WELCOME TO THE DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

Students choose to study politics because they want to make a difference in the world. The political science program at High Point University thus focuses on the development of strong technical skills and an advanced understanding of political behavior and its consequences for many of the most important issues that shape our lives. The department’s core courses emphasize critical thinking, logical and quantitative reasoning, analytical writing, and public speaking. The department provides many opportunities to gain practical experience and learning outside the classroom. Many Political Science majors fulfill a portion of their requirements by studying abroad or completing internships with campaigns, interest groups, or political officials. Program graduates leave the University ready to make an immediate impact. Alumni frequently pursue graduate studies in first-rate political science, law, and professional programs. Department graduates have launched successful careers in a wide range of fields, including public service, law, business, journalism, education, public interest advocacy, and political campaigns and elections.

A Dynamic and Challenging Curriculum  

The PSC curriculum is designed to develop the must-have tools for today's competitive professional job market or graduate school. First year students begin to hone these skills in the major's introductory seminars (PSC 1010 and PSC 1011), which emphasize how political scientists understand and propose solutions to fundamental social, economic, and political problems. Other foundational coursework guides majors through an intriguing mix of courses on the workings of the American political system (PSC 2310), the methods that political scientists use to explain and study the world around them (PSC 2018) and foreign politics (PSC 2510 or PSC2710). During their final year, PSC majors cap their major with a political internship or our senior seminar (PSC 4099), where each major writes and publicly presents a substantial research paper. 

Teaching That Goes Beyond the Classroom

Many of our majors and minors choose to become deeply involved in one or more of the many university clubs and activities that focus on political issues. Our students are active in Amnesty International, the College Democrats, the College Republicans, Model United Nations, the North Carolina Student Legislature, Political Science Club, the Pre-law club, as well as various other groups and honors fraternities; these student-run organizations do everything from taking students to national political conventions to hosting political activists for campus-wide events and forums.

Bill Clinton and Rudy Giuliani at HPU

Numerous programs each year bring politically-influential individuals to campus and into our classrooms. In recent semesters, the university has hosted numerous congressmen, several nationally-prominent political reporters, US ambassadors, and political debates. The department co-sponsors The War on Terror Speakers Series, which has brought in numerous experts to speak on a wide range of international and homeland security issues. Other recent visitors to campus include President Bill Clinton amd U.S. Senator Kay Hagan. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas delivered the university's commencement address in 2008, while New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani did so in 2006. Jordon's Queen Noor spoke to the campus in 2005.

While rigorous, our curriculum also is intentionally flexible: electives make up half of the major's required hours, and our manageable requirements readily permit students to complement their degrees with a second major, foreign study, and/or internships with a campaigns, interest groups, or elected officials. In recent semesters, our majors have studied abroad in Australia, Wales, England, Spain, Mexico, China, and at St. Andrews in Scotland. In the last several years majors have interned with:

• The Heritage Foundation in Washington, DC

• The Washington DC office of US Senator Joseph Lieberman

• The Hickory office of US Congressman Patrick McHenry

• Kay Hagan for U.S. Senate

• Cal Cunningham for U.S. Senate

• Barak Obama for President

• The Center for Terrorism in Washington, DC

• The John Locke Foundation in Raleigh, NC

• The Washington D.C. office of U.S. Senator Richard Burr

• The Greensboro office of U.S. Senator Kay Hagan

• The High Point and Greensboro offices of US Congressman Howard Coble

• The Memphis, TN office of US Senator Bob Corker

• The Minority and Ethnic Women’s Network in Wales, UK

• The High Point Chamber of Commerce

• The Governor of Maryland

• The Manhattan offices of JP Morgan Financial

• The Washington, D.C. office of US Senator Byron Dorgan

If you have any questions about our program or need any assistance, please contact any member of our faculty.