The minor in political science, offered by the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, is designed to help students gain an understanding of theory, practice and policy underlying political processes locally, nationally and internationally and to train students with the research skills necessary for the analysis of complex sociopolitical issues locally and globally.

The program strives to meet these goals by offering students learner-centered coursework in political theory, American political institutions, and international relations and world affairs. These goals are accomplished by offering a flexible program of coursework focusing on international urban, race or ethnic sociopolitical areas, internships, and service-learning or action research opportunities. Under the direction of faculty, students focus on intellectual and concrete policy issues in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, Arizona, the Arizona-Mexico borderlands, the Americas and the world.