An information session Wednesday will explain how politics and business find harmony in a new political science track to be offered in the spring.
Assistant professor of political science McGee Young will be hosting the session on the new major track at 7 p.m. in Lalumiere Hall 216.
Currently, the political science department offers three major undergraduate tracks: general politics, law and politics and global politics. The business and politics track will bring the total to four for the spring 2005 semester.
Young was hired in fall 2004 by the university specifically to tie the two majors together for Marquette's students.
"The information session is being held to talk about the new courses, both mine and some others," Young said.
He hopes the new major will interest a variety of different undergraduate students, including business, political science and economic majors.
Some of the new courses that will be offered include "The Political Philosophy of Capitalism," "Business and Politics," "Politics, Economics and Democracy," "The Politics of Regulation" and "Business in American Politics: A Historical Approach."
"The idea behind this is we have a core of political science faculty that somehow relates to business and political science," Young said.
Ryan Hanley, assistant professor of political science, will teach "The Political Philosophy of Capitalism," built around Adam Smith and the champions of capitalism.
"I'm extremely excited to have an opportunity to contribute to this novel interdisciplinary project which will enable students to see the relationships between theory and practice," Hanley said.
Young and Hanley said they hope to see a lot of interest in the new track.
Students in the College of Business Administration also said they saw how the major can benefit students.
"Many business people go into politics," said Stephanie Gilles, College of Business Administration sophomore. "Senators often need business background and many places like a mix, so this would be arts and sciences mixed with business."
More information is available from Young at 288-3296.