Fast Track B.S. in Political Science/MPA
Degree: Bachelor of Science, Master of Public Administration
Major: Political Science
Hours: 36, 12 (dual-listed)
Political Science Fast Track Overview
The Fast Track Bachelor of Science in Political Science/Master of Public Administration program is designed to recruit talented, undergraduate political science majors. This program allows you to enroll in the graduate program for a fifth year, and the opportunity to graduate with your B.S. and MPA in just five years.
This program streamlines the ascent to an MPA degree by allowing you to take the graduate version of four dual-listed courses during your senior year. These courses are offered at both an undergraduate (special topics) and a graduate level, with the graduate version requiring an additional research component. If you successfully complete the graduate version of these courses during your senior year, you will receive both the graduate credit and institutionally awarded undergraduate credit.
Graduating from this program will prepare you for various careers in for-profit and nonprofit entities as well as public sector organizations. Your career options would include business, law and consulting, as well as in private businesses and corporations, especially those subject to government regulation. Many LU graduate students establish professional careers in federal, state or local government agencies. You could also earn a master's or doctoral degree in political science and teach in colleges and universities.
Political Science Courses You May Take
Introduction to Political Science: An introductory survey of the concepts, techniques, and methods for analyzing the political behavior of individuals, groups, and nations.
Statistics for Social Science: Provides the basic concepts and techniques of statistics employed in social science research including descriptive statistics; measures of central tendency and dispersion; correlation and regression analysis; and inductive statistics.
Advanced Research Methods: Examines special problems, topics, cases, models, and theories in political science research.
Judicial Process: Examines the theory and structure of the American court system; its personnel and decision-making processes; criminal and civil law processes and procedures; and judicial politics.
Legislative Process: Examines the structure, functioning and political control of legislative bodies.
Career Paths for Political Science
Employment in municipal government includes positions as city managers and assistant city managers, regional transportation and metropolitan planning agency directors and in water, drainage, hospital and housing district management positions. Other career opportunities include those of legislative assistants at the state or national level and as representatives for private organizations in the state and national capitals.
Primary Careers
Teacher, attorney, consultant, advocate, city manager/councilmember
- Municipal government
- Law
- Public service
- Policy
- Public relations
- International relations
- Journalism
- Law firms
- Corporate, mid-level, and small businesses
- Non-profit organizations
- Municipal, state, and federal agencies
- Schools and universities
- Research institutions