Meet Our Majors

Meet some of our politics majors.

Rosa Hochschild
Samhita Krishnan
Julian Levy
Anna Kim
Past Majors

 

Rosa Hochschild headshot with brown top

Rosa Hochschild

Hometown: Berkeley, CA
Major: politics

What was your motivation to major in politics? 

During my first semester at Oxy, I began volunteering with a couple of foster care nonprofits that slowly exposed me to more and more of the intersectional struggles that youth and young adults face in L.A. As my perspective broadened, I began looking toward the larger policies that needed to change, and became deeply inspired to major in politics. The classes at Oxy have not only taught me how to interpret the system of governance that already exists, but also how to critically reflect on what needs changing, and what channels political changes occur through.

Did you study abroad? How did it enhance your education?

During my time at Oxy, I have been lucky enough to participate in Campaign Semester as well as a semester abroad in Nepal. Campaign Semester fundamentally shaped my passion for politics, inspiring me to seek a job working in progressive campaigns in California upon my return. The experience of talking to thousands of people with different political backgrounds and being able to learn from inspiring political activists and leaders has not only helped me solidify my personal values and political perspectives, but also taught me how to lead and inspire others. Studying abroad in Nepal, I was able to put these relational skills to use while studying the 2025 Gen Z Revolution, and I am confident that these combined experiences have set me up to be able to understand my own politicization and inspire other young people to create collective change.

Campaign Semester fundamentally shaped my passion for politics, inspiring me to seek a job working in progressive campaigns in California upon my return.

Have you taken part in any student research opportunities through Oxy?

During my sophomore year at Oxy, I was lucky to receive the Anderson Fellowship to do research on the voter suppression I had witnessed in Arizona during my time on Campaign Semester. With this grant, I was able to travel back to Arizona, interview close to 10 of the people I had met during the campaign, and gather voter suppression input from over 500 Arizonian residents to build up my understanding of the impacts. Throughout my project, I was supported by multiple professors in the department including Prof. Freer and Prof. Hale, and I was able to apply these same research skills to study the Gen Z Revolution in Nepal.

What are your ambitions post-Oxy?

After returning from Campaign Semester, I became inspired to engage in political electoral organizing in California, and for the whole of my junior year worked as a staff organizer at the California Working Families Party. I organized for the Yes on Prop 50 campaign, and I supported multiple progressive LA City Council and CA State Assembly candidates in their races. I plan to continue this work post-grad. One race that I worked on, as a supporting campaign manager, was Ada Briceño’s race for CA Assembly D67, and this was the direct product of my Campaign Semester experience working for Unite Here Local 11—the union for which Ada is a co-president. Oxy's politics department is designed incredibly, with a lot of classes being connected to organizations or leaders in L.A., and I am confident that it is due to the community-engaged nature of my classes that I have been able to find my place in Los Angeles politics after only two years of living in the city.

Samhita Krishnan headshot with long brown hair

Samhita Krishnan

Hometown: Palo Alto, CA
Major: politics

What was your motivation to major in politics?
Definitely Prof. Freer’s "Los Angeles Politics" class. I got into journalism because I wanted to better understand the community around me, and her class helped me understand the city I live in: how city-county relationships work, how bureaucracies operate, and how the city charter shapes it all. Before that class, Los Angeles felt like a sprawling system I could only see in pieces. She has helped me see how the pieces fit together, and why so many problems fall into the gaps between agencies and jurisdictions. I use that knowledge every day in my coverage of Los Angeles. When I read through a city report, I know which questions to ask and who actually holds the power to make a change. That class turned my curiosity about my community into a real understanding of it.

What I love most about the liberal arts experience is that it hasn’t asked me to wait until graduation to start. I am already doing the work.

