Undergraduate: Home | Prospective | Current | Research | Contact Us
Political Science
201 Pond Building
814-865-7515
Visit Us
Students pursuing the bachelor of arts degree in political science receive a general education in the liberal arts and an introduction to the complexities of the political process. This major offers opportunities to develop an advanced understanding of the federal, state, and local governments of the United States, as well as other nations. Students gain practical and theoretical understandings of government, political conflicts, and the political philosophies that underlie them.
The Department of Political Science offers a minor for students enrolled in other majors.
RELATED EXPERIENCES
Students are encouraged to explore the University's education abroad programs. Independent study courses are available, and arrangements may be made for an internship, such as working in a legislative office. The Semester in Washington program affords many opportunities for our majors to gain a detailed knowledge of the U.S. government, including internship opportunities.
CAREER DIRECTIONS
Government and business today are looking for college graduates with analytical and writing skills as well as an understanding of the way people interact in different types of organizations. The Political Science major, within a liberal arts framework, offers the student an opportunity to acquire these assets. Knowledge of governmental structures is increasingly important even for those working in private businesses.
Graduates often enter civil service careers at the international, federal, state, or local levels; business management traineeships; professional graduate programs in law, urban studies, public administration, foreign area studies, or journalism; or graduate study in political science. Some occupations in which Political Science graduates are employed include: arbitrator, attorney, budget analyst, community relations specialist, district court judge, federal judge, foreign service officer, intelligence analyst, journalist, lobbyist, management trainee (banking, finance, retail), news reporter, paralegal, political aide, political speech writer, politician, professor, public administrator, public policy analyst, state legislator, state budget officer, urban planner, and United States senator.