Political Science, B.S.
Applying a more quantitative lens to the study of political institutions and actors.
About the Bachelor of Science 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 subfields of study: American politics, Comparative politics, and International politics.
The Department of Political Science in the College of Liberal Arts offers the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelors of Science (BS) in Political Science. To compare the degree programs:
- they have different general education foundations;
- the BA degree requires a minor field of study;
- the BS degree requires more political science courses; and
- the BS degree is a more technical and quantitative degree.
Political science majors can choose from four optional emphases:
- Campaigns and Elections
- International Conflict and Cooperation
- Law and Courts
- Politics of Developing Countries
They may pursue the accelerated law program, where they earn the undergraduate and law degrees in 6 years instead of 7 years.
Alternatively, they may pursue the accelerated master's program, where they earn the undergraduate and master's degree in political science in 5 years instead of 6 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
Emphases
Campaigns and Elections ;
International Conflict and Cooperation ;
Law and Courts ;
Politics of Developing Countries
Required Credit Hours
120
Program Type
Major
Program Location
School
Duration
4 years
Degree Requirements
Find out about credit hour and course requirements for the B.S. in Political Science.
Students in the B.S. in Political Science complete 42 credit hours (14 courses) of political science and 18 hours of Related Subjects. At least 21 hours must be in non-Z-graded courses at the 300 level or above. Grades lower than C in political science courses will not be counted toward the political science major or minor.
Required Courses
- 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 an optional emphasis areas by completing at least four courses from an emphasis area to fulfill the some of the political science electives.
18 hours of Related Subjects
Students complete 18 credit hours from computer science, economics, mathematics, psychology, and sociology.
Campaigns and Elections emphasis (Choose 4)
- 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 (Choose 4)
- Pol 331: International Organization
- Pol 332: Ethnic Conflict and International Terror
- Pol 334: Politics of World Economy
- Pol 335: Intl. Politics of Nuclear Weapons
- Pol 339: International Conflict
- Pol 363: War in World Politics
Politics of Developing Countries emphasis (Choose 4)
- 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 (Choose 4)
- Pol 300: Judicial Process
- Pol 304: American Legislative Process
- Pol 305: Judicial Behavior
- Pol 306: Constitutional Law I
- Pol 307: Constitutional Law II
- Pol 348: Rule of Law on a Global Perspective
- Pol 370: African American Legal Experience
Political Science on the Job Market
Median income for Political Scientists in 2023.
Median income for Postsecondary Teachers in 2023.
Video: Get to Know the Department of Political Science
Learn more about the Political Science program from our faculty and students.
Meet Current Political Science Students
Want to know what it's like to study a B.S. in Political Science at Ole Miss? Hear from our current students.
Amaya Brown
Why is your department a special place?
See Amaya’s Answer
Campbell Holder
Why did you choose to attend UM?
See Campbell ’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
Future CLA Students
College of Liberal Arts Undergraduate Students
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
Explore Affordability
We have a variety of scholarships and financial aid options to help make college more affordable for you and your family.
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