USC Department of Political Science

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The Department of Political Science is an intellectual community committed to the advancement of theoretical and practical knowledge about politics through the conduct and dissemination of research and through teaching within and beyond the classroom. The mission of the Department reflects its identity as:

As a community of scholars our primary mission is to be constantly engaged in research which is recognized nationally and internationally, seeking with imagination and rigor to extend the realm of what is known about politics, and communicating the results of our research through publication and participation in the intellectual dialogues and debates of our disciplines. Collectively, our goal is to attain and maintain a reputation for scholarly excellence in accord with the standards of our most prestigious counterparts. As members of this community, our individual purposes are to strive always for excellence in our own research, to seek recognition and stature within our disciplines, and to conduct ourselves at all times in a professional, collegial, and ethical manner. As an academic unit in the College of ARTS AND SCIENCES our mission is to offer superior instruction to students at all levels of intellectual maturity, and to assist them in accomplishing their goals. For our undergraduate students, we aim to help them acquire substantive knowlege about politics, develop their analytical, interpretive, and speaking and writing skills, cultivate their appreciation of intellectual excellence, and become discerning and responsible citizens. For our graduate students seeking professional training for careers in public and international affairs, we support their aspirations with a timely and appropriate curriculum. These courses of study combine substantive knowledge with analytical and managerial skills, and integrate practical experience and career counseling and placement. For our graduate students seeking academic careers, we will provide the kind of education that renders them comparable to and competitive with graduates of the most distinguished counterpart programs in the nation and abroad. We aim to inspire them with the enthusiasm for learning and teaching that makes the academic career most satisfying.

As a resource available to the citizens and State, nation and world, our mission is to serve as a reservoir of expertise that can be drawn upon by citizens and others in need of professional guidance and knowledge and information about politics. Because we are experts in politics and governance, the practical contributions we can and should make to public affairs and to continuing education are great.

Additionally, the Department's ability to fulfill this multifaceted mission depends in large part on the maintenance of intellectual diversity. Such diversity reflects the fact that "politics" is a broad concept; that the questions considered worth asking about politics are driven by different theoretical commitments and substantive interests; and that methods thought best for answering questions about politics reflect often distinct epistemological assumptions and research traditions. By embracing diversity rather than orthodoxy on these matters, the Department not only reflects these truths, but enhances its ability to conduct recognized research, advance its collective reputation, educate its students, and serve its other clients.

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