Political science provides students with analytic skills and a broad background so as to become informed citizens, with the knowledge necessary to understand the complex world in which they live. The mission of the Stanford Political Science department is to provide students with a solid grasp of the American political system and other political systems within the context of global forces, international conflicts, social movements, ideological systems and diversity. Courses in the major are designed to help students gain competency in the primary subfields of political science including American and comparative politics, international relations, and the theory/philosophy of politics; to introduce students to a variety of research methodologies and analytical frameworks; and to develop students' written and oral communication skills.