March 28, 2024
Hannah Ratliff, a native of Kitts Hill, Ohio, has gained a broader understanding of the importance and relevance of political theory and civic engagement through Shawnee State University’s Political Science program.
“My understanding of political theory has grown a lot, and there’s a lot more to it than I realized,” she said. “I’ve made a lot of really good friends and was able to get a lot closer to my professors due to the small class sizes.”
Ratliff, who serves as a Student Trustee on the university’s Board of Trustees, can transfer the skills she’s learned in the classroom directly into the real world. She spent a summer working as a campaign manager for Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s election campaign.
“As a campaign intern for Frank LaRose, I was able to travel to different counties getting hands-on experience and seeing the entire process of an election campaign,” she said. “I really got to see the statistics and the nitty gritty things that come with an election campaign.”
Ratliff credits the program for being so versatile in her field, whether it’s as a Student Trustee, examining political documents, or helping manage a campaign. She now has her sights set on a master’s in education.
“I originally wanted to go to law school,” she said. “Now I’m planning to pursue a master’s degree in education and eventually want to become a professor of political science. It’s a perpetually changing field, with endless amounts of research to be done.”
SSU’s Political Science program teaches students to think critically, write and speak effectively, and participate in politics actively. Courses focus on the academic study of politics, power, justice, and government. The major offers courses in four subfields: American Politics, International Relations, Comparative Politics, and Political Theory. Graduates of the program can find careers in federal, state, and local governments, law, business, international organizations, nonprofit associations and organizations, campaign management and polling, journalism, electoral politics, graduate education, and research and university teaching.
Now a senior, Ratliff is enjoying being in a very exciting field. She emphasizes the importance of being civically engaged.
“Being civically engaged and well educated and understanding the news that is out there is very important,” she said. “Every vote matters. Even the smallest amount of civic engagement can make a change.”
To learn more about the Political Science program at Shawnee State University, visit shawnee.edu/political-science.