The Department of Politics conducts research and teaches courses that facilitate critical understanding of national and international politics. Faculty members seek to instill in their students a theoretical and practical appreciation of the ideas, institutions, and history that shape political life. And they highlight the strengths and weaknesses of different methodologies so that students can evaluate and select the approaches most suited to exploring the topic at hand.

The Department comprises five subfields: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Methodology, and Political Theory. In addition, the Department has a working group focused on Race, Ethnicity, and Gender, open to all faculty members in the department.

RESPECT FOR THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

The Department of Politics fosters a learning environment that respects all students and encourages a range of viewpoints. Students with concerns about the conduct of an instructor within or outside the classroom are welcome to raise this concern, with or without a chosen faculty advisor, to the Department’s Director of Graduate Studies, Director of Undergraduate Programs, and/or Department Chair. Please see the Department Leadership page for contact information.

We aim to create a safe and confidential meeting environment. But in cases that may involve a violation of the University’s policies students should be aware of reporting procedures and requirements (set out under federal law). These policies can be found at this site: https://eocr.virginia.edu/appendixb.

CONTACT US

Mailing Address

Department of Politics
P.O. Box 400787 
Charlottesville, VA 22904

Physical Address

Gibson Hall 183
1540 Jefferson Park Ave
Charlottesville, VA 22903

(434) 924-3192