Political Science, History, and a World of Opportunity
Explore government, politics, and the interaction between differing cultures, societies, and values through Keuka College's political science program.
A background in political science is valuable for citizenship and political action, as well as for future careers in government, law, business, media, or public service.
Real-World Experience — Each and Every Year
Real-world, hands-on experience is an important part of your Political Science and History degree.
The Keuka College Field Period® gives you the chance to have four separate internship, travel abroad, or research experiences — starting your freshman year.
Program Overview
You’ll learn analytical tools and gain extensive knowledge in four main subsets of the discipline:
- Europe and the world
- American society and government
- Foreign affairs and international relations
- Public policy and administration
The Political Science and History program at Keuka College gives you a holistic view of the policies and practices that govern our world of politics, and creating active, engaged citizens.
Learn More About Political Science and History
For more than 30 years, Keuka College students, alumni, and friends of the College have enjoyed traveling for Field Period® with faculty from the political science and history program. Having a Ph.D. historian or political scientist lead a group learning process opens doors to the significance of culture, architecture, political events, and history itself.
Students and professors have traveled to Eastern European cities in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Italy, England, Ireland, France, Hungary, and Romania.
Keuka College also encourages students to apply to the Fulbright Scholar Program, a federally-funded international educational exchange program that helps build relationships between American academics, policy expert, and students and their foreign counterparts.
In addition to your Field Period® experiences, there are several other opportunities to gain real-world experience in your political science and history program.
You can join the Political Science, History, and Pre-Law Club and participate in several annual activities including voter registration drives, visits to law schools, and trips to statehouses serving as local, state and national seats of government.
You can also participate in the Washington Internship Program, a semester-long internship in Washington, D.C. during the fall or spring semester. Spend time in the nation’s capital studying, working, and earning up to 16 academic credits. This internship is open to sophomores, juniors, or seniors.
Throughout the political science and history program, you’ll have the opportunity to work with your professors on joint research projects for presentations at academic or professional conferences.
Dr. Carolyn Balzer
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Academic Credentials
- SUNY Upstate Medical University
- M.D.
Dr. Janine Bower
Professor of Criminology/Criminal Justice
Chair, Institutional Review Board
Academic Credentials
- Western Michigan University
- Ph.D.
- Western Michigan University
- M.S.
- Indiana University at Fort Wayne
- B.A.
Dr. Angela Graves
Associate Professor of Political Science
Academic Credentials
- Syracuse University
- Ph.D.
- Central European University
- M.A. in Political Science
- Babes-Bolyai University
- B.A. in Political Science
Biography
Angela G. Graves received her Ph.D. from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs of Syracuse University in 2011 and is currently an Associate Professor of Political Science. Prior to joining Keuka College, she taught at the University of North Dakota and Idaho State University.
Originally from the Washington D.C. area, Angela moved to Eastern Europe after high school to study post-communist transition firsthand. She received her B.A. (2002) in Political Science from Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, Romania and went on to Budapest, Hungary to obtain an M.A. (2003) in the same field from Central European University. Although her research is primarily grounded in the field of American Politics, it continues to reflect her international interests by focusing on the new challenges posed by globalization for national institutions such as the U.S. Supreme Court. Angela has presented her work at the American Political Science Association and the Law and Society Association’s annual meetings, and her publications include 2010 and 2013 articles in the Journal of Law, Politics, and Society and a chapter in the 2015 Wiley Handbook of Law and Society.
In addition to teaching, Angela is an Intercultural Coach for Cartus, a corporate relocation firm, and both Tour Guide and Services Ambassador for Experience! The Finger Lakes' Corning office.
Dr. Nicholas Koberstein
Associate Professor of Psychology
Academic Credentials
- University of Connecticut
- Ph.D.
- University of Connecticut
- M.S.
- Eastern Connecticut State University
- B.S.
Dr. Melis Kural
Associate Professor of Sociology
Academic Credentials
- University at Buffalo
- Ph.D.
- University at Buffalo
- M.A. in Sociology
- SUNY Geneseo
- B.A. in Sociology
Dr. Christopher Leahy
Professor of History
Academic Credentials
- Louisiana State University Baton Rouge
- Ph.D.
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
- M.A.
- Washington and Jefferson College
- B.S.
Dr. David Pak Leon
Associate Professor of Political Science
Academic Credentials
- University of Minnesota
- Ph.D.
- University of Minnesota
- M.A.
- University of Maryland College Park
- B.A.
Dr. Jessica MacNamara
Associate Professor of Sociology
Academic Credentials
- University at Buffalo
- Ph.D.
- SUNY Albany
- M.A.
- SUNY College at Buffalo
- B.A.
- Finger Lakes Community College
- A.A.
Dr. Rich Martin ’05
Division Chair
Associate Professor of Criminal Justice
Academic Credentials
- Regent University
- Ph.D.
- Boston University
- M.S. in Criminal Justice
- Keuka College
- B.S. in Criminal Justice Systems
Dr. Josh Staley
Assistant Professor of Psychology and Esports Management
Head Coach, Esports
Academic Credentials
- Stephen F. Austin State University
- Ph.D.
- Stephen F. Austin State University
- M.A. in Psychology
- Stephen F. Austin State University
- B.S. in Psychology
Dr. Tom Tremer
Professor of Criminology/Criminal Justice
Academic Credentials
- Indiana University Pennsylvania
- Ph.D.
- Fordham University
- M.A.
- SUNY Oneonta
- B.A.
Penny Waugh
Administrative Assistant
Contact Information
