The twin missions of the Department of Politics are to teach students to examine politics from the perspective of political philosophy and to educate its students for leadership in public affairs. Prepare for a career in law, journalism, business, government, or teaching through a concentrated course of study in political philosophy and contemporary politics. Develop and solidify your capacity for truly independent and rigorous thinking about political, social, and moral questions.
"I applied to the Politics program because it is one of the few in which students have the opportunity to thoroughly explore political theory. I have grown immensely during my time at UD, discovering the philosophic roots of politics and encountering the various ideas that have shaped the world."
-Anna Dean, IPS grad student
The graduate curriculum ranges from the Greek polis through the great Catholic thinkers of the Middle Ages to the politics of contemporary liberal democracies. Master the most rewarding political works of the Western tradition and the American experiment in self-government while considering the great themes and issues of political thought and experience: justice, equality, liberty, morality, religion, and human nature.
Many of the courses characteristic of the program involve a close reading of the texts of the Great Tradition of discourse on political order.
The program is designed to enable the student to complete its requirements in a year of full-time study if he so desires. Summer school courses are sometimes offered and may be of particular interest to part-time students.
"On Thursday, February 6, I arrived in Geneva, worn out from four days of classes, three bus rides, and a rocky EasyJet flight, expecting to have cell service. I didn't have cell service. Luckily, I did have the name of my destination -- CERN, the international European particle physics laboratory -- and a brief note explaining my situation to the French guards," writes John Rabaey, BS '22.
+ Read MoreIn the current COVID-19 crisis, the love of Danny Fitzpatrick, BA '13, for Italy, appreciation for his time there, and a creative collaboration with sculptor Tim Schmalz have led to a specific way of rendering aid to the country beloved by so many UD alumni and one-time Romers.
+ Read MoreEdisson Ramos, BA '20, is one of many students receiving assistance from UD's COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund, which has currently raised nearly $90,000; the first of the funds were distributed last week to help students make their April rent, and Director of Financial Aid Taryn Anderson, BA '07, is in the process of distributing a second wave to students with housing or food insecurity or in need of Wi-Fi or other resources for online learning.
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