The Department of Political Science within the College of Social Science and Public Policy has a rich history dating back to Florida State University’s genesis. While courses exploring government, law, and politics can be found as far back as the very first university bulletin in 1851, the Department of Political Science was established in 1947, when the Florida State College for Women became Florida State University. Under the leadership of Marian D. Irish, Ph.D., the department began with only six faculty members. Dr. Irish would serve as the department chair until her retirement in 1966. The current Political Science Department Chair Brad Gomez, Ph.D., leads the department as it continues to ascend in prestige to this day.
In 1959, the Department of Political Science was merged with the School of Public Administration and renamed to be the Department of Government. With the creation of the new College of Social Sciences and Public Policy in 1973, the department moved out of the College of Arts and Sciences and into a new home in the Bellamy building. In 1982, the department reverted to its original name – the Department of Political Science – which it remains today.
Among the most prominent of the department’s alumni are two Maryland Governors, Larry Hogan and Parris Glendening, Ph.D., Charlie Crist, Rodney Hero, Ph.D., Jeff Kottkamp, and countless community leaders and political figures nationwide.
As of the 2023-2024 academic year, 1,768 FSU students are enrolled in programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The department’s 14,727 alumni go on to have successful careers in fields such as politics, law, finance, consulting, and journalism at companies such as CNN, Deloitte, the Florida House of Representatives, and Google.
Undergraduate Program and Certificates
The undergraduate major in political science is designed to educate citizens and promote their active interest in public affairs, prepare students for teaching and research in political science, and provide a broad background for careers in many forms of government service and politics. The major also offers a pre-law curriculum for students who intend to enter law school. Coursework includes offerings in the general areas of comparative political science, international relations, American government and politics, public policy, and public administration. Students are required to take at least two courses from each of three of these areas. To earn a minor in political science, students must take 15 hours of coursework, at least 9 hours of which must be at the 3000 level or above.
The department offers a Research Intensive Bachelor’s Certificate (RIBC) for students interested in more in-depth study of political methodology at the undergraduate level. The program is a small-group educational experience that requires 12 hours of research-oriented classes and internships. RIBC is limited to 25 students each year with competitive admission. The program also helps to prepare students wishing to undertake research through the University Honors and Undergraduate Research Opportunity (UROP) programs.
Master’s Degree and Combined Pathways Program
The Department of Political Science is home to the Master of Applied American Politics and Policy (MAAPP) program. MAAPP is a leading graduate program providing practical career training in an intellectually challenging environment for individuals committed to making a difference in the world through the political process. The degree is a Master of Science designed for those seeking active careers in various political fields, including campaigns, fundraising, political communications, lobbying, grassroots organizing, and legislative affairs. Established in 2001, MAAPP has over 500 graduates who hold prominent positions in Florida and national politics. The 36-hour non-thesis program was established in 2001 and has over 500 graduates who hold prominent positions in Florida and national politics. Bradley Kile, Ph.D., is the current director of the MAAPP program.
The Combined Bachelor’s/Master’s Pathway program allows advanced, high-performing undergraduate students to take courses for graduate credit while still pursuing their bachelor’s degree. Students accepted into the program may take up to 12 credit hours of graduate courses, which will count toward their bachelor’s degree and a Master of Applied American Politics and Policy upon admission to the program.
Ph.D. Program
The Department of Political Science takes great pride in its doctoral program, which awarded its first Ph.D. in 1957. The program is designed to give personal attention to each student and provides many opportunities for faculty and students to work together on projects.
The political science doctoral program focuses on answering central questions about institutions, behavior, and processes that lie at the core of political science, regardless of field. The department provides students with the skills they need to launch their own research agendas and successful careers through a curriculum of theoretical, mathematical, statistical, and research design. Christopher Reenock, Ph.D., is the current director of graduate studies.
Research and Affiliated Centers
The Department of Political Science is dedicated to the college’s mission of helping students earn “More than a Degree” through applied learning and certificate programs. It boasts both the Research Intensive Bachelor’s Certificate (RIBC) and the Applied Politics & Policy Learning Experience (APPLE), and students can participate in other certificate programs offered by the college, such as the Emergency Management Certificate and U.S. Intelligence Certificate.
The APPLE program is the first in the nation to provide exceptional students with hands-on training in government at the local, state, and federal levels. During their first semester, APPLE students create civic action plans to address issues within Leon County before going on to intern at the Florida Capitol during Legislative Session in the spring. In the summer, students attend the Washington Center in Washington, D.C. and complete an internship there. Past D.C. internship settings for APPLE students have included Capitol Hill, the National Legal Aid and Defenders Association, and the D.C. Bar, among other non-profits, government agencies, and private businesses.
Lonna Atkenson, Ph.D., is the LeRoy Collins Eminent Scholar in Civic Education & Political Science and the director of the LeRoy Collins Institute. The institute is named in honor of former Florida Governor LeRoy Collins and is a non-partisan, statewide policy organization that studies and promotes creative solutions to key private and public issues in the state and beyond. The institute supports research on a broad range of issues, from sustainability and climate gentrification to the state’s pension and financing.
The Department of Political Science’s faculty are some of the brightest minds in the field and have created one of the most vibrant intellectual communities on campus. Last year, a study published by the American Political Science Association (APSA) ranked the department 16th among all U.S. doctoral programs in faculty research productivity.
Distinguished Faculty
The Department of Political Science’s esteemed faculty have contributed to academic literature, served as editors for prominent journals, and made significant strides in the field with their research.
William Berry, Ph.D., who recently retired after 34 years at Florida State, served as both the Syde P. Deeb Eminent Scholar Chair in Political Science and the Marian D. Irish Professor of Political Science. Dr. Berry mentored many students over his tenure and served on over a dozen university and department committees. He has also been a frequent contributor to top political science journals and has been recognized for his work by numerous organizations, including two lifetime achievement awards.
Eric Coleman, Ph.D., is the Henderson Professor of Political Science. Named after Thomas Henderson (B.S. Political Science ’74), the position was established in 2023 as FSU’s first endowed professorship in political science. Dr. Coleman has been teaching courses on public policy and environmental politics at FSU since 2009. His research primarily surrounds environmental governance, investigating how and why people act collectively to solve environmental problems.
Mark Souva, Ph.D., is the Paul Piccard Professor of Political Science. The position is named for the late professor, who taught in the department from 1953 until his retirement in 1993. Dr. Souva specializes in conflict processes, economic sanctions, military power, and military spending. He has been teaching in the department since 2002 and his research has appeared many times in top international affairs journals.
The Department of Political Science has nine professor emeriti who continue to uphold its legacy, including Burton Atkins, Ph.D.; Charles Barilleaux, Ph.D.; Robert Crew, Ph.D.; Thomas Dye, Ph.D.; Scott Flanigan, Ph.D., Henry Glick, Ph.D., John Scholz, Ph.D., William Weissert, Ph.D., and Carol Weissert, Ph.D.
For more information about the department’s current programs and activities, visit coss.fsu.edu/polisci. For more information about our college’s history as we celebrate our 50th Anniversary, visit coss.fsu.edu/50th.