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High Point
University
»
Academics
»
Political
Science
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. 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.

Majors present and discuss their thesis
proposals
for their senior project in PSC 4099
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 several-day stays for four former
congressmen, several nationally-prominent
political reporters,
and US
ambassadors.
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, US Senator Kay Hagen,
a circuit court judge,
one of the nation's premier experts on Latino
Politics, a senior researcher from
the CATO Institute, the author of a leading
book on the Civil Rights Movement, and one
of the Civil Rights Movement's original
Freedom Riders. 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, a semester of foreign study, and/or an
internship with a campaign, interest group,
or elected official. In
recent semesters, our majors have studied
abroad in Wales, England, Spain, Mexico,
China, and at St. Andrews in Scotland. A
sampling of recent internships undertaken by
majors includes:
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Policy intern, the Heritage Foundation
in Washington, DC
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Legislative intern,
Washington DC office of US Senator
Joseph Lieberman
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Campaign interns,
Hickory office of US Congressman Patrick
McHenry
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Campaign intern, US
Senator Kay Hagan
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Research analyst,
Center for Terrorism in Washington, DC
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Research analyst,
John Locke Foundation in Raleigh, NC
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Legislative intern,
Washington DC office of US Senator
Richard Burr
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Legislative interns,
Ashville, High Point, and Greensboro
offices of US Congressman Howard Coble
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Legislative intern,
US Senator Bob Corker, Memphis, TN
office
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Conference
coordinator, the Minority and Ethnic
Women’s Network in Wales, UK
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Political liaison,
High Point Chamber of Commerce
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Assistant speech
writer, Governor of Maryland
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