"The professors expect rigorous and innovative scholarship, but they are always accessible and supportive. They also encourage students to take advantage of Hollins' J-Term internship program. This opened doors to internships at the Colorado Attorney General's Office and the Supreme Court of the United States, but also prepared me to complete a year-long research project on legal representation for criminal defendants who cannot afford legal counsel. I worked at a legal advocacy group in Washington, D.C., and am now in law school at the University of Michigan. Thanks to Hollins' political science program, I'm pursuing a dream I never knew I had."

Lauren Smith '05
J.D. Candidate University of Michigan Law School '11

"The professors encourage students to form their own opinions on issues, creating an environment of rigorous and open academic discourse. My classes were small enough that I could establish a strong rapport with my professors and classmates. This made me feel comfortable expressing opinions and participating in discussions."

Heather St. Clair '07

"Critical inquiry is a foundational skill acquired in political science courses at Hollins. The pedagogies the department's professors employ instill an appreciation for both challenging work and the challenging of ideas. Learning in this environment ultimately allows political science majors to think more creatively and engage traditional political science material in innovative ways. My term paper assignments, for instance, prompted me to theorize from the discipline's intersections rather than limit my research and analyses to a single field."

Emily Abeles '04

"The professors are a fountain of information and exceedingly intellectual, yet they are also personable and understanding. They expect great things from each student and do not hesitate when asked for help. The curriculum is thought-provoking and keeps up with the fast-paced political arena."

Brittany Walker '08