinson Leonard Street LLP
Swedish Committee for Afghanistan
Target Corporation
TBWB Strategies
TCF Bank
Tesla Motors
The Half Barrel
The Task Force For Global Health, Inc.
The U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress
The Wildlife Society
Trader Joes
Umoja student corporation
UN Environment
Unified
Universal Strategy Group, Inc. (USGI)
University of California, Berkeley
University of Washington
Urban Farm Colorado
US Department of State
US Government Accountability Office
US Senator Maria Cantwell
Valens Global
Wheeler Middle School
Yale University
YMCA Youth Intervention Services
Political Science in the cities
Our Legislative Politics class combines classroom learning with an internship at the Minnesota State Legislature, just 5 miles from campus.
Our local community includes an extensive network of alumni who return to campus each year for our Alumni-Senior Mixer to offer advice and friendship to current students.
200 internship sites located within 8 miles of campus.
Join our community
Meaningful events. From our fall welcome back s’mores to our annual spring student/faculty trip to the Midwest Political Science Association conference in Chicago, our many social and academic events are grounded in strengthening relationships with classmates and faculty members.
Pi Sigma Alpha. Our students can take part in Macalester’s own chapter of this national honor society and help plan on-campus activities, including an annual student research conference.
Mitau Lecture. This annual lecture brings distinguished speakers to campus for lectures about current topics in political science.