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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
