About Us
James R. Soles Professor and Chair
Welcome from the chair
Welcome to the University of Delaware Department of Political Science and International Relations (POSCIR). We are excited about what's happening here, and we think you will be as well.
- Our faculty are nationally and internationally recognized scholars and teachers who publish with top book presses and journals, and who regularly win awards for their research and teaching. We focus on four primary fields in our graduate and undergraduate programs: International Relations, Comparative Politics, American Politics, and Political Theory. Much of our work is interdisciplinary, including special strengths in global governance, political psychology, gender and politics, and inequality and social justice.
- Graduate students major in one of four fields, and have the opportunity to develop an interdisciplinary second field if they so choose. We have close ties with the Department of Communication's new Ph.D. track in Political Communication. Our highly diverse graduate student community adds particular vibrancy to the department, and we remain committed to recruiting the best US and internationally-based graduate students.
- POSCIR graduate students work closely with faculty and regularly present their work at regional and national conferences. We regularly provide advanced graduate students with opportunities to teach their own courses. After finishing their degrees, most of our doctoral students go on to faculty positions at universities in the US and around the world, while some work at research institutions or government agencies.
- Our undergraduate program is one of the largest at Delaware, and our students routinely win accolades for their work within and outside of the university. While offering two majors, Political Science and International Relations, we are adding new course offerings including opportunities to study the politics of social justice and political psychology. We now house the Legal Studies minor and provide leadership to the European Studies program. We are also partners in the UD Center for Political Communication and offer a Political Communication minor, giving students even more ways to connect across fields. Students outside of our majors can minor in Political Science.
- Undergraduate majors in the department are much more likely than College and University averages to graduate in four years. We also show significantly lower disparities in graduation rates across different groups of students. This commitment to students is at the core of what we do as faculty, and is especially reflected in our very hands-on approach to advising.
We appreciate your interest in our department and the University of Delaware. We hope you will visit us in person, as well as through our website. Located in Newark, Delaware, UD is centrally positioned between Philadelphia and Baltimore, Washington, DC and New York City. Our beautiful campus beckons. Please stop by and see us in 347 Smith Hall or explore our website to learn more about all that we have to offer. I think you'll agree that UD POSCIR is on the move and you'll want to be part of these exciting times!
David Redlawsk, Ph.D.
James R. Soles Professor and Chair
Visitor Information
The University of Delaware campus is located in Newark, Delaware, which is about 20 minutes away from Wilmington, an hour from either Philadelphia or Baltimore, two hours from Washington D.C., and two and a half hours from New York City.
The UD Department of Political Science and International Relations Our Values and Commitment to Diversity
As an academic department responsible for the education of students and the advancement of knowledge, we are motivated by our commitment to four central values:
- Methodological pluralism
- Interdisciplinarity
- Diversity
- Excellence
Our values strongly influence how we pursue our goals and how we measure excellence. Methodological pluralism, interdisciplinarity and diversity mean we value research of all kinds, as long as it demonstrates excellence and contributes to the discipline. Some of us do work widely considered mainstream, others do work that might be considered more niche. Respecting diversity and methodological pluralism means valuing both kinds of work, recognizing that the distinction between “mainstream” and “niche” is itself is largely a matter of taste, that diversity of perspectives inherently means including less popular or common ones, and that this distinction may in part reflect discrimination (unconscious or otherwise) against the perspectives or concerns of racial, sexual and other minorities. Many of us also believe that searching for intersections between more “niche” and “mainstream” considerations is the way to achieve creative success.
We value the many and varied experiences of our colleagues and students, and seek to incorporate and extend this diversity in all that we do. We have adopted a plan focused on a set of core principles on which we intend to continue to build on this diversity in many ways. These principles are:
- Principle I: Recruiting, developing, retaining and promoting a diverse faculty and staff.
- Principle II: Continuing to create and retain a diverse student body at both graduate and undergraduate levels.
- Principle III: Being attentive to issues of diversity in the curriculum, encouraging regular reflection on the courses, authors and subjects taught at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
- Principle IV: Committing to ongoing professional development to improve our ability to provide a welcoming educational space.
- Principle V: Contributing to the intellectual discussion around diversity issues by engaging with university projects and paying greater attention to diversity in the selection of speakers and events.
- Principle VI: Working to increase our broader community engagement, particularly as the university is considerably less diverse than the surrounding community.
The College’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Diversity, equity and inclusion are significant parts of the University of Delaware's College of Arts and Sciences's values and goals. The college's commitment to these values is not just evident in its student body but also its faculty, staff, and curriculum, ensuring a fully inclusive experience. Through this steadfast dedication to diversity and inclusivity, the college continues to enrich its educational offering, allowing each student to benefit from a wide array of viewpoints and experiences.
