Department of Political Science
Political Science, International Relations and Pre-Law
Advance your political ambitions
Whether spending a semester in Washington, D.C., interning at leading law firms, or interacting with national political figures, our political science department prepares you for a rewarding career in law, politics or public policy.
Over
60%
Alumni who earn advanced degrees.70%
Students who get internships in law or politics.2018
National champions of Pi Kappa Delta debate tournamentTake advantage of every opportunity
With our proximity to Des Moines and our strong connections in Washington, D.C., many of our students complete two internships or more, spend a semester on Capitol Hill or study abroad. Some even do all three.
Get involved at Simpson
When you're on campus, you won't just learn in the classroom. You'll have the opportunity to gain critical thinking, presentation, and leadership skills that will benefit you wherever your degree takes you.
Define your own career path
Discover how Simpson graduates have turned their degrees into productive professional lives.
The best place to be for politics
Because of Iowa's first-in-the-nation political caucuses, every four years we become the center of the political universe. As a student at Simpson, you will have the chance to meet candidates from all parties and all races as they bring their campaigns right to campus. You will have extraordinary opportunities to have a front row seat to history in the making.
If you care about government, if you care about social issues, if you care about changing the world, Simpson is the place for you.
Kedron Bardwell
Department Chair of Business Administration & Economics and Professor of Political Science
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Adrienne Gathman
Department Chair of Political Science and Assistant Professor of Political Science
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Eduardo Magalhães III
Division Head of Social Science, Ruth Harp Chair in Political Science, Director of Latin American Studies and Professor of Political Science
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