WELCOME TO POLITICAL SCIENCE

Students choose to study politics because they want to be challenged to make a difference in the world. The political science program at High Point University thus centers on the development of strong technical skills and an advanced understanding of political behavior and its consequences for many of the most important issues that shape our lives and the world.

The PSC curriculum is designed to give students many course choices, while ensuring that they develop the must-have tools for today’s competitive professional job market or graduate school. First year students begin to hone these skills in one of the major’s introductory seminars, which emphasize how political scientists understand and offer solutions to fundamental social, economic, and political problems. Other foundational coursework guides majors through an mix of courses on the workings of the American political system, the methods that political scientists use, and foreign politics. During their final year, majors have the choice of completing their major with either a political internship or our senior thesis seminar, where each major works one-on-one with a faculty member to writes and publicly present a substantial research paper. Along the way, most majors and minors complement their formal coursework and in-class simulations with hands-on experience gained from structured internships, a semester abroad, or studying in Washington through either the department’s May travel course or with in the HPU-Washington Center program. While each year a large share of our program graduates choose to head straight into professional programs or tp graduate school, many alums go directly into professional positions with political organizations or other fields related to their degree.

We welcome your feedback. If you have any questions about our program or need any assistance, please contact any member of our faculty.

What Can You Do with a Political Science Degree?

Political Science alumni have gone on to distinguish themselves in numerous fields, becoming politicians, policy and economic analysts, business owners, attorneys, urban planners, high school teachers, communications directors, military officers, intelligence professionals, professors and leaders in many areas inside and outside of government.

Graduates who are ready for professional careers

Recent program graduates seeking work right after college have:

• Gone directly into applied politics, including being elected as the youngest member of the West Virginia’s state assembly, taking positions with top political strategy firms in Washington, and serving as the strategy assistant for the director of 2012 Republican presidential nominee’s campaign
• Taken professional positions in the private sector as a new media public relations for a national cable television network, an account executive for the NBA’s Bobcats, and a banking analyst for JP Morgan in Manhattan
• Started a successful company specializing on marketing through social networking sites
• Joined RTI-Research Triangle International (one of the nation’s premier research institutes) as a survey specialist and interview trainer
• Become staff members and in congressional and senatorial offices, the National Rifle Association and at the US Department of Energy
• Served as the research director and then campaign director for the Nevada Democratic Senate Caucus
• Taken public services positions, including joining the United Way as a program director, serving with AmeriCorps, and joining Ralph Lauren as a community outreach coordinator

Alumni who are prepared for graduate training in a wide range of fields

In most years, around half of our department’s graduates have chosen to continue their professional training in either law school or masters  and doctoral programs that specialize in campaign management, law, economics, foreign affairs, public policy, international business, history or political science. Our curriculum prepares graduates to flourish in even the most demanding of graduate programs by helping them to build first-rate writing, research and analytical skills.

In recent years, department alumni have enrolled in law school at:

• Charlotte School of Law
• Elon
• George Washington
• Liberty
• Northeastern University
• Roger Williams
• Syracuse
• University of Kentucky
• University of South Carolina
• Valparaiso
• Villanova
• Wake Forest

Recent department graduates have entered graduate and professional schools across the nation, including:

• American University (intl. affairs, public administration, and political science)
• College of Charleston (public administration)
• Duke University (divinity school)
• East Carolina University (public administration)
• George Mason (international security)
• George Washington University – The Elliot School (intl. affairs)
• Georgia State (political science)
• High Point University (history)
• Institute of World Politics – Washington (intl. security)
• Moravian (divinity school)
• North Carolina State (economics)
• Southern Methodist University (divinity school)
• SUNY-Buffalo (political science)
• Syracuse University – The Maxwell School (intl. development)
• Temple University (economics)
• Texas A&M – George Bush School of Government (diplomacy, international affairs)
• University of Alabama (public administration)
• University of Connecticut (political science)
• University of Kentucky (history)
• University of Maryland (cybersecurity)
• University of North Carolina at Greensboro (public policy, history)
• University of North Texas (military history)
• University of Pittsburgh (international development)
• University of Southern California – The Annenberg School (communications)
• Villanova (political science)
• Virginia Tech (public administration)
• Wake Forest (secondary education)
• Yale (divinity school)

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE B.A. IN POLITICAL SCIENCE (36 credits):

• PSC 1010. Contemporary Issues and Politics or PSC 1011 Enduring Issues in Political Thought
• PSC 2310. American Politics
• PSC 2019. Political Science Research Methods
• PSC/GBS 2510.Comparing Foreign Political Systems or PSC 2710. International Relations
• PSC 4099. Senior Seminar or PSC 4810-4815. Student Intern Program. The internship must be undertaken in the junior or senior year and credit is subject to departmental approval

*16 credits of political science courses outside of the classes taken to meet the requirements listed above.

General elective coursework may include independent study coursework, special topic classes, and a maximum of four credits in the Student Intern Program if the student is not using internship hours to meet other major requirements.

Other Requirements: Majors are required to take at least three courses at the 3000-level or higher; at least one class must be at the 4000-level.

Students will be advised in electing additional courses that will complement their career goals.