Political Science BS

What you will study

Our Political Science degree program courses are taught by award-winning, tenured faculty who are experts in their fields. As a Poli Sci major, you’ll enjoy upper-level classes of only 15–20 students. This means you’ll benefit from robust discussions, hands-on activities and personalized attention that can bring forth your strengths, enhance your learning experience and offer opportunities for you to stand out.

Our program faculty also actively conduct and publish research in international relations, American law, globalization, voter behavior, legislative politics, international development, Middle Eastern politics and security issues. Outside the classroom, they offer mentorship and guidance in choosing your specialty, preparing for law school, finding your career path and more.

Regardless of which Poli Sci degree subfield you specialize in, you will gain a foundational understanding of core concepts, ideologies and theories, as well as how to critically assess scholarly research. You’ll also develop the communication, analytical, leadership and problem-solving skills you need to get and succeed in political science jobs.

Our undergraduate Political Science degree program offers a wide variety of electives to choose from based on your interests and passions. Explore diverse topics such as:

• Globalization and International Organizations
• War, Political Violence and Terrorism
• Campaigns, Elections, Political Parties and Interest Groups
• The Powers and Responsibilities of the President
• Democracy and Authoritarianism

 

Unique learning opportunities in Political Science

While earning your Political Science bachelor’s degree, you can gain real-world experience and apply knowledge you learn in the classroom in a variety of ways such as:

• Internships: UCM’s Political Science Bachelor of Science degree program allows you to complete an internship for course credit. You will have opportunities to work in Johnson County, throughout Missouri and across the country. For example, our Poli Sci majors have interned at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, City Hall in Warrensburg, the International Relations Council of Kansas City and nonprofit organizations like Global FC.
• Student activities: Participate in student organizations, clubs and special events that offer additional hands-on learning opportunities. For example, gain leadership and teamwork skills in Model United Nations. Our Model UN team travels to St. Louis and around the Midwest to compete in diplomatic simulations with undergraduate students from other colleges and universities. If you’re interested in attending law school, you may also be particularly interested in joining UCM Mock Trial team. 100% of our Mock Trial team members at the University of Central Missouri have been accepted to law school.
• Study abroad: Observe the impact of public policies and political behavior in other countries and cultures. UCM’s undergraduate Political Science degree program offers study abroad and service-learning trips to places like Tanzania, Peru, Cuba, Jordan and Israel. You can choose to study abroad for a few weeks, a summer or a full semester. UCM is one of the few universities in the country that offer study abroad scholarships and grants, and all students in the Political Science BS program are eligible to apply. 

 

What can you do with a degree in Political Science?

UCM’s Political Science degree prepares you for a wide range of careers in public service, government, private and nonprofit sectors, education, law and more. Start in an entry-level job right out of college or prepare for grad or law school to enhance your Political Science bachelor’s degree. 

Poli Sci majors have been accepted into graduate programs at Georgetown University, University of Missouri and University of Missouri-Kansas City, among others.

Our alumni are impacting public policies and communities throughout Kansas City; St. Louis; Columbia; Washington, D.C.; New York and more. These are just a few of the agencies, businesses and organizations that employ graduates from the University of Central Missouri’s Political Science Bachelor of Science program — some were even founded by our Poli Sci graduates:

• Missouri Army National Guard
• Voter Integrity Project
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• The Educated Citizen Project
• ACLU
• Water.org
• Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
• Missouri State Legislature

A versatile degree for a variety of career options

Explore the future possibilities with a Political Science degree. The interactive tool below allows you to gain insights on career fields, job titles, income-earning potential and more — in Missouri and throughout the United States.

 

 

Financial assistance options for your Political Science degree

The University of Central Missouri offers many options for financing your education and was recognized by LendEDU as a top-ranked university for low student debt. You can apply for federal grants, scholarships and university-wide financial aid.

Beyond general need and merit-based scholarships available through the university, several scholarships are available specifically for students in UCM’s Political Science bachelor’s degree program. These include:

• Political Science & International Studies Scholarship 
• Simon E. Maxwell Scholarship
• Joseph E. Kallenbach Scholarship
• Robert A. and Edith M. Young Scholarship

Each year, approximately $10,000 in scholarships are awarded exclusively to Poli Sci majors.