Political Science

Through political science at Wilkes, you’ll examine world governments as well as their growth, evolution and decline. Delve into government structure, decision-making and conflict management. Prepare for a variety of professional possibilities by honing your analytical and problem-solving skills.

Program Snapshot

Program Type Format Credit Hours
Major, Minor On Campus 120 (18 for minor)

Why Study Political Science at Wilkes?

Our small class size means big opportunities for political science students. In addition to superb instruction in class, you can work one-on-one with faculty mentors. Collaborate with faculty on their research and get guidance tailored to you for your senior capstone project.

Wilkes-Barre is the seat of government for Luzerne County, providing access to internships with the district attorney, public defender and county judiciary, as well as experience with federal, state and local political campaigns.

Wilkes University’s proximity to New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. gives you the potential to explore internships in larger settings as well. Whether you want to experience county government or the nation’s capital, Wilkes will help you find a way.

What Will You Learn as a Political Science Student?

  • Explore politics and government structures from a variety of angles.
  • Examine complex human problems in logical, analytical ways.
  • Practice survey research methods and learn to develop and interpret data.
  • Develop communication skills that will allow you to present ideas clearly and persuasively.
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Program Highlights

Global Classroom

Political science majors have the unique opportunity to study in Costa Rica for a week as part of a class called The Political Economy of Coffee or Ecotourism Development.

Class Trips

You’ll learn outside the classroom during trips to the Supreme Court and other sites in Washington, D.C. You can also sign up for the Model UN trip each spring semester.

Combine Majors

You can combine your political science major with a double major or a minor in secondary education, sharing your love of learning with the next generation of students.

Professors believe in you and see your potential. When you go to law school, you’re going to be ahead of the curve.

Sydney Cogswell - Political Science and Criminology
70+

law schools have offered admission to Wilkes grads

3+3

programs let you earn a bachelor's degree and law degree in just six years

>90%

students who work with a pre-law advisor are admitted to at least one law school

Meet our Faculty

Our program's faculty are experts in their specialties, providing hands-on mentoring to help you achieve your future academic and career successes.

Assistant Professor

Dr. Benjamin Toll specializes in the study of American politics. He received a PhD from Indiana University, Bloomington in 2015 and a MA from the J.M. Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies at Baylor University. He teaches Introduction to American Politics and a variety of upper-level classes in American politics. He also teaches courses in the Criminology program at Wilkes.

Toll's research focuses on religion's impact on American politics, communications between elites and the public and how we respond to the elites. He regularly comments on local and statewide elections for press locally, nationally, and internationally. His favorite was during the 2020 campaign when in the course of one week he interviewed with a German newspaper, Finnish radio station, British television station and Japanese newspaper.

When not teaching or doing research, Dr. Toll likes to spend time with his family which consists of four kids, five toads, two fish, one dog and one wife. He coaches youth soccer (because he has to), and youth softball and baseball (because he likes it).

Dr. Toll also serves on a statewide citizen's review panel that looks at child welfare policy and makes recommendations to the state Office of Children, Youth, and Family about best practices. His experience working in a juvenile detention facility, working with at-risk teenagers, policy knowledge and six years as a foster parent makes that a perfect fit for community engagement.

Associate Professor

Dr. Andrew P. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science and Coordinator of the International Relations Program at Wilkes. Dr. Miller received a BA in Political Science from Illinois College, an MA in Political Science from Illinois State University and a PhD in Political Science from Purdue University. His teaching and research interests focus on economic development in Latin America, specifically the politics of the coffee industry and the economic development potential of tourism. He is the author of three books on development issues in Central America with a fourth due to publish in the Summer of 2023. He lives in Laflin with his wife Christy and enjoys traveling and watching sports.

Associate Professor

Dr. Robert Seeley earned his BA in Economics from Franklin and Marshall College and his PhD in Economics from the University of Maryland. During his tenure at Wilkes, he has served as Chair of the Department of Business Administration and Economics, Director of the Master of Business Administration program, and Director of the Master of Health Administration program. Dr. Seeley is particularly interested in the economics of labor markets (Labor Economics), tax policy (Public Finance), the earnings of professional and collegiate athletes (Economics of Sports), health policy (The Economics of Health Care), and the economics of crime.

Professor

Dr. Kyle Kreider specializes in the study of public law and the Supreme Court. He received his PhD from Temple University. He teaches Criminal Law, Law and Society, and Constitutional Law. In addition, Dr. Kreider has co-authored four books on voting rights and electoral reform. When not teaching or writing, Dr. Kreider spends time with his family and his two golden retrievers. He enjoys watching baseball, soccer and true crime TV.

Associate Professor

Dr. Andreea Maierean is an Associate Professor of Political Science and the Study Abroad Director. She received her PhD in Political Science from Boston University. She previously studied in Bucharest, Romania at the National School of Political Studies and Public Administration; in Trieste, Italy, at the University of Trieste; in Budapest, Hungary, at Central European University; and in Vienna, Austria, at the Institute for Human Sciences. Her research and teaching interests include post-communist transitions to democracy, transitional justice and environmental policy.

Building a Case for Law School Success

The American Bar Association does not require any particular course of study prior to law school, though a BA in political science from Wilkes provides a solid foundation with rigorous coursework that will give you an advantage over many of your law school classmates.

The pre-law advisor will assist you with law school preparation and admission, while the program offers access to internships, guest speakers and law school visits.

Pre-Law Program

Small Class

Careers & Outcomes

Popular Careers

  • Attorney
  • Teacher
  • Journalist
  • Legislative Assistant
  • Political Campaign Staffer
  • Policy Analyst
  • Public Relations Specialist
  • Communications Director
  • Lobbyist
  • Press Aide
  • Non-Profit Development Officer

Employers

  • Columbia University
  • Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
  • University of Wisconsin-Stout
  • Marsy's Law for Pennsylvania
  • Glen Mills School (PA)
  • Susan B. Anthony List
  • Cleary Gottlieb
  • Lutz and Petty Law Offices
  • Luzerne County Public Defender's Office
  • Luzerne County District Attorney's Office
  • Berkshire Hathaway Guard Insurance

Graduate and Law Schools

  • Penn State Law
  • Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law
  • Widener Law Commonwealth
  • Widener University - Delaware
  • University of Pittsburgh School of Law
  • NYU Law
  • American University Washington College of Law
  • Duquesne University School of Law
  • University of California-Irvine
  • Colorado State University
  • Temple University
  • Georgetown University
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • Villanova University