Political Science and International Relations

In the USC Dornsife Department of Political Science and International Relations, students find an academic program committed to deeply understanding what is happening in our domestic and international political systems and why. With faculty who have served in government, steered think tanks, and generated influential policy research, students are able to explore topics such as climate change, political polarization, social inequality, democratic fragility, violent conflict, international development, human rights, and more. Internship opportunities in Washington, DC and elsewhere allow students to get down in the political trenches and learn first-hand how policy is made – often from the people who are making it.