<p>Is Swarthmore's program in either econ or poli sci really good? If so, what are the distinguishing features about it?</p>
<p>More Swarthmore graduates (per capita) go on to get PhDs in Political Science than the graduates of any other college or university in the United States.</p>
<p>More Swarthmore graduates (per capita) go on to get PhDs in Economics than the graduates of any other college or university in the United States.</p>
<p>My son is a recent Poli Sci Honors grad. He believes that the department is quite good for a school of it's size, although he says that, as everywhere, there are a couple of professors who are "clunkers." They have also lost a couple of professors recently to retirement. His experience with the Economics department is also that it is quite strong, perhaps even more so than the Poli Sci. department at this moment.</p>
<p>To "piggyback" on interesteddad's statistics, my S is currently in a Top 5 Ph.D. program in poli sci.</p>
<p>If you have any more specific questions about the department, please ask. He is home on break now and can probably give very specific answers.</p>
<p>James Kurth is still teaching his wildly popular defense policy course this year, even though he "retired". I think that has more to do with his wanting to spend more time on his writing. He founded a conservate foreign policy think-tank publication a few years ago.</p>
<p>Economics and Poli Sci are two of Swarthmore's signature departments. They are also two of Swarthmore's largest departments, which has some pluses and some minuses. With any luck, the market collapse will reduce the numbers of econ majors at every college and university.</p>
<p>Which "wildly popular" course taught by James Kurth are you referring to?</p>
<p>Defense Policy</p>