Bachelor in Political Science (BA) - Trinity College Dublin

The Bachelor in Political Science (BA) will appeal to students who are excited about exploring the background to current events, the nature and use of power and how decisions are made that impact on wider society.

This program is for students who are interested in having an in-depth knowledge of public affairs, developing critical and much sought after research skills and if their career interests lie in journalism, public service, teaching, public policy, international organisation and/or business.

The study of politics as an academic subject involves, among other things, thinking about how these decisions get made. If it is not possible to keep everyone happy, whose views should prevail and why? If governments do not always make what seems to be the most ‘rational’ decision on economic policy, why not? How much say do ordinary people have in policymaking, and is it feasible to make the decision making process more open? Other big questions we study include issues such as: why don’t democracies go to war with each other? Why do civil wars last so long? Why are ethnic conflicts more difficult to resolve then other forms of conflict?