Political Science - B.A.
The Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science empowers students to be engaged global citizens and informed consumers of information who are competitive in a range of careers. Graduates work in the public and private sectors across the United States and around the globe. Many also go on to graduate programs or to law school.
Students in the major are provided internship and study abroad opportunities, including two semester-long, 15-credit hour internship programs, one in Washington, D.C., and one in Columbus, Ohio. In addition, the Department of Political Science offers study-abroad courses in multiple countries during the summer, and students often also take advantage of Kent State programs in Florence, Italy, and Geneva, Switzerland. More information can be found on the Department of Political Science website.
The Political Science major comprises the following concentrations:
The American Politics concentration investigates the political context of life in the United States in courses on public opinion, elections and the media, as well as Congress, the presidency and the courts.
The International Relations-Comparative Politics concentration focuses on international policy and politics, including aid and development, energy and oil, human rights and regions of the world (e.g., Latin America, Middle East, Russia).
The General concentration allows students to design their own specialization rather than choosing a specific area to concentrate.
The Public Policy concentration explores how governments address major policy questions such as health care, environmental protection and foreign policy. Courses introduce students not only to policy questions and implications, but also to the skills involved in policy analysis.
Campus Information
Kent Campus
Intakes
- April
- Oct
Application Processing Time in Days: 30
Minimum English Language Requirements
| English Level Description | IELTS (1.0 -9.0) | TOEFL IBT (0-120) | TOEFL CBT (0-300) | PTE (10-90) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expert | 9 | 120 | 297-300 | 86-90 | |
| Very Good | 8.5 | 115-119 | 280-293 | 83-86 | |
| Very Good | 8 | 110-114 | 270-280 | 79-83 | |
| Good | 7.5 | 102-109 | 253-267 | 73-79 | |
| Good | 7 | 94-101 | 240-253 | 65-73 | |
| Competent | 6.5 | 79-93 | 213-233 | 58-65 | |
| Competent | 6 | 60-78 | 170-210 | 50-58 | |
| Modest | 5.5 | 46-59 | 133-210 | 43-50 | |
| Modest | 5 | 35-45 | 107-133 | 36-43 | |
| Limited | 4 | 32-34 | 97-103 | 30-36 | |
| Extremely Limited | < 4 | < 31 | < 93 | < 30 |
Job Opportunity Potential
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Demonstrate critical thinking and analysis skills.
- Demonstrate advanced written and oral communication skills.
- Demonstrate advanced understanding of national and international issues and political systems.
- Demonstrate multicultural literacy.
- Demonstrate competence with quantitative statistical and qualitative analysis tools.
PSW Opportunity
Post-Study Work visa or permit, allowing international students on F-1 visas to work in the US after completing their studies, typically through Optional Practical Training (OPT).
Eligibility:
To be eligible for OPT, students must have been enrolled full-time in a US educational institution for at least one academic year and be seeking work related to their major.
Duration:
Students can apply for up to 12 months of OPT, either before they finish their studies (pre-completion) or after graduation (post-completion).
STEM OPT:
Students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields can apply for an extended OPT period of up to 24 months.
Contact our PSA counselor for more information
Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria
New first-year applicants must finish secondary school in their home country by the time of enrollment to be eligible for university (comparable to the completion of senior high school in the U.S.). A student who has previously enrolled in a post-secondary (higher education) institution is required to apply as a transfer student.
First-year undergraduate applicants should meet the minimum requirement of GPA 2.5 on a U.S. 4.0 scale. Check for specific majors' selective requirements. Students who want a particular program but do not meet the minimum requirements may be considered for the pre-major.
If you are applying for first-year or transfer admission, you are not required to submit standardized test scores (ACT or SAT) as per Kent's Test-Optional Policy.
HONORS COLLEGE
International students with outstanding intellectual and creative ability are encouraged to apply to the Honors College. Honors students participate in special classes, taught by distinguished faculty, which are small and emphasize active participation.
All international undergraduate applicants must submit an English language proficiency test score to be considered for a Kent State program unless they meet specific exceptions or apply for conditional admissions.
All undergraduate applicants must obtain one of the following:
TOEFL iBT: 71; Home Edition iBT: 71
Revised PBT: 18 (average score)
IELTS Academic and IELTS indicator: 6.0
Duolingo:100
PTE Academic: 48
Completion of the Kent State University ESL Center Level 8 Intensive English program with a minimum of 3.75 out of 4.0 GPA
ELS Level 112 Intensive English Program completion
SAT: a minimum of 510 evidence-based reading and writing
ACT: a minimum of 21 in English
Please note, Kent State accepts MyBest™ scores for the TOEFL iBT® test, in addition to TOEFL iBT scores from a single test date.
- Course Type: Full Time
- Course Level: Bachelors/UG Degree
- Duration: 04 Year
-
Total Tuition Fee:
164336 USD
Average Cost of Living: 14000 USD /year
Application Fee: 70 USD
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