<p>I would like to know if the Undergraduate Political Sciene Programme is good at Penn? I know it’s nothing when comparing to Columbia’s and Stanford’s (I’m waitlisted by both schools ) but I still heard that it’s quite prestigious, and after reading several issues of SoundPoliticks published by Penn’s PoliSci Department (they’re extremely difficult for me though lol), I believe that the department is quite good.</p>
<p>Anyone who’s gonna major in Penn’s polisci? And to current Penn Student, do you read Penn’s Publication regularly?</p>
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**I know it's nothing when comparing to Columbia's and Stanford's
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**</p>
<p>Sloppy thirds but you want to come to Penn? Find a school whose department you respect. Stay away from Penn if your feelings are that it is a TTT.</p>
<p>I'm an International Relations student, so I'm sure someone knows the department better than I, but IR is really Political Science for manly men, so I'll tell you why its great.</p>
<p>Anyway, our department has great faculty, and they all teach undergrads. Perhaps our most famous professor is Brendan O'Leary, who helped write the Iraqi constitution. Personally, I've had professors who were UN advisors.</p>
<p>Speaking of great faculty, next fall Ed Rendell is teaching a polisci course on elections, which he does every fall that isn't a major election year. Ed Rendell was mayor of Philadelphia for 8 years, and Governor of Pennsylvania for the last 6, as well as chair of the Democratic National Committee. He also gave me Phillies tickets once in 1996, so no bias here. I'm really sad that I can't take his class next semester because it won't help any of my majors, but I'm thinking of auditing it anyway.</p>
<p>In terms of courses, there really is something for everyone, and the concentrations within the major will render one very specialized.</p>
<p>Columbia's department benefits from having SIPA (School of International & Public Affairs) and of course its location in NYC.</p>
<p>Stanford benefits from being one of two or three good schools in the entire western United States.</p>
<p>Given that Penn has neither of those things, its PSCI department is excellent IR in particular has always been a strength (aided in no small part by phenomenal regional studies departments). It is really worthy of more prestige. However prestige takes years if not decades to catch up to the actual quality of a school/department.</p>
<p>Stiteler Hall is an eyesore, but slated for demolition within the next decade as part of the Penn master plan. New buildings are always nice.</p>
) but I still heard that it’s quite prestigious, and after reading several issues of SoundPoliticks published by Penn’s PoliSci Department (they’re extremely difficult for me though lol), I believe that the department is quite good.</p>