Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

This program will prepare you for a successful career in the public or private sector, as well as for law and other graduate studies. Our Political Science degree is offered in three concentrations: Pre-Law, Public Policy, and Criminal Justice.

The mission of the Political Science program is to prepare graduates for
employment, scholarship, or further study in the areas of law, public policy, or criminal
justice in service to their professional disciplines and social communities.
• Students who major in Political Science choose one of three program concentrations:
o The Pre-Law Concentration emphasizes course work appropriate for those
who plan to attend law school upon completion of undergraduate studies.
o The Public Policy Concentration emphasizes the interconnectedness of
political science, policymaking, and specific policy areas. This concentration is
appropriate for those who want to pursue positions working directly or indirectly
with government. It is also appropriate for those who wish to continue their
education with graduate studies in social sciences, such as Political Science,
History, or Sociology.
o The Criminal Justice Concentration focuses on developing the skills needed
to pursue careers in law enforcement, criminology, homeland security, or
corrections with a focus on those skills needed in management positions.
Students are also prepared to pursue graduate studies in Criminal Justice.
• The program structure encourages students to double major in other fields such as
Psychology, English, or Business.
• Prestigious internship opportunities with local and state government agencies provide
valuable field-work experience in the discipline.
• Opportunities to present student research at state, regional and national meetings
provide students with real world skills and allow them to network with professionals in
the field.
• Students work with experienced and engaged faculty who are published authors and
have taught at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
FROM THE FACULTY
“Students who major in Political Science study the actors and institutions of
government and examine their interactions with significant ‘others’ that influence
lawmaking. In addition, the process of how policy is made within this environment is
emphasized. Those who choose to study Political Science at the University of Charleston
are immersed in a comprehensive program that integrates the merging of traditional
approaches with modern research techniques to prepare students for graduate study, law
school, applied work in the disciplines and life-long learning.”
ADMISSION
Students must gain general admission to the University of Charleston. A visit to the
campus to meet with Admissions personnel and program faculty is strongly encouraged
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
The graduate will:
1. Evaluate political phenomena using political science concepts and theories.
2. Apply historical and global perspectives to political problems and policy issues;
and
3. Formulate research hypotheses using current social science research tools.
Concentration Outcomes
In addition to the program outcomes for all students,
• Pre-law graduates will be able to evaluate the relationship between society and
legal institutions using legal reasoning skills
• Public Policy graduates will be able to integrate knowledge of governmental and
non-governmental actors to analyze public policy
• Criminal Justice graduates will be able to evaluate societal responses to crime,
terrorism and security
WHAT YOU WILL STUDY
The Political Science major focuses on the actors and institutions of government and
the complex relationships that exist among those who seek to influence the process.
Introductory courses in policymaking and policy analysis are also included in this core.
Coursework to explicitly promote critical thinking and logic are integrated throughout the
curriculum. These requirements are important for all students in the major, but especially
for those who intend to pursue a law degree or other graduate degree upon completion of
their undergraduate education.
Beyond these requirements, all students seeking a Bachelor of Arts degree must earn
a minimum of 120 credit hours. Students must also, when constructing their plan of
study, meet all of the Liberal Learning Outcomes required for graduation by the
University of Charleston. These additional hours may be utilized to earn a second major,
if the student so desires.