Political Science, B.A.
Understanding political actors and institutions, both domestic and international.
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
The Department of Political Science in the College of Liberal Arts offers the B.A. in Political Science. Political Science is the systematic study of government institutions, elections, mass political behavior, and public policy. Our department is organized around three fields of study: American politics, Comparative politics, and International politics.
Political science majors can choose from four optional emphases:
- Campaigns and Elections
- Law and Courts
- International Conflict and Cooperation
- Politics of Developing Countries
Students may pursue the accelerated master's program, where they earn a B.A. and M.A. in political science in 5 years, saving time and money.
They may also pursue the accelerated law program, where they earn the undergraduate and law degrees in 6 years instead of 7 years.
The Value of a Political Science Degree
Political Science majors develop skills in analysis, problem-solving, argumentation, and persuasion. They learn to work with others towards a common goal, and communicate in a variety of settings. Analyzing data provides skills to understand and interpret trends in data – skills that are highly desirable to employers and prepares students for careers in a wide variety of fields.
- While many go to law school, many others find careers in business, teaching, the Foreign Service, the armed forces, government, law enforcement, lobbying, and non-profit organizations.
- Some of our alumni serve in Congress, at the White House, in state government and in U.S. embassies abroad, while others are attorneys, teachers, and business professionals.
Despite our different paths, we share a love of politics and a desire to serve a larger purpose than ourselves.
On this Page…
Program Information
Degree
B.A. in Political Science
Emphases
Campaigns and Elections ;
International Conflict and Cooperation ;
Law and Courts ;
Politics of Developing Countries
Required Credit Hours
120
Program Type
Major
Minor
Program Location
School
Duration
4 years
Students in the B.A. in Political Science complete 33 credit hours of political science courses. Students pursuing the BA degree in the College of Liberal Arts must also select a minor field of study (or double major).
- Pol 101: Introduction to American Politics
- Pol 102: Govt and Business
- Pol 103: Introduction to International Relations
- Pol 251: Intro to Political Science Methods
- Pol 352: Quantitative Methods in Political Science
- 27 credit hours of political science courses
See all political science courses in the online catalog.
Students may choose from the following optional emphasis areas by completing at least four courses from an emphasis area to fulfill the some of the political science electives. At the discretion of the department chair or undergraduate academic adviser, Study Abroad (Pol 380), Internships (Pol 389), Senior Seminars (Pol 401, Pol 421, Pol 431), and Special Topics (Pol 398) courses can count toward an emphasis area if the content is appropriate to the emphasis.
Campaigns and Elections emphasis
- Pol 308. Voting and Political Participation
- Pol 309. Public Opinion and Political Psychology
- Pol 310. Political Parties and Interest Groups
- Pol 311. Political Communication
- Pol 391. Applied Politics
International Conflict and Cooperation emphasis
- Pol 331. International Organization
- Pol 332. Ethnic Conflict and International Terror
- Pol 335. Intl. Politics of Nuclear Weapons
- Pol 334. Politics of World Economy
- Pol 339. International Conflict
- Pol 363. War in World Politics
Politics of Developing Countries emphasis
- Pol 321. Politics of Latin America
- Pol 324. Politics of China
- Pol 329. Transitions to Democracy
- Pol 336. Political Economy of International Development
- Pol 337. Asia in World Affairs
- Pol 342. Politics of Mexico and Central America
- Pol 349. Middle East Politics
- Pol 387. Political Economy of East Asia
Law and Courts emphasis
- Pol 300. Judicial Process
- Pol 304. American Legislative Process
- Pol 305. Judicial Behavior
- Pol 306. Constitutional Law I
- Pol 307. Constitutional Law II
Video: Get to Know the Department of Political Science
Hear firsthand from students, faculty, and staff about the Political Science program.
Political Science Careers
- Director of Global Business Partnerships, American Express
- Journalist, Gannett News Service
- Platoon Commander, US Marine Corps
- Senator: Roger Wicker
- CEO, US Capitol Consulting
- Faculty, UNC-Chapel Hill
- Executive Director, MS Bar Association
- Chairman, Burson-Marsteller
- Senior Analyst, Exxon Mobil
- Personal Assistant to Queen Noor of Jordan
- Chief, Starkville Police
- President, MS Forum on Children & Families
- Associate Attorney, Baker Botts Law Firm
- Special Agents, DEA Treasury and FBI
- Staff, US House Armed Services Comm.
- Mississippi State Auditor
Earn both the B.A. and M.A. degrees in Political Science in 5 Years
The Accelerated B.A. and M.A. program offers undergraduates the opportunity to begin earning credit towards a graduate degree while they complete the final requirements for their undergraduate degree. This saves students time and money as they complete their advanced degree, and is a great way to prepare for law school and post-grad plans.
Undergraduate political science students can apply to the Program for an Accelerated Advanced Degree after completing 90 credit hours with a GPA of 3.0
Meet a Student Majoring in Political Science
Want to know what it's like earning a degree in Political Science? Hear from our current students.
Edward Hunter
What is one thing you wish you knew as an incoming freshman that you'd tell your past self?
See Edward’s Answer
Haley Warren
What would you tell a high school student about your major?
See Haley ’s Answer
Lauren Austin
Why did you choose your major?
See Lauren’s AnswerWelcome to the College of Liberal Arts
As Coordinator of Student Recruitment for the College of Liberal Arts, I work with students, and their parents, who are interested in attending UM for their undergraduate degrees. I coordinate personalized visits to our departments, answer questions about the majors and programs in the CLA and handle all recruitment communications from the CLA. Please feel free to send me any questions you may have. It is my job to make sure you have everything you need to make an informed decision on where to spend your college career, and I hope it will be with the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Mississippi!
Annabelle Harris
Admissions Counselor
Join Us in the College of Liberal Arts
We invite future undergraduates to learn about the College of Liberal Arts, the value of the liberal arts education, our programs, career opportunities, and resources to help you succeed. You can also request a personalized degree sheet.
Next Steps
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