Bachelor Degree in Political Science
Bachelor's degree
DURATION
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Key Summary
Bachelor Degree in Political Science
The Political Science program is designed to give majors and minors a strong background in American government and politics, international relations, comparative politics, and political philosophy. A degree in Political Science makes it possible to find employment in a variety of areas ranging from business to government. Along with the economic value of this degree, there is the added benefit in developing a sophisticated understanding of the foundations of government and politics which are necessary for a citizen living in an open society.
Because we offer a wide variety of courses, as a student of Political Science you will be studying in a diversity of areas and working on a number of guided research projects. There are a variety of internships with state and federal governments available for qualified students.
Get Involved
As a Political Science student at BHSU, you have the opportunity to get involved in a variety of ways.
Student Organizations
- Political Science Organization The Political Science Association is a student organization that promotes student involvement in the application of current political ideologies and events. The club will participate in and advocate for political discussion and debate as well as the development of individual student philosophical and political theories.
- Pre-Law Association The BHSU Pre-Law Association is designed for students who are interested in law school. The main functions of the club are to help prepare students wishing to take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) and to provide information about the law school experience. A network of current students, advising faculty, and post-grad students are maintained through study groups and lectures. Guest speakers are brought in three times a year and an annual trip is taken to visit the University of South Dakota Law School.
Internships and Scholarships
There are a variety of internships with state and federal governments available for qualified students. We have lists of internships available in South Dakota and we are contacted regularly about internships in the state legislature and in Washington, D.C. Every year a BHSU student participates in the South Dakota Legislative Internship Program. Our scholarship program offers approximately twenty scholarships available to political science students ranging from $500 to $1300. There are other scholarships available from outside sources.
Community Involvement
Faculty members serve as judges for the “We the People” competition, helping Spearfish High School prepare for the state and national competitions.
Future Opportunities
Graduates with a political science degree regularly find employment in business, non-profit organizations, and government on the state and local levels. Employment can also be found working for individual political campaigns and for state and national political party organizations. Because of their knowledge of government and politics, graduates sometimes choose employment with the news media. Finally, a number of our students decide to attend law school or graduate school.
The Political Science major will help you gain an excellent foundation for graduate programs in various areas, because of the wide range of courses offered, the faculty’s broad expertise, and the rigor of instruction.