Study and research the power dynamics of the world, and learn how to participate in public and political decision and change.
Just so you know, participate is an especially important aspect of the Augustana experience.
Augustana is in the Quad Cities, a place that includes cities in Illinois and Iowa separated by the Mississippi River. This is an advantage if you want to participate in and learn from local, state and national political campaigns. As an important swing state and home to the Iowa caucus, Iowa brings prominent politicians near or on campus. You can get involved in these campaigns.
Faculty members Dr. Xiaowen Zhang (international relations, special emphasis on politics of world trade and US-China relations), Dr. Paul Baumgardner (public law and American politics), Dr. Katie Madel (public policy and American politics) and Dr. Mariano Magalhães (comparative politics and international relations)
If you’re interested in politics, global affairs, government, legal systems, public policy or political theory, Augustana’s curriculum covers all these topics.
Based on recent years, a political science major at Augustana is likely to:
• Study in Brazil or China for a semester.
• Attend a Model United Nations conference in Chicago.
• Complete an internship with the local, state or federal government.
• Participate in the Politics Club, College Democrats and/or College Republicans. (Each group has strong ties to local parties, candidates and elected officials, which results in opportunities to work on national campaigns and in Congress.)
• Present original research at regional/national conferences under the guidance of faculty members.
At American Model United Nations 2025, Augustana students represented Thailand in a case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). ICJ Advocates Sofia Magalhães ’26 and Diego Gomez-Zamora ’29 won an award for Exceptional Representation of Thailand.
• Augustana offers a major and minor in political science, with classes in a variety of fields: American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, public law and public policy.
• The department is closely associated with Augustana's pre-law program as well as communication studies, business administration, sociology and economics.
• Professors are involved in Model United Nations and Model Arab League groups, and work with Augustana's Freistat Center for Studies in World Peace, which brings international leaders to campus.
• Students have many opportunities to engage in activism and social justice work in the Quad Cities, with a population of more than 400,000 representing diverse populations.
• Augustana’s political science majors have careers in law, business, education, urban planning, community organizing and grant writing. Alumni include state legislators, mayors, city management administrators and lobbyists. Political science alumni are eager to support current students.
Neleigh Rush '25 is the assistant director of annual leadership giving at Penn State University.
Fernanda Rubi '24 is a communications associate at Briya Public Charter School in Washington, D.C.
Riley Scrivner '24 is a J.D. candidate at the University of Illinois College of Law in Urbana-Champaign.
Ayradi Catron '23 is a J.D. candidate at the University of Iowa College of Law in Iowa City.
Molly Fank '23 is a J.D. candidate at at Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, Ohio.
Joe Marcucci '23 is a J.D. candidate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Fatima Dominguez '22 is a community resource specialist at Mental Health American of Greater Houston.
Alyssa Twilbeck '22 is the associate director, shared identity and interest alumni engagement, at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Claire Nguyen '21 is a doctoral student at NYU School of Global Public Health, one of the nation’s Top 5 programs in public health policy and management.
Genesis Li '21 is the alumni engagement coordinator at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton, Mass.
Caroline Wator '20, a political science and public health major, won the grand prize in the Augie Abroad photo contest with this photo taken in Brazil while she was studying abroad.
“Dr. Magalhães always reminded me that I am capable of doing anything I set my mind to. ”Read More
“I was deciding between Augustana and another larger university, and after talking with the political science professors, I knew I wanted to come to Augustana.”Read More
“Dr. Mariano Magalhães and Dr. Xiaowen Zhang introduced me to people who could help me get to where I want to be in life, and for that, I am forever grateful to them.”Read More
The best way to get career-ready? Jump in and do the work. Summer internships give students the chance to use classroom lessons in real-world settings. Meet four of the Augustana students who chose to stay local to share their talents and hone their skills for future careers.
Dr. Elizabeth Lawrence, associate professor of history and co-chair, Asian studies, and Dr. Xiaowen Zhang, professor of political science, led a three-week J-term course in China. Dr. Lawrence shares the historical significance of Augustana students traveling in China — again.
Vikings football team captain Breyden Smith ’26 was named an Academic All-American today, bringing Augustana’s total to 184 and securing its Top 15 ranking among all U.S. colleges and universities.
