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.
Meet Luis D.
BS Political Science ’16
“The UCM Political Science degree program presented me with unique opportunities during
my four-year tenure, including experience in the Missouri State Senate. My professors
encouraged debate of diverse opinions and taught me how to successfully defend my
own — which has helped shape my experience in the current political climate I encounter
working in Washington, DC.”
Nationally Ranked Mock Trial Team
100% of UCM’s Mock Trial team accepted to law school
UCM Mock Trial is a role-playing competition in which students play the role of prosecuting
and defense attorneys in front of judges and attorneys who evaluate students’ command
of case law and trial procedures. UCM Mock Trial team is one of the best in the Midwest.
State-of-the-Art Facilities
UCM Mock Trial and Model UN Room
Take classes and attend team practices in our state-of-the-art civic engagement classroom
that can be set up for a mock court room or a mock UN Security Council. This offers
students in our Poli Sci degree program a more immersive, high-impact learning experience.
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