Political science, broadly defined, is the study of political power and the ends to which that power is used. It is "scientific" in the sense that there is a systematic body of knowledge about political behavior which can be studied empirically, normatively, and experientially. It is "political" in the sense that it concentrates on the institutions and processes of political systems that exercise power in an authoritative way. But in a broader sense, political science also studies the larger issues of justice and the ways in which the use of political ower advances or retards the achievement of justice.
Political science prepares students for possible careers in public administration; federal, state, and local elected office; public policy analysis; lobbying, journalism, political consulting, law, and graduate work leading to teaching, research, or administration at the university level.