What are your ambitions post-Oxy and how has the liberal arts approach helped to put you on this path?
I want to become an investigative journalist covering policy, government, and law enforcement, and what I love most about the liberal arts experience is that it hasn’t asked me to wait until graduation to start. I am already doing the work. As community news editor at The Occidental and as someone who documents neighborhood council meetings, I spend a lot of my week in public meetings, reading agendas, and figuring out how decisions made in small rooms ripple out into people’s lives. My politics classes give me the framework to make sense of what I am seeing. Because Oxy is such a close-knit community, I have been connected with alumni who are reporters and editors at The New York Times, The Atlantic, and NPR. They have been generous with their time and advice, and those conversations have shaped how I think about the kind of reporter I want to be. A connection I made here also helped me land an internship at my hometown newspaper this summer. A liberal arts education also gets you comfortable moving between disciplines, and that is exactly what investigative reporting asks of you: one story might require you to understand a budget, a legal process, and the history of a neighborhood all at once.

Take advantage of everything being in L.A. has to offer. The city is often the best classroom you will find.

What is the vibe of the politics department?
Accessible and quick to get you where you want to be. Professors here genuinely want to hear about your goals, and they will point you toward the opportunities, people, and funding that can help you reach them. Thanks to resources like the Anderson Fellowship, I am able to intern at LAist, NPR’s Los Angeles affiliate, during the school year, which means I get real newsroom experience while still taking classes. The department overall is a treasure trove of resources and professors who will get you places and challenge your thinking in ways you wouldn’t expect. Class discussions push you to defend your assumptions, and that habit has made me a sharper reporter. My advice to anyone considering the major: go to office hours, say yes to opportunities even when they feel a little out of reach, and take advantage of everything being in L.A. has to offer. The city is often the best classroom you will find.

Julian Levy headshot in front of an "LA Votes" backdrop

Julian Levy

Hometown: Glendale, CA
Major: politics

What was your motivation to major in politics?

I have a vivid memory of my dad taking me to a polling place back when I was in elementary school, sticking the “I Voted” sticker that he gave me on my bunk bed, and looking forward to the day when I could vote myself. Years later, I was disappointed when I realized I would be exactly five days too young to vote in 2024, so I decided to sign up to be an election worker at my high school. For me, working those long shifts, setting up voting booths, and counting hundreds of ballots gave me a real appreciation for the kind of unglamorous work that keeps our democracy running. 

I’ve always maintained a real curiosity about politics and government, but what really inspired me to major in politics was the feeling that through my civic participation, I could actually make a difference in my community. Many of the ballots that I counted were from friends and classmates, some of whom later told me they would have never voted had there not been a familiar face there to help them with the process or encourage them to register to vote in the first place. I’ve often been reminded of the value of a political education as I strive to continue making a difference, and I believe that majoring in politics at Occidental has benefitted me greatly. 

What really inspired me to major in politics was the feeling that through my civic participation, I could actually make a difference in my community.

Can you describe your working relationships with politics professors? Are there any standout programs you’ve participated in? 

I'm thrilled to be participating in the department’s Campaign Semester program, and I doubt I would have chosen to move across the country to work full-time on a political campaign if I hadn’t felt supported by the politics faculty every step of the way. I grew up about a ten-minute drive away from Occidental, so moving to Pennsylvania for Campaign Semester was a big deal. Professors Freer and Dreier, who run the program, did a lot of work to help prepare me for the rigors of a full-time campaign job. They also have been continually helpful as I learn about our political system up close, offering insightful feedback as I reflect on my experience in weekly journal entries. 

Prof. Freer is also my academic advisor. She has consistently gone out of her way to help me navigate college and my political campaign role, from helping me brainstorm how to approach my application for a scholarship program to giving me advice on my job during office hours over Zoom, three time zones away. In my experience, our politics faculty are incredibly responsive, approachable, and committed to their students’ success. 

I chose Occidental because I believed that its liberal arts approach would help me pursue such a career in politics without sacrificing my other interests.

What are your ambitions post-Oxy and how has the liberal arts approach helped to put you on this path? 

