Political science has a well-deserved reputation as the preeminent field of study for students considering legal education. The emphasis on understanding the nature and role of law in our public lives, on critical thinking about political issues and institutions, and on learning to express one's thoughts clearly on these matters, make a degree in Political Science an excellent gateway to the study of law. Whether their career goals are in public leadership, litigation, law enforcement, private practice, or even if they are not really sure what they are, the department invites students to consider its program as a place to work and learn. Along with a number of courses that specifically focus on the law, the Department of Political Science offers a broad array of related classes on politics and the different forms and functions of government. It also offers extensive for-credit internships in professional legal environments, pre-law advising, a thriving majors association, and connections to a network of campus resources for the prospective student of law. With a total faculty of more than twenty and more than a half dozen professors involved in studying and teaching about different aspects of the legal environment, the department has the resources to help students get what they need.

Ohio University political science graduates regularly are admitted to the nation’s most prestigious law schools, receive scholarships and fellowship offers to outstanding graduate schools, and have achieved success in a variety of careers, including the federal government, state and local governments, law, journalism, education, and the business world.