Political Science organizes its undergraduate curriculum around "Career Concentrations." These Concentrations focus on substantive areas in political science including:
- American Political Behavior and Institutions
- International Relations
- Law and Political Theory
- Decision Theory and Data Science
- Political Economy
Each concentration has slightly different requirements. Expand below to see the kinds of careers, topics, and courses fall under each Concentration.
The undergraduate political science curriculum at Duke is divided into five career concentrations for the class of '25 and beyond.
American Political Institutions and Behavior
“American politics” is the largest of the fields in traditional Political Science, and it examines the federal system created by the constitution, the conflict between majorities and individual rights, and how race and identity are expressed in electoral conflicts.
CAREERS: consulting, think tanks, non-profits and other non-governmental organizations, law school, governmental organizations, political campaigns, as well as a broad liberal arts preparation for leadership.
International Relations
“IR” is a traditional field in Political Science, where ideas of "power" and "empire" originated. Modern IR focuses more on collaboration and trade. IR also addresses the conduct and consequences of the use of violence and coercion by state and non-state actors, and the conditions under which the peace and security of states, societies, groups and individuals can be protected.
CAREERS: Government and military service U.S. and abroad, consulting, law school, think tanks, non-profits and other non-governmental organizations, international finance, risk analysis
Law and Political Theory
Political theory focuses on both normative theory and the technical functioning of rules, laws, and procedures. This field interprets, critiques, and constructs philosophical conceptions and arguments concerning morally appropriate and prudent standards and purposes for political actors and regimes. Topics include historically influential theories, the genealogy of political ideas, democratic theory, and contemporary theories of legitimacy, identity, ethics, the good society, and social justice.
CAREERS: Law school, consulting, international organizations and non-profits, as well as a liberal arts foundation for sturdy ethical flourishing in a democracy.
Decision Theory and Data Science
This new concentration follows closely with the existing Decision Science Certificate courses. If you are interested in behavioral economics, game theory, machine learning or neuroeconomics, this concentration will provide an interdisciplinary appreciation for how these (often) separate fields all approach decision making.
CAREERS: Social media, consulting, political campaigns, policy analysis, sales and marketing
Political Economy
This field examines the reciprocal relationships between politics and markets, both within and among countries, using a variety of analytical tools, including those of economics. Its concerns include interactions among economic and political development; cooperation and conflict among nations, groups, and individuals; the distribution of material resources and political power; the effects of political actors and institutions on economic outcomes; the causes and consequences of technological and structural change, growth, and globalization; and regulation.
CAREERS: consulting, government agencies and public service, think tanks, non-profits and other non-governmental organizations, finance, risk analysis, analysis of inequality