After I graduate from Occidental, I plan to attend law school. Working on one of the most hotly contested political races in the country has put me face-to-face with some of the ugly realities affecting our democratic process, from rampant election misinformation to voter suppression efforts. I take a lot of inspiration from the lawyers and public advocates who have and continue to stand up against threats to our civil rights and civil liberties. In my political career, I hope to take action in defense of such rights and liberties, and I believe that a deep understanding of the law will equip me to do so, whether that’s as a civil rights lawyer or as a public servant in elected office. 

I chose Occidental because I believed that its liberal arts approach would help me pursue such a career in politics without sacrificing my other interests, culminating in a college experience rich in its academic and creative diversity. This has been my genuine experience since I enrolled. The freedom of a liberal arts education, including the opportunity to take classes in fields from history to economics, has allowed me to view the political problems I hope to tackle through an interdisciplinary lens. That perspective will surely prove invaluable in a field where a complex approach is often required, as political problems are rarely simple. Moreover, I’d be hard-pressed to come up with any activity I’ve pursued at Occidental, from writing for the newspaper to serving in student government, that has not helped guide me toward a successful career in politics.

Anna Kim headshot on beach at sunset

Anna Kim

Hometown: Irvine, CA
Major: politics  Minors: public health, philosophy, interdisciplinary writing 

What was your motivation to major in politics?

Before arriving at Oxy, I knew I was interested in pursuing law school but was unsure of what I might want to study during my time here. My uncertainty was reflected in the course schedule of my first semester, a wide assortment of classes from different departments. This included the class "Law and Society" with my now-advisor Prof. Acuña, which I had signed up for completely unaware that the class fell in the politics department. Across our readings and discussions on the relationship between law and critical race theory, feminism, and justice, I fell in love with the possibility for law and politics to expand my understanding of the world and the life prospects of others. I felt the urge to learn more and took Prof. Freer’s "Race and American Politics" class the following semester where we examined the legal construction of race, its evolution across history, and the role it plays in present-day electoral politics. Once again inspired by our discussions, I was certain I wanted to continue taking classes in the politics department. 

Did you study abroad? How did it enhance your education?

I studied abroad in the fall semester of my junior year in Seoul, South Korea. During my time abroad I was able to take classes not offered at Oxy, including classes that focused specifically on Korean politics, philosophy, and society. Not only did these courses allow me to stay on track by fulfilling major and minor requirements, they also enhanced my understanding of U.S. politics and society. By comparing the largely collectivist ideology of Korean society to the individualistic American ideology, I reconsidered principles of government and democracy that I had previously taken for granted, which led me to recognize how cultural values can shape politics. I can now approach new political systems and beliefs with an open mind and greater impartiality to see the nuance in political differences and judge the efficacy of opposing policies.

Through the liberal arts approach, I’ve come to appreciate how studying different disciplines offers new perspectives and a more holistic understanding of complex issues.

What are your ambitions post-Oxy and how has the liberal arts approach helped to put you on this path? 

After Oxy I hope to attend law school, which provides me with the flexibility to pursue any major in undergraduate school. Instead of focusing solely on politics, I’ve tried to take advantage of the liberal arts nature of Oxy by taking classes in a variety of different departments and I collected three minors along the way: public health, philosophy, and interdisciplinary writing. Each of these areas of study reflect a unique interest of mine, and yet I’ve found countless points of overlap between them. Whether it be evaluating the ethics of health policy or using rhetoric to shape community health behaviors, my understanding of each field has been cultivated by my concurrent growth in the others. I feel prepared to engage in the rigor of law school because I’ve had the opportunity to develop a well-rounded perspective of politics and the world. Through the liberal arts approach, I’ve come to appreciate how studying different disciplines offers new perspectives and a more holistic understanding of complex issues.

 

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To see more Meet Our Majors profiles, visit the main page. 

Past Majors

James Steinberger

James Steinberger

Hometown: Hockessin, DE
Major: politics

What was your motivation to major in politics?

