At St. Xavier’s College, the Department of Political Science was established in 1963. After a brief discontinuation in 1977, it was reintroduced in 1993, and has been actively functioning since then. This is reflected in the growing response of the students to this field of study.

Since the Academic year 2019-2020, the department has been offering B.A. Honours in Political Science, along with the existing B.A. General program. Under NEP 2020, from academic year 2023-2024, the department offers Single Major Honours in Political Science along with Double Majors Honours with History, Economics, Philosophy, Konkani and Marathi.

The department emphasizes on interactive and student-oriented teaching methods, ensuring an engaging learning experience. Third-year students are guided through research projects that focus on public institutions and policies. Over the years, the student strength in the Honours program has been steadily increasing, reflecting a strong interest in the subject.

The faculty of the department have been awarded two Minor research projects in the academic year 2022-2023 by GIPARD and the D. D. Kosambi Post-Doctoral research fellowship for the years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023.

Department e-mail ID: politicalscience@xavierscollegegoa.ac.in

The department fosters a dynamic learning environment, where students can integrate theoretical concepts with practical applications through a range of engaging Co-curricular programs. These include Certificate courses, guest lectures, seminars, and research paper presentations to enhance academic engagement. Workshops and field visits to institutions such as the Goa Legislative Assembly, Raj Bhavan, Goa University, INS Kadamba Naval Base, museums, panchayats, courts, and jails, offering insights into the practical aspects of Political Science. Participation in national and state level inter-collegiate competitions, allowing students to showcase their knowledge and skills. Through these initiatives, the department continues to foster critical thinking, analytical skills, and a deeper understanding of political systems, preparing students for diverse career paths in governance, public administration, law, and academia

The subject exposes the students to diverse areas of political theory and practice, directly addressing the pressing contemporary societal and political concerns. Students of Political Science develop analytical expertise in democracy, governance, public administration, political philosophy and foreign relations. Graduates in Political Science are well prepared for careers in law, research, teaching, public administration, civil services, social work, diplomacy, media & journalism, and non-governmental organisations. Those interested in higher studies can pursue postgraduate programs at Goa University, particularly at D.D. Kosambi School of Social Sciences and Behavioural Studies, Manohar Parrikar School of Law, Governance & Public Policy, and School of International Relations and Area Studies.

The department has started a 30 hours Certificate course on ‘Civic Engagement: Empowering Citizens’ in association with IQAC, St. Xavier’s College in the academic year 2024-2025 for the students of the college. The enrolment for the September 2024- February 2025 batch is 54.