Welcome to High Point University! About the High Point University Seal High Point University
 

"The professors in the Political Science department are by far some of the best professors on our campus. They are always there to listen and help their students with issues which may arise. My professors have taught me so much more than textbook teaching. They have taught us what to expect in the world of policy and politics, and enhanced lectures with their own experiences to give us a better perspective of what to expect once we graduate."
     -A. Paul, '08 

A native of the Dutch Antilles, Ms. Paul was vice-president of the College Democrats and completed an internship in Washington, DC. She turned down the opportunity to pursue graduate study in Intl. Relations at the University of Amstermdam, and instead enrolled in Norwich University's MA program in Intl. Diplomacy. Her first position after graduation was an internship with Senator Obama's presidential campaign.

"I chose Political Science because of the small classes and my ability to meet with professors individually. My professors have taken a close interest in my abilities and where I want to go in life. They've helped me to take advantage of internships, scholarships, and events that are taking place both locally and nationwide."
     -K. Taylor, '07 

Ms. Taylor double-majored in political science and criminal justice. As a sophomore, she interned in the Greensboro offices of US Rep. Howard Coble . During her senior year, she was accepted by a top-tier law school, but instead pursued graduate coursework at Georgetown University.

The critical thinking skills that I learned at HPU are allowing me to succeed in law school. I can compete with any of my classmates, and I have HPU to thank for preparing me."
      -J. Walters, '05

Among other distinctions, Mr. Walters was named the university's 2005 top Political Science senior; he graduated from Wake Forest University’s law school in 2008. 

"The Political Science faculty has given me gentle guidance and allowed me to find and start my own path into politics."
      -P. Hall, '06

Ms. Hall studied abroad at England's Oxford  Brookes College and was elected president of the senior class. She went on to earn her graduate degree in Public Affairs on full scholarship at Georgia State University where her MA thesis examined the voting behavior of young citizens.

 

REQUIREMENTS FOR A MAJOR OR MINOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE 

 

Former President Bill Clinton, Dr. Gabrielli (left), and some of
the department's many College Democrats.

 

Which set of requirements apply to you?  

All students must satisfy the requirements for graduation as found in the High Point University Bulletin. Normally, such requirements will be those in force in the catalog of the latest date of entrance or of the date of graduation. The Political Science Department changed the major's requirements as of Fall 2008:

Requirements for students who entered the University in Fall 2008 or later.

To earn a major in political science, a student must complete 36 hours in political science, including:

Core requirements:

PSC 121. Introduction to Political Science

PSC 122. Introduction to Western Political Thought

PSC 201. United States Government

PSC 318. Research, Writing and Statistics in Political Science

PSC 499. Senior Seminar

 

And one course selected from:

   PSC 305. International Relations
   PSC 309. Comparative Politics

 

And 18 hours of political science courses outside of those taken to meet the requirements listed above. General elective coursework may include independent study coursework, special topics classes, and a maximum of six hours in the Student Intern Program.

A minor concentration in political science requires 18 hours, including the following:

PSC 201. United States Government

And one course selected from:

   PSC 305. International Relations
   PSC 309. Comparative Politics

And twelve additional hours selected from other political science courses.
 

Requirements for students who first enrolled at the University in Spring 2008 or earlier.

To earn a major in political science, a student must complete 39 hours of coursework, including:

Core requirements:

PSC 121. Introduction to Political Science

PSC 122. Introduction to Western Political Thought

PSC 201. United States Government

PSC 309. Comparative Politics

PSC 318. Research, Writing and Statistics in Political Science

PSC 499. Senior Seminar

and 18 elective hours. Six hours must be taken from each of the following categories:

Category I - General Government Institutions

PSC 303. Presidency and Congress

PSC 304. Political Parties and Interest Groups

PSC 314. International Security

PSC 387. Latin American Politics

Category II - Law and Foreign Policy

PSC 301. Constitutional Law

PSC 302. Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

PSC 305. International Relations

PSC 306. U.S. Foreign Policy

Category III - Public Administration/Public Policy

PSC 202. State and Local Government

PSC 310. Introduction to Public Administration

PSC 311. Administrative Law

PSC 312. Introduction to Public Policy

and supporting course:

SPE 201. Fundamentals of Speech

A minor concentration in political science requires 18 hours, including the following:

PSC 121, PSC 201, PSC 309, and nine additional elective hours (3 hours from each of the categories listed above under major requirements).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Last updated on Tuesday, May 13, 2008
by Mark Setzler [msetzler@highpoint.edu]

 

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