The 2016 election was my political awakening. I was still quite young, but I followed the election very closely, and had lots of discussions about it with my parents and others. I realized that politics determines almost everything of consequence in our world: war and peace, the distribution of wealth and resources, public health, climate change. I was fascinated by campaigns and by the mechanics of governing, and over time, it occurred to me that understanding politics—how political power is acquired and wielded—is essential knowledge and a prerequisite to social change. The 2016 election demonstrated the vulnerability of our democracy, something that I came to understand even more deeply just prior to matriculating to Oxy, when I served as an intern with Students for Voting Justice, a non-profit combating voter suppression in the South. I realized that we were in an existential fight for our democracy, and I ultimately decided to major in politics because I want to be part of that fight.

Every professor I have had in the politics department has been excellent. They have all been superb teachers and mentors who are completely invested in the success of their students.

Can you describe your working relationships with politics professors?

One of the reasons I chose Oxy was because of the small class sizes and the opportunity to form meaningful relationships with faculty. Every professor I have had in the politics department has been excellent. They have all been superb teachers and mentors who are completely invested in the success of their students. Last semester, for instance, I took Research Methods in Politics and Public Policy with Professor Elizabeth Wiener. Not only was she willing to see students outside of her normally scheduled office hours, but she even spent an entire Saturday on campus to help us with our final research projects. In the politics department, that kind of dedication is the norm.

In addition to my great experience in Research Methods, I have particularly enjoyed taking classes that explore the politics of other countries. As our world becomes ever more globalized and other nations vie for global hegemony, it is critical to understand the motivation and actions of other states. A course that did a phenomenal job of this was Contemporary Chinese Politics with Professor Tsung Chi, which helped me to understand how China’s complex and turbulent past has shaped its current political culture and ambitions. I likewise came away so much more knowledgeable about international affairs thanks to Professor Mariano Bertucci’s class, What Countries Want and Why. We are living through a period of global upheaval, and Prof. Bertucci underscored the importance of trying to understand, in a nuanced way, what motivates the actions of, say, a Putin or a Xi.

I have become so much better at dissecting nuanced issues and forming persuasive arguments; skills that will serve me well not only as a lawyer but throughout my life, as well.

What are your ambitions post-Oxy and how has the liberal arts approach helped to shape these ambitions?

After graduating from Oxy, I intend to pursue a law degree. I am passionate about social justice and bringing the reality of America more in line with the promise of America, and it has become clear as a politics major that the legal sphere is the best way I can do that. After working as a lawyer, I eventually want to use my legal background to transition to another industry, such as government, with the ultimate goal of being elected to Congress. I think this is the beauty of the law; the skills and mindset required to succeed transcend the legal field and are universally applicable. The liberal arts approach to education has played a significant role in shaping these ambitions. Taking classes across multiple disciplines is meant to foster intellectual curiosity and critical thinking skills, and this has certainly been the case for me at Oxy. Engaging with a diverse range of disciplines, from Urban and Environmental Policy to Diplomacy and World Affairs, has not only deepened my understanding of the societal structures and human behaviors that underpin legal issues but has also honed my ability to approach problems from multiple angles. I have become so much better at dissecting nuanced issues and forming persuasive arguments; skills that will serve me well not only as a lawyer but throughout my life, as well.

Do you have any advice for a student considering a major in politics?

My first piece of advice is to be informed—to have a solid grasp of American and international politics. Professors in the department want and expect students to keep up with the news and to know what’s happening in the world, and politics majors tend to be very knowledgeable about current events, which makes for really good classroom discussions. Another piece of advice is to take advantage of classes outside of the major. I have really benefited from taking courses in other disciplines. This past semester, I was able to take Introduction to Public Health and learn about resistance to government intervention in the lives of the citizenry simultaneously with Introduction to Political Theory, where I learned about the genesis of various theories about government involvement in public life. Taking these classes at the same time allowed me to draw throughlines between ostensibly distinct subject matters, allowing for a more nuanced understanding of contemporary issues. Lastly, politics majors tend to be very passionate and enthusiastic; if you are considering majoring in politics, talk to us—we are happy to share our insights about the department.

