Politics, Economics, and International Studies

The Department of Politics, Economics, and International Studies is the home of the Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Government, the Bachelor of Arts in Economics, and the Bachelor of Arts in International Studies, as well as minors in Politics and Government, Economics, International Studies, and Political Economy.

Economics

The B.A. in Economics is offered by the College of Arts and Sciences. Courses are taught by economists in the College of Arts and Sciences and in the Barney School of Business’s Department of Economics, Finance, and Insurance.

The program serves the needs of three groups of students: those who wish to major in economics in the context of a liberal education; those not concentrating in economics but wishing to improve their understanding of the economic aspect of society; and those specializing in related fields, who find courses offered in this program contributing to their areas of specialization.

The economics major provides an appropriate foundation for a broad variety of careers. It is a valuable background for many business and governmental employments. Economics is a preferred major for graduate work in economics, business and public administration, law, and foreign service. All courses used to fulfill a major requirement have to be taken for a letter grade (unless otherwise specified).

For course descriptions, click here .

International Studies

The program in International Studies at the University of Hartford offers an interdisciplinary major and minor that make use of faculty expertise across disciplines. Students approach global issues in their complexity, including politics, economics, language, history, communication, culture, and arts.

The program prepares students to live, think, and work in a world that is changing rapidly and often with great unpredictability. The major is particularly appropriate for those interested in careers in government, business, education, the nonprofit sector, and certain areas of law. It also provides a solid background for graduate studies in several fields. Faculty advisors work closely with students to tailor the program to individual learning objectives and career plans. Students who major in are also strongly encouraged to study abroad during the course of their studies. This can take the form of a semester or year abroad, or participation in a short Winterterm or Summerterm program abroad.

Politics and Government

The undergraduate major in politics and government is the study of policy, government, and law. Its object is understanding of the processes by which power, authority, influence, control, freedom, wealth, and other political resources are competitively pursued, captured, and distributed; the conversion of these political resources into public policies; the institutionalization of these policies into government; and the authoritative statement, administration, and enforcement of policies by government as law. The balance struck by any political system, between the distribution of sacrifices or costs it exacts and its distribution of benefits, affords a basis for evaluating the legitimacy or justice of its policies.

Politics is the competitive pursuit of scarce social values in the public, as opposed to the private, sector. Government emphasizes the common interests of a citizenry and the means for solving collective problems through formal decision-making institutions.

From ancient Athens to the present, politics and government has been taught to kings and princes to enable them to rule others. It has been taught to free citizens to enable them to govern themselves. It is, therefore, one of the oldest keys to understanding the alternatives of human subjugation or freedom and, as such, is essential to truly liberal (liberating) education.

Political scientists ask not only “what is” but also “what ought to be.” Combining considerations of fact and values, the study of politics and government is thus valuable as a training in citizenship, indispensable as a training for government. It also prepares for careers in teaching, politics, journalism, law, and in the representation of public or private interest at all levels of policy making.

The curriculum of Politics and Government at the University of Hartford is organized into five areas:

Area 1: American Politics and Government
Area 2: Comparative Politics
Area 3: International Politics
Area 4: Political Theory
Area 5: Law and Politics

Programs

Undergraduate Program(s)

Minor(s)

Other Programs