Idaho State University Department of Political Science

Idaho State University Department of Political Science Mission: Advance understanding of politics & policy through research, discussion and interactions. We offer the BA, BS, MA, MPA, and DA degrees.

Vision: Support excellence in research and teaching about politics & government. Degrees: BA/BS, MA, Master of Public Administration, and Doctor of Arts. Within the College of Arts & Letters the Department of Political Science has one of the largest undergraduate programs and one of the largest graduate programs, being one of only three departments having a doctoral program. We have eight full-time faculty, three adjunct faculty, one active Professor Emeritus, a post-doctoral researcher, over 110 undergraduate majors, and over 45 graduate students. Our student organizations include the Pi Sigma Alpha Honors Society, the Pi Alpha Alpha honors society, the Law Club, and the ACLU Club. Our department and our programs are actively involved with the International Studies, American Studies, Women's Studies, and Secondary Education programs. Every semester over 1,200 students are enrolled in political science courses. Political Science majors at ISU benefit from a faculty dedicated to teaching excellence, research and scholarship, and public service. A diversity of courses in all the major subfields of political science is offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The faculty is student friendly and very accessible, and our classes are small enough to allow for serious discussions and intellectual interaction. Student advising is an important part of the student-faculty relationship and internship opportunities are available.

Congratulations Political Science Doctoral and Masters Students!Class of 2025
05/12/2025

Congratulations Political Science Doctoral and Masters Students!
Class of 2025

Wrapping up with our final Senior Seminar Presentation! ✨Brooke Reinholtz presented her Senior Project, “Free Speech in ...
05/04/2025

Wrapping up with our final Senior Seminar Presentation! ✨Brooke Reinholtz presented her Senior Project, “Free Speech in a Divided Nation: Analyzing Brandenburg v. Ohio.” Her research examined the landmark 1968 U.S. Supreme Court case and the ongoing democratic challenge of balancing free speech, political tolerance, and hate speech.

Brooke plans to take a gap year before applying to law school. 🎓

Alec Ladas presented his final Senior Project for POLS 4460, titled “Confirmation Bias, Filter Bubbles, and Gen Z.” 💬 Hi...
05/03/2025

Alec Ladas presented his final Senior Project for POLS 4460, titled “Confirmation Bias, Filter Bubbles, and Gen Z.” 💬 His project explored how social media shapes narrative formation and influences public opinion among members of Generation Z📱

Alec will graduate from Idaho State in December. 🎓

In her Senior Seminar presentation, Jennifer Vidales discussed her Senior Project which was developing a media campaign ...
05/01/2025

In her Senior Seminar presentation, Jennifer Vidales discussed her Senior Project which was developing a media campaign for political organizing 📣 She highlights her political science degree prepared her to work with community groups and emphasized the power of narrative in uniting members and promoting the group’s message ✊

Andrew Casey presented his Senior Seminar project, 🏚️ A Brief Reflection of a Fractured System 🏚️ His research focused o...
04/30/2025

Andrew Casey presented his Senior Seminar project, 🏚️ A Brief Reflection of a Fractured System 🏚️ His research focused on homelessness in Idaho, particularly in southeast Idaho, and offered policy recommendations to address this pressing issue ✍️

Andrew plans to continue this work in the ISU MPA program ✨🐅

In POLS 4460, Senior Seminar, Julia Miller presented her research on narratives surrounding the role of insurance compan...
04/30/2025

In POLS 4460, Senior Seminar, Julia Miller presented her research on narratives surrounding the role of insurance companies in the 🏥 US healthcare system, 🏥 Julia is studying how other countries deal with health care and insurance and she will suggest policy reform.

Julia will return in the fall for her final semester as an undergraduate at ISU 🐅

Senior Seminar presentations kicked off this week with Olivia Mikkelson presenting her research on the important topic o...
04/29/2025

Senior Seminar presentations kicked off this week with Olivia Mikkelson presenting her research on the important topic of a governmental response to cyberbullying and how this issue impacts Generation Z 📢

"Privacy & Regulations: Cyberbullying, Censorship, & Moderation""Privacy & Regulations: Cyberbullying, Censorship, & Moderation."

Olivia will pursue a career in law enforcement after graduation.

04/29/2025

This spring semester, students in the POLS 4460, Political Science Senior Seminar, tackled some of the most urgent and complex political issues of our time:

The rise of political polarization—and how we might move beyond it
How cognitive biases and narratives shape what we believe
The role of political tolerance and empathy in a divided society
Whether stories can heal our divides—or deepen them
If the world is actually getting better—or if cynicism clouds our view
And how Gen Z can lead the way toward a more hopeful, connected civic future
The students didn’t just write traditional research papers—they also created podcasts, infographics, and videos that reflect both their knowledge of political science and multimedia creativity.

The students were joined throughout the semester by seven inspiring alumni, who shared their career journeys in public administration, law, lobbying, graduate school, and more—opening doors to what’s possible beyond the classroom with an undergraduate degree from the Department of Political Science at Idaho State University.

Starting this week, the students begin presenting their Senior Projects. Their work reflects on what an Idaho State University political science degree offers to the world.

In his Senior Seminar project, "Cognitive Biases and Judicial Decision Making: Implications for Crime and Punishment," J...
04/29/2025

In his Senior Seminar project, "Cognitive Biases and Judicial Decision Making: Implications for Crime and Punishment," Jacob Palacios examined the role of cognitive biases 🧠 in judicial decision making, with a particular focus on how these biases influence outcomes in cases involving crime and punishment 🔍 His research sheds light on the intersection of cognitive biases and the legal system.

Jacob plans to apply to law school after completing his degree in Fall 2025 🎉

In his Senior Seminar project for POLS 4460, Noah Rutherford explored the powerful connection between popular media and ...
04/25/2025

In his Senior Seminar project for POLS 4460, Noah Rutherford explored the powerful connection between popular media and political opinion formation. His study analyzed how Oscar-winning films serve not only as cultural touchstones but also as influential political narratives that shape public understanding of complex issues. The title of his research is Political Narratives in Action: How Oscar-Winning Films Shape Public Perception. Noah will be attending the University of Idaho College of Law in Fall 2025!

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