 

Jazzy Chhabria

Jazzy Chhabria

Hometown: Irvine, CA
Majors: politics, economics; minor: cognitive science

Can you describe your working relationships with politics professors?

Because classes at Occidental rarely exceed 25 students, we have a unique and amazing opportunity to build one-on-one relationships with our professors. Undoubtedly, one of the coolest aspects of our school is that, by the second week of classes, essentially every single one of your professors knows your name and sees you as an individual in the classroom, as opposed to one of many in a lecture hall. Due to this, I have built close relationships with most of my politics professors, since visiting them during office hours with a question about a lecture or confusion on an essay often results in some discussion about my plans going forward, what I find compelling about the class, or my thoughts on current world discussions. My favorite politics class thus far is Who Wins and Why? Electoral Systems in Comparative Perspective, taught by my now-adviser Professor Isaac Hale. It was fascinating to dive deeper into how elections work around the world and the different reforms being tossed around to fix an extremely complicated and often messy set of challenges.

By the second week of classes, essentially every single one of your professors knows your name and sees you as an individual in the classroom, as opposed to one of many in a lecture hall.

What do you find most compelling about studying politics?

I find the intersections between politics and my other major, economics, incredibly compelling. The social sciences all study people, the patterns of their actions, and the reasoning behind these actions, but each from different perspectives and aspects of the human experience. Boiling it down, politics looks at how people interact with power while economics explores how people grapple with wealth. My favorite moments are when we talk about dynamics relating to wealth structures in my politics classes and discuss governmental economic policy measures in my politics classes. The two majors tie together really well and have enhanced my perspective on the world around me. Furthermore, I enjoy the tangibility and applicability of the content in my politics classes. The skills and knowledge developed in politics classes can be applied to other classes, higher education, or in the workplace. I like how much we draw on examples and history in examining human behavior and determining how these patterns can help improve imperfect structures and institutions. Finally, it’s really cool that oftentimes what we discuss in the classroom is happening somewhere in the world, and by making these connections to current affairs, my literacy and consumption of the news have improved!

What are your ambitions post-Oxy and how has the liberal arts approach helped to shape these ambitions?

Upon receiving my degree from Oxy, I plan to attend law school and get my J.D. I want to be an attorney who uplifts marginalized voices and uses the legal system as a vehicle for social change. Following my tenure as an attorney, I would hope to transition into a career in politics, either on the government or campaign side, but ideally as a specialist in economic or advocacy policy. The liberal arts approach has been critical to not only shaping these ambitions but also building the intellectual foundation to set me up for success in my goals. Firstly, though I already came into Oxy wanting to be an attorney, my time here has helped me confirm and refine that goal and understand the spectrums of politics that exist beyond campaigns and leaders—such as research and election systems. Moreover, every politics class I have taken has helped me hone my reading, writing, critical thinking, research, and argumentation skills. These abilities are essential to law school and my career goals, and all are a result of constant practice and the feedback I receive from my professors. For instance, I worked as an Undergraduate Legal Intern at the Public Defender’s Office last summer, and the politics classes I had taken leading up to that summer left me well-prepared to succeed in that position. Overall, the Occidental Department of Politics has evolved my thinking style and intellectual abilities to best prepare me for my postgraduate pursuits.

The liberal arts approach has been critical to not only shaping these ambitions but also building the intellectual foundation to set me up for success in my goals.

Do you have any advice for a student considering a major in politics?

