History and Political Science
The History and Political Science program at the University of Maine at Presque Isle offers students a comprehensive curriculum providing an understanding of the diverse and complex forces at play in constructing our modern world. We offer a B.A. in History and Political Science, with specific concentrations in each discipline, as well as a minor in Local History and both a minor and certificate in Russian, European, and Asian Studies. In addition, we offer a B.S. in Secondary Education-Social Studies. Our outstanding faculty is comprised both of committed teachers and nationally-recognized researchers whose broad expertise allows students to gain an understanding of American, European, and non-Western history.
Courses in our History concentration not only teach students a comprehension of past events, but they also help them to analyze and critique complex and multifaceted evidence, to identify bias in contemporary as well as historical sources, and to understand the construction of historical narrative itself. Such skills enable our graduates to pursue a variety of careers that require sophisticated research and analytic skills, critical thought, and the ability to present well-written arguments.
Our Political Science concentration exposes students to a variety of topics and coursework in American government and politics, political theory, comparative politics, and international relations as well as a broad spectrum of ideological perspectives. Whether they become lawyers, executives, civil servants, teachers, or entrepreneurs, we prepare our students to be responsible citizens and talented purveyors of the science and art of politics.
The minor in Local History offers students the opportunity to learn the history of the area in which they live and place it within a larger historical context. Once students have the basic background of Maine and Aroostook County history, they complete the minor with a service learning course that allows them to apply their skills to a project for a community partner. Knowledge and skills gained from this experience can be applied to the history of small communities across the United States. The Local History minor thus offers concrete and marketable skills for future nationwide employment as well as graduate program opportunities in the fields of public history, museum studies, and historic preservation.
The minor in Russian, European, and Asian Studies interdisciplinary certificate program includes faculty from History, Political Science, Philosophy, Education, and Foreign Languages, all of whom possess doctoral degrees in their fields. Recently expanded from the highly successful Russian and Eastern European Studies, a part of the University curriculum for over three decades, this program reflects the increasing importance of the countries of Northeast Asia and the Pacific Rim to global exchange. It provides students the remarkable opportunity to study Russian, Polish, and Chinese languages in preparation for graduate school work as well as careers in institutions as diverse as the State Department and Central Intelligence Agency, as well as Business, International Law, Criminal Justice, and professional education.
