Mission

COMMITTED TO THE LIBERAL ARTS TRADITION of intellectual curiosity and diversity, the Department of Government & International Affairs at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg offers students a rigorous program of study that prepares them for successful careers in a rapidly globalizing world.
Students in the program examine basic questions of political science, including how nations struggle over power and wealth, how political communities reconcile claims of liberty, authority, and justice, and how governments and societies produce the policies that influence our lives.

Students choose courses from the major subfields of American government, international relations, comparative politics, and political theory. Students develop critical analytical skills that allow them to understand and explain political problems and issues at the local, state, national and international levels.
The program is unique in its focus on human rights and civil rights across the curriculum, as well as its commitment to civic engagement and experiential learning.

Meeting the degree requirements in political science will prepare students for positions in public service and the private sector, for law school, and for graduate work in political science, international relations, public administration, and related disciplines.