{"id":9979,"date":"2015-01-07T11:29:07","date_gmt":"2015-01-07T17:29:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/academics\/?post_type=program&p=9979"},"modified":"2025-08-29T16:36:13","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T21:36:13","slug":"political-science","status":"publish","type":"program","link":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/academics\/program\/political-science\/","title":{"rendered":"Political Science"},"content":{"rendered":"

Political science is the study of governments, public\u00a0policies and political processes, systems, and political\u00a0behavior, according to the American Political Science\u00a0Association. Those earning degrees in political\u00a0science understand the governing process and its\u00a0relationship to complex issues arising in a modern\u00a0society.<\/p>\n

Careers<\/h3>\n

A bachelor’s degree in political science can lead to exciting\u00a0careers in federal, state and local governments;\u00a0law; business; international organizations; nonprofit\u00a0associations and organizations; campaign management\u00a0and polling; journalism; pre-collegiate education;\u00a0electoral politics; research and university and\u00a0college teaching.<\/p>\n

Check out our 4+1 program where you can earn your BA in Political Science AND Master in Public Administration in 5 years.<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Learning Goals<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. Our graduates effectively communicate a written political science argument.<\/li>\n
  2. Our graduates examine cultural, social, or political aspects of a nation other than the United States.<\/li>\n
  3. Our graduates plan, organize, and resolve problems, questions, or controversies in the study of politics.<\/li>\n
  4. Our graduates demonstrate familiarity with the sources of information, methods of analysis, digital tools and contextual literature necessary for the research of issues in political science.<\/li>\n
  5. Our graduates demonstrate a broad and sophisticated knowledge of politics and government and of their impact on human life.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Political science is the study of governments, public\u00a0policies and political processes, systems, and political\u00a0behavior, according to the American Political Science\u00a0Association. Those earning degrees in political\u00a0science understand the governing process and its\u00a0relationship to complex issues arising in a modern\u00a0society. Careers A bachelor’s degree in political science can lead to exciting\u00a0careers in federal, state and local governments;\u00a0law;… Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":17326,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":"","_genesis_title":"","_genesis_description":"","_genesis_noindex":"","_genesis_nofollow":"","_genesis_noarchive":"","_genesis_canonical_uri":"","_open_graph_title":"","_open_graph_description":"","_twitter_title":"","_twitter_description":"","_social_image_url":"","_social_image_id":"","redirect":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"college_department":[18317,18304],"delivery":[255],"types":[28854,28853,28850],"class_list":{"0":"post-9979","1":"program","2":"type-program","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"college_department-history-political-science-and-geography","8":"college_department-college-of-liberal-and-performing-arts","9":"delivery-on-campus","10":"types-major","11":"types-minor","12":"types-undergraduate","13":"entry"},"acf":{"department_college":"History, Political Science, &\u00a0Geography<\/a> \/ College of Liberal and Performing Arts<\/a>","Number_of_Hours":"120","Catalog Entry":"

    University Requirement (2 hours)<\/h4>\r\nGSTD 1002 - Freshman Seminar\r\n

    General Education (32 hours)<\/h4>\r\nNote: 3 hours of fine arts\/humanities requirements are included in the major. PSCI 2003 - American Government: National cannot be used to fulfill the social science requirements.\r\n

    Political Science (36 hours)<\/h4>\r\nPSCI 2003 - American Government: National\r\nPSCI 2013 - State and Local Government: Arkansas and the United States\r\nPSCI 3133 - Research Methods\r\nPSCI 3113 - Western Thought or PSCI 3213 - Eastern Thought\r\n18 hours of upper-level Political Science electives\r\nSelect 3 hours from the following:<\/span>\r\nPSCI 3003 - International Relations\r\nPSCI 3093 - American Foreign Policy\r\nPSCI 3193 - Political Geography\r\nPSCI 4053 - Comparative Public Policy\r\nPSCI 4083 - Global Issues\r\nPSCI 4203 - Comparative Politics\r\nPSCI 4213 - International Law\r\nSelect 3 hours from the following:<\/span>\r\nPSCI 3033 - American Political Parties\r\nPSCI 3053 - Introduction to Public Administration\r\nPSCI 3063 - Administrative Law\r\nPSCI 3223 - Introduction to the Law\r\nPSCI 4033 - Legislative Processes\r\nPSCI 4073 - American Constitutional Law\r\n

    Other Requirements (12 hours)<\/h4>\r\nPSCI 4353 - Senior Paper Research or 3 hours of upper-level non-creative writing\r\n3 hours of Geography electives\r\n6 hours of Foreign Language (may be fulfilled by freshman-level courses in the same language or a satisfactory score on a language proficiency exam)\r\n

    Electives (35 hours)<\/h4>\r\n7 hours of upper-level electives\r\n28 hours of unrestricted electives","minor_requirements":"

    Minor in Political Science<\/strong> - 18 hours<\/h4>\r\nPSCI 2003 - American Government: National\r\nPSCI 2013 - State and Local Government: Arkansas and the United States\r\n9 hours of upper-level Political Science electives\r\nSelect 3 hours from the following:<\/span>\r\nPSCI 3113 - Western Thought\r\nPSCI 3213 - Eastern Thought\r\nPSCI 3133 - Research Methods","Degree Plans":"