Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

Understanding the systems that make the world spin

Every day, political decisions are made that affect our lives. Will the legislature increase taxes? How will the courts interpret our most basic freedoms? Choose the Loyola University New Orleans Political Science program and you’ll get a full understanding of how to analyze individual and group motivation and behavior, think through working systems and institutions, and conduct research into how systems and institutions work.

Because its effects are so immediately felt, political science is a field that’s often dramatized. But as television shows glorify leadership positions and the power that seems to come with them, they often miss the depth and importance of understanding organized government at a systemic level. Political scientists are those who know how to evaluate power divisions and societal constructs that will have lasting effects on citizens and systems around the world. At Loyno, you’ll develop a deep understanding of politics—how leadership is organized, what consequences come of global political action, and how political change affects our everyday lives. And with that understanding, we hope you’ll be one of the people who can help predict what’s coming next—and who can, whether through research, action, or leadership, keep our systems working for us.

In fulfilling its mission to provide all Loyola students with a foundation in knowledge through teaching and scholarship within and across the liberal arts and sciences, the College of Arts & Sciences educates students to lead meaningful lives with and for others; to appreciate and contribute to global cultures; to think critically and make decisions for the common good; and to have a commitment to the Jesuit tradition of a life of justice, service, and intellectual engagement.

It is the mission of the college to contribute to the expansion of knowledge through the scholarly and creative activities of its faculty and students.