My advice for a student studying politics would be to utilize the various opportunities unique to studying this discipline at a liberal arts college, and in particular at Oxy. If you’re interested in researching a topic you’ve always been curious about, reach out to a professor to see if they already have a project going that you can join or start your own with their help via the Undergraduate Research Center. If you are super intrigued by elections and campaigns, make sure to participate in Campaign Semester. If you’re a pre-law student like me interested in hands-on experience, explore the Community Law Internship 8-credit class. Opportunities that may seem normal to use are exceptionally unique and only possible because we are in LA—so take advantage of Oxy’s programs and apply them where your passions lie. Finally, I strongly encourage every politics major to build relationships—with peers, professors, and alumni. We have a large community of driven, passionate individuals, and building relationships with them can help you grow in so many ways that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to in a classroom.

 

Eric Stump

Eric Stump

Hometown: San Mateo, CA
Major: politics, minor: public health

What was your motivation to major in politics?

The first politics class I took at Oxy was called “Law and Society” with Professor Alec Arellano. Focusing on the Supreme Court and its most famous cases and outcomes, I feared the material would just be a rehash of the AP Government class I had just taken. Thankfully, the class was a riveting exploration of one of the more obscure branches of our government, but what really convinced me of the merits of the politics major was the final assignment for the class. After examining so many different court decisions and their ramifications, we had to design a policy memo that would improve one specific aspect of policing. The open-ended nature of the assignment really let students demonstrate their research skills and innovative ideas related to the topic, and gave us far more agency in designing our final policies than I expected. Almost every other class I’ve taken in the department has offered similar opportunities for open-ended research that lets students write about what actually interests them about politics.

Can you describe your working relationships with politics professors?

The politics department absolutely wouldn’t be the same without its extremely knowledgeable and passionate professors. Both in and out of the classroom they care about individual students and their advancement, and will provide you with all the resources you’ll need to succeed. Some of the best classes I’ve ever taken have been with the politics department at Oxy, particularly Black Political Thought with Professor Regina Freer and Research Methods with Professor Isaac Hale. These classes each challenged me to broaden my horizons as a student and a writer, and made me consider facets of political science equally as complex as they are important.

I find the intersection of theory and practice to be the most interesting part of politics. In order for any of us to produce meaningful change, we first have to understand why governments and individuals act the way they do.

What do you find most compelling about studying politics?

I find the intersection of theory and practice to be the most interesting part of politics. In order for any of us to produce meaningful change, we first have to understand why governments and individuals act the way they do. Both the theoretical and evidence-based aspects of politics can help us develop that kind of understanding, informing the movements that push for more equitable forms of government and economics. Politics is such a critical aspect of determining the form and function of nations across the world, so understanding the theory behind it has always been fascinating to me.

What are your ambitions post-Oxy and how has the liberal arts approach helped to shape these ambitions?

After Oxy, I plan to attend graduate school in order to get a master’s in Library and Information Science, something I never would have considered before attending classes here. The breadth of topics covered in Oxy classes, spanning 17th-century opera to neuroscience, has unearthed my passion for research and writing in a way that only a liberal arts education could. In addition, the politics department itself is structured in a way that ensures every student experiences the full range of topics encompassed within “politics”, which helped me learn just as much about the practical applications of laws as their theoretical underpinnings. I wouldn’t be the student I am today without the challenging and diverse coursework offered under the politics department at Oxy.

I wouldn’t be the student I am today without the challenging and diverse coursework offered under the politics department at Oxy.

Do you have any advice for a student considering a major in politics?

I would say to come into the major with an open mind. Many of the classes in the politics major will contest the viewpoints you already hold, and challenge you to back up your beliefs with well-formulated, evidence-based arguments. Don't let this scare you away though, as you'll undoubtedly come away from the major with the ability to view politics as the complicated and nuanced topic it actually is. I would absolutely recommend at least checking out an introductory-level class and seeing if the politics major is for you.

 

Rachel Aujero

Rachel Aujero

Hometown: Fresno, CA
Major: politics, minor: religious studies

What was your motivation to major in politics?

