St. Mary's College Political Science Major, Tenley Martin '03 talks about her summer internship experience. (Academic and internship advisor, Susan Grogan)

Shown left to right: Robyn and Keir (McKay staff members), Canadian Prime Minister Chretien,
Tenley Martin '03 and John McKay

This past summer, I spent five weeks interning in the Ottawa office of John McKay, a Member of the Canadian Parliament. I have to say that it was one of the most fantastic and influential experiences of my entire life. John and his staff were very quick to make me feel comfortable and immediately put me to work. I participated in a wide array of office functions; from answering constituency emails to accompanying him at Justice Committee meetings. While I was there I had one consistent project: to research the Kyoto Protocol and its implications if Canada was to ratify the treaty. I spent all of my free time doing this and, ultimately, I wrote three informative pamphlets (called Ten Percenters) to be sent out to 30,000 members of his constituency. My experiences in John McKay’s office and in Parliament were remarkable both as an experience in the law profession and as an opportunity for personal growth. I would recommend this experience to anyone.

- Tenley Martin

In the second place, the political science program assists students in coming to understand the relevance of politics and its place in the fully human life. The student majoring in political science must gain some knowledge of the facts of politics, but, more importantly, the major must come to grips with the theoretical issues involved in knowing about politics as well as those involved in shaping political life itself. Within the major program students progress from fact to theory to application of theory. Courses are offered in the four principal subfields of political science: namely, American politics, comparative politics, international politics, and political theory.

Students graduating with a political science major would be prepared to continue with graduate study in political science or to pursue professional training in law, journalism, or public administration. Alternatively, a student would be prepared to pursue a career in journalism, business, government, education, or public interest groups.

A student who chooses to major in political science should select an adviser from the political science faculty and, in conjunction with the adviser, plan a program that is appropriate to the needs and objectives of the student. The adviser should be selected no later than the beginning of the junior year.