Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Political Science

This program provides students with the opportunity to obtain a broad education in liberal arts and politics as well as training for specific career paths. Students with career goals in law, administrative or executive positions in state, local or federal government, teaching political science at the secondary school and college levels, foreign service, international agencies or private business overseas, the mass media, television, radio, newspaper, internet and polling organizations, would be well served by a political science major or minor. Additionally, a political science education provides students with a variety of skills they may use in all aspects of their lives. Coursework in political science teaches students to think critically, write well and speak with confidence. Students are exposed to a variety of methods of examining information, from textual analysis to the use of statistical software to analyze data. Finally, students studying political science develop a better understanding of the functioning of government in order to better prepare them for democratic citizenship. The major is structured so that students may take courses in many areas of political science or they may focus their education by selecting a concentration in international relations/comparative politics or public administration. A political science minor is also complementary to large number of other majors at CMU, including management, foreign languages, history, military science, integrative public relations, journalism, philosophy, psychology, sociology, interpersonal and public communications, and recreation, parks and leisure services administration. Graduates of this program at CMU will find a variety of career opportunities. Some of these may require additional education beyond the bachelors degree. They are activist, advocate/organizer; attorney; campaign operative and manager; CIA analyst or agent; city and county manager; congressional office/committee staffer; foreign service officer; international agency officer; international research specialist; legislative assistant/coordinator; lobbyist; policy analyst; pollster; public affairs research analyst; public opinion analyst; and as research analyst.