“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.

What Can You Do with a Political Science Degree?

Our alumni have gone on to distinguish themselves in numerous other fields by becoming urban planners, communications directors, military officers, intelligence professionals, professors and leaders in many other fields.

Recent graduates have:

• Pursued graduate degrees in political science, political communications, public policy or economics at Alabama, American, Connecticut, East Carolina, George Washington, Georgia State, George Mason University, Maryland, North Carolina-Greensboro, North Carolina State, SUNY-Buffalo, Syracuse, Southern California, Temple, Villanova, Virginia Tech and numerous other institutions
• Entered law school at George Washington, North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Northeastern, Roger Williams, Syracuse, Valparaiso, South Carolina, Wake Forest, West Virginia and many other programs
• Won election to West Virginia’s state assembly
• Directed new media public relations for a large television network
• Became staff members in congressional and senatorial offices
• Joined the national offices of the College Republican National Committee
• Directed a non-profit organization in Syracuse
• Served as the research director and campaign director for the Nevada Democratic Senate Caucus
• Joined the United Way as a program director
• Worked for the National Rifle Association
• Taught English in South Korea
• Served with AmeriCorps
• Worked on Wall Street as an investment bank analyst

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.

Featured Graduate Profiles:

	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.”

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)

The David R. Hayworth College of Arts & Sciences offers the B.A. degree in Political Science. To graduate from High Point University with this degree, students must complete the following:

B.A. in Political Science

Major Requirements: (36 credits):

• PSC 1010 Contemporary Issues and Politics or PSC 1011 Enduring Issues in Political Thought (4)
• PSC 2310 American Politics (4)
• PSC 2019 Political Science Research Methods (4)
• PSC/GBS 2510 Comparing Foreign Political Systems or PSC 2710 International Relations (4)
• 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 (4)

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.