I came to Oxy with uncertainty about what career I wanted to pursue. I explored several different departments on campus by taking introductory classes. It wasn’t until my spring semester, when I took Professor Elizabeth Weiner’s introductory American Politics and Public Policy, that I felt excited about a specific department. I grew up in a county with a different political viewpoint than most of my state, which originally motivated my interest in politics. In Professor Weiner’s class, we learned about the mechanisms that dictate how politicians pass policy and the why behind voter patterns and legislator behavior. Our final project was the truly inspiring moment when I knew that politics was the major for me. We were assigned to write a “puzzle paper” on a state that had policies or an election that puzzled us and to break down the make-up of its political system. This assignment gave me an “a-ha!” moment where I realized that there could be a deeper explanation for why people vote the way they do or how policies are dictated. It ignited my passion for academia and learning, and is leading me to explore a career in politics or law.

Can you describe your working relationships with politics professors?

The politics department would not be the extraordinary major it is without the faculty. The professors in our department are not only experts in their field, but they are the most helpful, encouraging, and grounded people I’ve had the pleasure of learning from and working with. There has not been a time where I’ve had a question/concern about a class topic or broader social issue that one of the professors has not taken the time to give me a thoughtful and well-researched answer. I’ve been lucky enough to learn from and work alongside Professor Wiener. I took her Research Methods in Politics and Public Policy and U.S. Public Policy classes. Both are highly rigorous and exposed me to aspects of politics that I was originally intimidated by while giving me a concrete understanding. Specifically, the Research Methods in Politics and Public Policy course taught me how to conduct quantitative research by gaining abilities in coding, literature reviews, and theory development. This course exposed me to the world of politics research, which I now want to pursue in my academic career. Professor Wiener not only challenged me, but encouraged my passions in politics and was incredibly helpful when I was navigating coding for the first time. Not only was I able to develop an understanding of carrying out quantitative research through coding, but I am now her preceptor for Research Methods in Politics and Public Policy.

The intersectionality of the department provides students with a holistic political education and can prepare them for numerous opportunities post-Oxy.

What do you find most compelling about studying politics?

As a politics major, you are required to study in the five subfields of the major. The department is an intersection of theory, comparative politics, research, public law, and international affairs. The intersectionality of the department provides students with a holistic political education and can prepare them for numerous opportunities post-Oxy. By studying politics, I’ve challenged myself in classes I love and worked alongside professors who support me.

What are your ambitions post-Oxy and how has the liberal arts approach helped to shape these ambitions?

Since joining the politics major, my sights for my future have shifted, and I am now set on pursuing a career in law. I’ve been able to take courses like Professor Alec Arellano’s Constitutional Law that gave me a sneak peak of what I can expect when I attend law school. I hope to pursue a career with an NGO, specifically writing legislation defending women’s rights and reproductive rights. I’m currently in my second year at Oxy and feel passionately about my future. However, that was not always the case. I came to Oxy with no idea what career I was going to pursue, so I was originally a STEM major thinking I would pursue medicine. The liberal arts approach, however, led me to explore all of my interests, like religious studies, history, and politics. I wouldn’t have been afforded the opportunity to truly explore my interest in politics if the liberal arts approach hadn’t encouraged me to look outside my intended academic focus. When I decided to study politics, I was confident in my decision because I had explored all other potential majors of interest.

I wouldn’t have been afforded the opportunity to truly explore my interest in politics if the liberal arts approach hadn’t encouraged me to look outside my intended academic focus.

What is the “vibe” of the politics department?

You aren’t just a student in the politics department. You aren’t just attending classes and taking notes. You’re being equipped with skills that will translate in your academic pursuits outside of politics and your future after Oxy. The “vibe” of the politics department directly reflects that because to the professors you aren’t just a face in their class. The professors have created a department that champions building community and forging relationships. I’m very grateful for the relationships I have formed with my professors, and I am equally grateful for the relationships I’ve developed with my fellow politics majors. Some of my closest friendships have been made through taking courses in the department and engaging with departmental events.

Contact Politics
Johnson Hall 317

Administrative support: J 101A

Phone: (323) 259-2947
politics@oxy.edu