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Political Science

Political science is the study of the state and of power relations within states and among them, as they are and as they ought to be. It seeks better understanding of political and governmental behavior and institutions to enable society to use its collective resources more effectively for the general welfare. The principal subfields in the SUNY Brockport department are political thought, American politics and government, comparative government and politics, and international relations.

Political science is a liberal arts discipline and, therefore, the SUNY Brockport department emphasizes its contributions to the general intellectual development of students. Its subject matter is essential for informed, effective citizenship and is especially pertinent to the career fields of law, government service, politics, journalism, and social and global studies.

The department administers four student award funds for the Brockport College Foundation.

  • The Jim Schiller Memorial Award is given to an incoming student who has demonstrated an interest in practical politics or public service, intends to major in political science, and plans a career in politics or public service.
  • The Harold Rakov Memorial Award is intended for an upper-division Political Science major on the basis of academic performance.
  • The Paul Hanks Memorial Award is presented to a pre-law student.
  • The Henry and Marion Bretton Research Award is given for superior undergraduate performance in political science research.

Information on these awards may be obtained from the department.