Department of Politics and International Relations
The Department of Politics and International Relations exposes students to the study of local, national, and global affairs
The study of politics at Roger Williams covers the institutions, processes, and pre-dispositions by which human affairs are governed, both nationally and internationally.
The program offers students a comprehensive and balanced selection of courses, exposing them to the traditional subfields of the discipline: American national politics, international relations, comparative politics, political theory, public administration, and public policy. Courses are designed to broaden student horizons and to improve student proficiency in critical analysis. Students develop skills that are useful for law school and legal careers, business careers, various international and public policy careers, as well as for careers in the political realm.
Faculty and Staff
Along with teaching courses, our faculty serve as mentors and career advisors to students. Representing scholars and practitioners from around the country, our faculty are skilled in a wide range of national and international affairs.
Degree Offerings
We offer two programs of study which lay the foundation for students to go on to employment and graduate study in various fields such as public policy, public administration, international affairs, and more.
Student Organizations
The Department of Politics and International Relations has three student groups and an honors society. The groups range from Model UN to College Republicans or Democrats and are meant to give students exposure to the political process.
Internships
The Department of Politics and International Relations is the home of RWU's Washington Summer and Semester program. Students may study in the fall or spring semester or in the summer session. They earn 15 credits during the semester and 9 in the summer working at an internship site of their choice and taking two classes. Students live in housing in DC or close by in Crystal City in Arlington, VA. The university works with both the Washington Internship Institute and The Washington Center. In recent semesters, students have interned at the Embassy of Kuwait, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Coast Guard Office of International Affairs, CBS News, the Office of Senator Elizabeth Warren and Washington Parks and People. For more information contact Prof. June Speakman at jspeakman@rwu.edu.
Study Abroad
Department faculty frequently join with their colleagues from other departments to lead short-term faculty-led study abroad programs. Each of these programs provide students with an exciting and enriching opportunity to learn politics, culture, history, and local traditions under close faculty guidance.