Department of Political Science
The UT Department of Political Science provides a comprehensive program of instruction and research across the traditional areas of the discipline: Public Administration, American Government and Politics, Comparative Government and Politics, International Relations, Normative and Traditional Theory, and Empirical Theory and Methods.
The Department strives to offer undergraduate students a balanced curriculum designed to lead to a broad understanding of politics with the flexibility to provide a foundation for careers in government, law, business, and education. Graduate programs provide advanced training that prepares graduates for careers in academia or the public service. The Department believes that it is essential to provide all students with a solid grounding in institutions, theory, and political processes. Students are equipped with the tools to analyze policy issues and to conduct and evaluate research.
The teaching and research of the faculty are unified by a concern for the development, maintenance, and dynamics of democracy as well as the policy problems facing democratic institutions. This policy focus is enhanced by teaching and research relationships with faculty in other departments and institutes across campus.
Department News
- UT delegation, including Political Science professor Yang Zhong, travels to China.
- Team of researchers from Political Science completes report on county government.
- Dr. Brandon Prins has joined the faculty at the rank of associate professor.
- Dr. Matthew Schneider has joinied the faculty at the rank of assistant professor.
![]()
Event Calendar
- None Scheduled

Related Programs
Resources
Contact Information
Department of Political Science
Dr. John M. Scheb
Interim Department Head
1001 McClung Tower
Knoxville, TN 37996-0410
Phone: (865) 974-2261
Fax: (865) 974-7037
Email: polisci@utk.edu

