Political Science

“High Point’s political science professors guided me into one of the country’s best known graduate programs in international development policy. The phenomenal instruction and advising I received during and after graduation played a critical role in helping me to build the confidence and skills that I would need to land my first professional job in my chosen field.”

– Christine Elliot, Class of 2007

Program Overview

The study of political science at High Point University is much more than just learning about political events and figures. Majors choose our program because they want to build the critical research, writing and analytical skills required to practice, engage and make a difference. They develop close relationships with faculty members, who are committed to mentoring them throughout their undergraduate education and beyond. As a result, our alumni go on to highly competitive graduate and law schools, and they build successful careers in a wide range of areas including electoral and advocacy campaigns, government service, legal affairs, policy analysis and other fields that require well-honed leadership, critical thinking and communication skills.

A Focused Curriculum

Our engaging and challenging program guides students to develop the necessary tools to make an immediate impact in the professional world. First-year majors begin to develop these skills in the major’s introductory seminars, which emphasize how political scientists think about and propose solutions to important social, economic and political problems. As they advance through the degree, majors choose from an intriguing mix of courses on the American political system, international politics and the research methods that social scientists use to explain and change the world around them. During their final year, all majors complete a capstone experience that involves either a semester-long political internship or substantial research project, which they publicly present at a symposium. In order to reflect our students’ diverse interests, the program’s curriculum is intentionally flexible: majors choose from a variety of options for most of their required hours, and most complement their degree with a second major, a semester of study in a foreign country or one or more political internships.

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.

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

Major Requirements	36 credits
University Core Requirements	50 credits
Electives	42 credits
TOTAL	128 credits

Program Overview

A Focused Curriculum

What Can You Do with a Political Science Degree?

Recent graduates have:

Featured Graduate Profiles:

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

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

B.A. in Political Science

TOTAL

128 credits

Requirements for a B.A. in Political Science (36 credits)

CONTACT THE OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS

Political Science In the News

Political Science at HPU

	Kyle Grusholt, ’14 – Law school at UNC-Chapel Hill “I was able to gain the leadership and communications skills to help me in any situation that could arise in the real world, in part due to outstanding faculty and peers. They provided me with the support and encouragement to seek topics that intrigued me intellectually, and follow those interests no matter how difficult the road ahead may seem.”

	Ashley Prindle, ’14 – Law school at The University of New Hampshire “Through my coursework, the caring and supportive faculty, and my two advisors, Dr. Yanus and Dr. Ingram, who were both very knowledgeable about graduate school, I was able to achieve my goal of attending the University of New Hampshire School of law.”

	Tyler Steelman, ’14 – Graduate school at Appalachian State University for master’s degree in political science “The experiential learning curriculum has given me confidence in my abilities and I know that I am ready for my next step. Also, my work as Student Government President has given me the opportunity to work on my communication and leadership skills to enforce the concepts I learned in the President’s Seminar my freshman year.”