About

Chair’s Welcome

“Politics is what we dare to imagine.” – Paul Wellstone

What do you dare to imagine?  The world today is full of so many challenges that will require innovative and daring solutions, including issues ranging from war and peace to climate change and sustainability to human rights and the rule of law.  Our fundamental mission in Department of Political Science and International Studies (POINTS) at Georgia Southern is to prepare our students for their future roles as active and responsible citizens who will find solutions to the challenges of the world.

The Department of Political Science and International Studies is proud to offer a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts International Studies.  Within the Political Science degree, we offer concentrations in Global Security Studies and in Law and Politics.  Our department also offers the Paralegal Certificate Program as well as minors in Asian Studies, International Studies, and Political Science.  For those seeking additional education, we are proud to offer a Political Science concentration in the Master of Arts in Social Sciences program that focuses on democracy and global justice.

Our world-class faculty train students in skills necessary to compete in a global economy, such as: oral and written communication, public speaking, analytical and quantitative skills, teamwork and problem-solving, and leadership.  Our department also offers a number of co-curricular opportunities to our students, such as: legal and legislative internships, Model United Nations, Model Arab League, and study abroad.  You can also find our faculty sharing their innovative research in public lectures and forums on campus and in the community.

The Department of Political Science and International Studies is proud of our distinguished alumni.  You can find graduates of our department serving as foreign service officers for the US Department of State, as executives in international businesses, as informational scientists/analysts in the field of tourism, as directors of public policy for non-profits, as journalists, and as attorneys.  You will even find some of our graduates working on the Georgia Southern campuses!  We are proud of these alumni and of their continued involvement in our programs.

Our department truly has something to offer every member of the Eagle Nation.  We look forward to welcoming you to one of our classes, co-curricular clubs, or events on campus.  For more information on our department, we invite you to further explore our website or come visit us in the Carroll Building on the Statesboro campus and in University Hall on the Armstrong campus.

Best wishes,

Jamie Scalera-Elliott, PhD
Professor and Department Chair
Department of Political Science and International Studies

Our Mission

The fundamental mission of the Department of Political Science is to prepare our students for their future roles as active and responsible citizens, a goal which is primarily accomplished through our emphasis on excellent teaching. We focus on developing in our students a core understanding of politics at all levels of government, both within the United States and internationally. Additionally, a commitment to quality scholarship and service to our students, the university, professional organizations and the community are important means by which we prepare our students for citizenship in our region, our state, our country and our world.

What will I learn in political science programs?

• Students are introduced to the basic framework of the American political system with a course in American government and to contemporary political issues and problems in the introduction to political science areas.
• Courses in national politics educate students about American political thought, political parties and elections, political media, the U.S. Constitution, U.S. foreign policy, and the American presidency. Classes are also offered in African-American politics, gender policies, and political film.
• Students interested in state and local government can learn more about public administration and research methods and take specialty seminars such as Southern politics or environmental policy.
• Students can learn about International relations in classes that focus on international law, international organizations, international political economy, international terrorism, and U.S. foreign policy.
• In preparation for application to law school, political science majors can also take a two-part course in constitutional law and a course in judicial politics taught by experts in the field or attorneys who are practitioners in the local legal community.

Last updated: 7/26/2023