Hartwick College students, faculty and alumni in front of White House in Washington DC

welcome to hartwick political science

Why Study Political Science at Hartwick?

You want to change the world. You want to serve your community and constituents. You want to transform your passion for politics into a meaningful career.

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Here’s what makes Hartwick’s political science program stand out:

Study for a career in law, public service, public administration or the fast-growing field of environmental politics.
Develop the critical thinking skills, insight and understanding needed to make a lasting impact in your community, the country and the world.
Gain global insights through J Term courses and see how governments function around the world.
Get hands-on experience through internships with legislators, law offices or political campaigns.

Many Career Paths

With a projected median pay of over $132,000 per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics), Hartwick alums are pursuing careers in:

Congress
Peace Corps
Harvard School of Public Health
New York State Assembly
Connecticut State Attorney’s Office
City of New York

Alumni Spotlight: Rebecka Flynn ’12

Rebecka Flynn '12 is a senior technical program manager for the Data Platform Team at Disney Streaming.

Hartwick’s Alumni in NY Congress Bring their Experience and Insights to the Classroom

State Senator James Seward ’73, H ’99 (ret.) and Assembly Member Jen Lunsford ’04 are among many alumni who teach and inspire political science students.

WHERE WILL YOUR HARTWICK POLITICAL SCIENCE DEGREE TAKE YOU?

Alexis Epstein ’18 strengthened her commitment to justice as an advocacy intern with Waterkeeper Alliance. She also completed a summer internship with Judge Rodriguez-Morick in the Bronx Supreme Court, which helped prepare her for her career as an assistant public defender in the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office (FL).

Rob Tracey ’13 is now the senior planner for Queen Anne’s County Planning and Zoning in Centreville, Maryland. A former Legislative Fellow at the NYS Senate, he received a Hartwick College Faculty Research Grant, which allowed him to work as a research assistant alongside his mentor, Laurel Elder.

“My internships each helped me hone a specific set of skills. Editing the Journal of The National Collegiate Honors Council gave me unparalleled writing skills. Democracy Matters helped me manage people and events, and the Otsego County Court taught me how to do research.” – Cara Dugan ’22

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

Hone your focus with cross-disciplinary courses, including environmental sustainability, business administration or civil rights.
Get real-world insights into politics by assisting with voter registration drives, joining Student Government or Model United Nations, and participating in candidate forums.
Put your studies into practice and enter the Stephen L. Green American Governance Essay Contest for cash prizes.
Develop your Senior Thesis on a research topic you’re passionate about, then present your findings at Student Showcase.

Political Science Major and Minor Requirements

Check Out Our Current Course Offerings

INSTITUTE OF PUBLIC SERVICE

The Hartwick College Institute of Public Service is dedicated to strengthening democracy across the region by serving as a hub of collaboration and innovation between state and local government, and through civic engagement and legal studies.

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