Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science

  • Overview

    An innovative curriculum taught by professors with real-world experience in law, government, political campaigns and media, allows students an experience no other North Carolina school can offer.

    Focusing on governmental organizations and public policy, a Political Science major can qualify you for a career in business, law, consulting, public service, journalism, urban planning or government relations, among other fields. The curriculum focuses on the development of skills such as analyzing data, written and oral communication and effective decision-making.

    A hallmark of the program is the Raleigh Experience, an innovative new program putting WPU students in the middle of the exciting world of North Carolina politics. Students spend their final semester of college working in four different full-time internships in the heart of the state capital, gaining valuable experience and building an important professional network.

    POLITICAL SCIENCE (BA) – SAMPLE 4-YeaR PLAN

    CAMPBELL 3+3 POLITICAL SCIENCE (BA) – SAMPLE 4-YEAR PLAN

    Study Political Science at WPU
    Experience #OurRaleigh, home of the SBI, General Assembly, and Governor’s mansion. Go far in your career without having to go very far at all
  • Courses

    The courses listed below are for the Academic Catalog and are subject to change. Please reference the Academic Catalog for further information and course descriptions. If you are a current student, please reference the catalog in which you come under.

    Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

    Liberal Education Curriculum 49 credit hours
    Political Science Core Courses 20 credit hours
    Political Science Elective Courses 20 credit hours
    General Electives 35 credit hours
    Total credit hours for the B.A. in Political Science 120 credit hours

     

    Political Science Core Courses 20 credit hours
    PSC 201: American Government 4
    PSC 230: International Relations 4
    PSC 240: Political Theory 4
    PSC 270: Law and the Legal System 4
    PSC 461: Social Science Research Methods 4
    Political Science Elective Courses (choose 5)  20 credit hours
    PSC 305: Campaigns and Elections 4
    PSC 306: Media and Politics 4
    PSC 307: Congress 4
    PSC: 312 Comparative Politics                                            4

    PSC 313: American Foreign Policy

    4
    PSC 315 : Women in Politics                                               4

    PSC 341: American Political Thought

    4
    PSC 370: Constitutional Law 4
    PSC 380: Public Policy

    PSC 295 or PSC 395: Special Topics

    PSC 392 or 492: Directed Study

    PDS 491: Academic Internship II

    4

    1-4

    1-4

    1-6

     

    General Electives 35 credit hours
    Must complete 35 elective credit hours 35

     

    Minor

    Minor in Political Science 18 credit hours
    PSC 201: American Government
    Choose five (5) Political Science courses
  • Faculty
    Beth Kusko
    Associate Professor of Political Science; Program Director of Criminal Justice, Political Science, and Pre-Law
    Associate Professor of Political Science
  • Careers

    Several opportunities exist for WPU students interested in government service, along with a desire to study contemporary issues, people and their behavior and the law. Students can work in city management and urban planning, international organizations, non-profit institutions and organizations. Political science majors develop skills such as analyzing data, written and oral communication and effective decision-making.

    Recent internships include:

    • North Carolina Republican Party
    • North Carolina Democratic Party
    • Mothers Against Drunk Driving
    • Guardian ad Litem, NC
    • District Attorney’s Office
    • North Carolina General Assembly
    • Urban Ministries, NC
    • Boyce & Boyce law firm
    • Tarlton & McEnery law firm

    Recent employment by political science majors:

    • Wages and Hours Investigator, United States Department of Labor
    • Coordinator, United States Department of Veteran’s Affairs
    • Disability Determination Specialist, Social Security Administration, Disability Determination Services
    • Aide, North Carolina Republican Party

    Recent graduate school acceptances:

    • UNC-Chapel Hill School of Law
    • New England School of Law
    • East Carolina University, Public Administration
    • Campbell University School of Law
    • Thomas Cooley School of Law
    • North Carolina Central University School of Law
    • Stetson School of Law
WPU Student, Deja Gainey
WPU Student, Deja Gainey
#PrepareAtPeace

It was Deja’s lifelong dream to work for the U.S. Department of State. See how she landed an internship of a lifetime in Washington D.C.

Deja Gainey Heads to Washington D.C.
Political Science Major
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