B.A. in Political Science
Analyze political institutions, processes, and behavior at the local, state, national, and international levels.
Political science majors at the University of Mississippi conduct policy analysis and study political actors and organizations within the context of American government and politics, comparative government and politics, and international relations. The department offers optional emphases in Campaigns & Elections, International Conflict & Cooperation, Politics of Developing Countries, or Law & Courts.
Key Benefits
Political science majors gain a broad understanding of the political world as well as skills in analysis, judgment, problem solving, social science methodology, writing, and persuasion. The Haley Barbour Center for American Politics provides networking opportunities for students.
Graduate Outcomes
A liberal arts education prepares graduates to deal with complexity and change. They gain key skills in communication, problem-solving, and working with diverse groups. Related careers in political science include policy research, government, business, survey analysis, marketing research, lobbying, law, military, education, and public relations.
Experiences Offered
Political science students have opportunities to learn in the field with formal internship programs in Jackson, MS, Washington, D.C., and New York City. While earning credit towards the major, students gain direct experience in the political setting of their choice. Students may also participate in travel courses like The Politics of Money in Washington, D.C.
The Take 5 program is a five-year B.A./M.A. degree program where admitted students take a a few graduate-level courses in the senior year working toward both undergraduate and graduate degrees in an expedited, five year program.
B.A. in Political Science Faculty
The faculty in the Department of Political Science at the University of Mississippi have exceptional strengths in political behavior, international conflict, and experimental research.
Course Requirements
A major in political science for the B.A. degree consists of 33 semester hours chosen from the subfields of American government and politics, comparative government and politics, international relations, and political analysis, including Pol 101, 102, 103, and 251. Students may choose from the following optional emphasis areas by completing at least four courses from an emphasis area. 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 | |----------------------------------------------| |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| |-----------------------------------------------| |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| |-----------------------------------------| |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| |-------------------------------------------| |Pol 300. Judicial Process | |Pol 304. American Legislative Process | |Pol 305. Judicial Behavior | |Pol 306. Constitutional Law I | |Pol 307. Constitutional Law II |
Admissions Requirements
Admission requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Political Science program are the same as the general undergraduate admission requirements.
Sailer Perkins
Sailer (BA in Arabic and political science, 2017) studied abroad in Jordan and Scotland where she learned about sustainable development and political theories of global justice and citizenship. She interned with Syria Direct and the Hudson Institute's Center for Political and Military Analysis, and earned a fellowship with the Mississippi Sustainable Agricultural Network. Her honors thesis focused on the impact of water scarcity on intrastate conflict and U.S. national security. After graduation Sailer spent the summer in Egpyt and Jordan to further her Arabic skills. She is currently earning her M.A. in international affairs in the George Bush School at Texas A&M, with a career goal to work in international affairs.
Why study political science at UM?
"UM has such a wonderful legacy of valuing the liberal arts. Political science remains critical especially for those who want to pursue public service and tackle the most complicated social and political problems of our day. The department is a comfortable size, and you can be as engaged as you want owing to the amazingly faculty. They are great mentors, particularly in utilizing the unique history and political situation of Oxford and Mississippi to teach lessons for the future."
Student Organizations
Join the Mock Trial team or Phi Sigma Alpha, the political science honor society.