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The Department of Political Science, Legal, and Urban Studies offers a variety of programs that help students build successful careers at the city, county, state, and federal levels, as well as in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Graduates work in Washington DC or in government offices around the world, while others have been elected or appointed to public office themselves. The department also has a high success rate of placing students in prestigious graduate and law school programs, including doctoral programs in political science.
Alumni in arts, humanities, and social sciences are employed or in graduate school within 6 months after graduation
Average starting salaries in Political Science, Legal, and Urban Studies (NACE)
Noteworthy Jobs and Mid-Career Salaries with 8+ Years of Experience (PayScale)
Legal studies equips students with the skills necessary to succeed in law school or any law-related career. Our courses emphasize critical reading, writing skills, verbal communication, and research proficiency. Legal studies promotes the values of public service and social justice, while helping students build a strong foundation for a legal education. Students are exposed to important facets of the law and the legal profession, such as: case law analysis, statutory construction, constitutional interpretation, and jurisprudence.
View academic program requirements and course descriptions in the University Course Catalog:
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The major in political science is a comprehensive social science program that allows students to build a core foundation of knowledge in both domestic and international affairs. The program is designed to provide students with the conceptual, theoretical, and research tools that will enable them to understand, participate in, and change the institutions and practices—whether on the local, national, or international level—through which people make the decisions that affect their lives. It offers students the opportunity to take a variety of courses in U.S. politics, public policy, political theory, law, international studies, political behavior, diversity studies, and political economy.
Accelerated program:
Forensic Studies is an interdisciplinary minor encompassing five departments. Students take courses in forensics, criminal justice, psychology, law, and the natural sciences. This program integrates different theoretical perspectives regarding the identification and collection of evidence, laboratory analysis, criminal behavior, crime scene investigation, civil liberties, and constitutional law.
Legal studies equips students with the skills necessary to succeed in law school or any law-related career. Our courses emphasize critical reading, writing skills, verbal communication, and research proficiency. Legal studies promotes the values of public service and social justice, while helping students build a strong foundation for a legal education. Students are exposed to important facets of the law and the legal profession, including: case law analysis, statutory construction, constitutional interpretation, and jurisprudence. The Legal Studies Minor is an abbreviated version of the major.
The minor in Middle East studies prepares students to understand and engage with a region of great cultural, economic, and political importance. This is an interdisciplinary program, with courses drawn from eight different departments (languages and cultures, art, Asian studies, geography, history, philosophy, political science, and sociology) across two different colleges (College of the Arts and Communication and College of Humanities and Social Sciences).
The minor in political science provides students with an abbreviated survey of the political science program that exposes them to some of the conceptual, theoretical, and research tools that will enable them to understand, participate in, and change the institutions and practices—whether on the local, national, or international level—through which people make the decisions that affect their lives. It offers students the opportunity to take a variety of courses in U.S. politics, public policy, political theory, law, international studies, political behavior, diversity studies, and political economy.
The minor in public policy and administration introduces students to the structure, politics, process, and logistics of organizations, programs, and policies in the public sector (governmental and non-governmental). Students will critically examine the key challenges facing contemporary practitioners in the public sector and learn about potential challenges on the horizon. Thus, applied problem solving is a core component of the minor. It is expected that students will develop sound foundational knowledge of the work of the public sector and greater awareness of careers in the public sector via exposure to classic and contemporary texts and relevant case studies. This minor is especially beneficial to students who desire a program of study that allows them to apply the civic knowledge and critical thinking skills developed within the liberal arts and social sciences toward the examination of specific challenges and skills required within the modern public sector.
Learn to develop innovative and collaborative solutions for public benefit with the Master of Public Policy online program. Coursework will teach you to analyze the policy process, consider its impact on diverse populations, and design ideas that resolve widespread issues. Explore areas of applied policy—including urban, labor, and economic sectors—while building your knowledge of immigration, social inequality, and public management. You will also study policy writing for government, nonprofit, and private consulting.
You'll study with diverse faculty who are specialists in local, national, and international politics with expertise in political theory, American government, public policy, comparative politics, international relations, constitutional law, Latin American politics, research methods, urban science, and forensic studies. The Department is also home to the University’s pre-law program, which provides the foundational legal knowledge and critical thinking skills for success in law school. Students can earn selection in honor societies including Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science Honor Society) and Phi Theta Sigma Honors Law Fraternity. They can also participate in the Political Science Club, Model United Nations as well as study abroad programs.
In our political science, legal, and urban studies programs, students learn in-demand skills that employers have identified as critical for job candidates, including:
Our graduates are prepared for a wide range of careers. Legal Studies: Preparation for law school or graduate school, as well as careers in court administration, law office management, human resources management, dispute resolution, business, local, state, or federal government, and nonprofit and non-governmental organizations. Political Science: Careers in the public sector, non-profit sector, and the private sector, including electoral politics, education, business, law, journalism, government service, and nonprofit service, as well as graduate school or law school. Accelerated BA/MPP in Political Science and Public Policy: Policy analysts, program managers, legislative aides, researchers, public relations officers, lobbyists, human rights workers, security personnel, social studies teachers, and political journalists. Alumni have gone on to graduate school/law school, including Seton Hall, Rutgers, Fordham, Quinnipiac, Villanova, Duke, Loyola Marymount, University of Miami, and many others.
Our professors are proud practitioners in their fields and love to share their expertise beyond the classroom. Mentorship is at the core of our department, and it’s our goal that every student work directly with a faculty member to expand their knowledge and worldview.
Political science, litigation paralegal at DiFrancesco, Bateman, Kunzman, Davis, Lehrer & Flaum, PC
And we're ready to help you grow. At William Paterson, we provide students with the skills, knowledge, and experience they need to forge forward as a powerhouse—both in the classroom and in their careers. Apply today to discover your potential.
William Paterson University has again been awarded first place among New Jersey campuses of a similar size for student-voter registration and commitment rates in the November 2025 general election. The achievement was announced by NJ Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way during the 8th annual Ballot Bowl awards ceremony, held November 17 at the Statehouse in Trenton.
The Ballot Bowl is a statewide, nonpartisan voter registration and engagement competition established by the Lieutenant Governor to increase civic participation among NJ college students. Each fall, campuses across the state compete to register the most voters and secure the highest number of commitments to vote, with results measured relative to campus size.
William Paterson’s top ranking in its division – for the second year in a row – reflects the University’s ongoing dedication to civic learning and engagement.
This year’s Ballot Bowl efforts at WP were led by Donna Minnich Spuhler, Director of Campus Activities, Service, and Leadership; Gary Marks ’10, MA ’13, Reference and Outreach Librarian; and Barbee Edwards ’25. Edwards, who earned her bachelor’s degree in May and is now pursuing a master’s in public policy at William Paterson, works on campus as a civic engagement coordinator through AmeriCorps.
“We are incredibly proud of our students for earning the top spot in this year’s Ballot Bowl,” says Minnich Spuhler. “This recognition reflects William Paterson’s strong commitment to empowering students to become active, informed participants in our democracy.”
This work is part of William Paterson’s American Democracy Project (ADP), directed this year by Ryan Rebe, chairperson and professor of political science, legal, and urban studies.
Lt. Governor Way, who delivered the keynote address and presented awards during the ceremony, highlighted the impact of the Ballot Bowl initiative in strengthening youth participation in New Jersey’s elections and applauded campuses for their efforts to build lifelong civic habits.
