Learn How Government Works.
The Political Science degree program is designed for students who wish to enter a career in government or politics. It鈥檚 also for those pursuing other careers who want to understand how government and politics impact their professions and personal choices. This program is highly recommended for pre-law students.
The degree program prepares students to be active, responsive citizens and leaders. You will take courses that increase your understanding of government and politics and gain resources to understand and actively shape political phenomena. You鈥檒l explore the major subfields of political science, including American politics, political theory, and international relations. You鈥檒l also build research skills and complete an original research project that will help prepare you for graduate or law school.
The bachelor鈥檚 degree requires 36 credit hours of specified political science courses, 15 hours of political science elective courses, and 6 hours of psychology, criminology, or history electives.
The requirements for a minor in political science consist of 18 credit hours of specified political science courses.
The requirements for a minor in pre-law consist of 18 credit hours, including courses in criminology, political science, communication, and math or philosophy, an elective-specified business, criminology, environmental science, or outdoor recreation management course, and a course chosen from among communications, English, or history courses.
The requirements for this certificate consist of 23 semester hours of political science and environmental science courses. This program prepares students to combine the science of geographic information with the technologies of geographic information systems (GIS), cartography, and remote sensing, and apply them to geopolitical research.
Political science prepares graduates for careers in a wide array of fields, including:
Davis & Elkins has a relationship with the Washington Center, which provides a variety of internships with federal agencies and non-governmental organizations. Our political science majors have participated in two excellent programs sponsored by the West Virginia Legislature:
Small class sizes enable engaging faculty members to enhance your learning experience by challenging and inspiring you and providing individualized attention. Coursework covers current and relevant principles and topics to prepare you for success in graduate study and many different career fields. Internship and independent study opportunities provide real-world experience that amplifies classroom learning.
