Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Online, USA
BA
DURATION
120 hours
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
* rolling admissions
Key Summary
About: Eastern Kentucky University’s online Bachelor of Arts in Political Science prepares students to analyze U.S. politics, public administration, public policy, comparative politics, and American government. The program offers accelerated 8-week terms, courses starting six times per year, reduced tuition for active-duty military, online tutoring, personalized graduation plan, credit transfer, and no campus visits required.
Career Outcomes: A BA builds writing, communication, analytical, and data skills for government, policy, advocacy, and legal roles. Graduates work as community and social service managers, law clerks, public relations (PR) managers, human resources (HR) managers, and attorneys, or pursue law school or graduate study.
From taxes to healthcare, politics impacts every aspect of your life. Choosing a career in political science positions you to shift the political conversation around the topics and issues you care about most. EKU’s online political science degree provides the critical skills needed to assume a variety of roles within political and government institutions – locally, nationally, or internationally – and prepares graduates to influence decision-making by applying proven theory to real-world problems. Graduates also find success in graduate and professional school programs including law, public administration, government, business, and homeland security.
Enhance your degree with an emphasis
Selecting an area of emphasis allows you to focus on your major coursework and gain additional skill sets in specific areas of future employment. Choose from:
- Public Administration/Public Policy
- International Relations and Comparative Politics
- American Institutions/Law
You can also choose from numerous minors and undergraduate certificates in specialty areas that complement and enhance your major as you work toward your degree.
What sets our program apart?
Providing an advanced understanding of U.S. and world politics, EKU’s curriculum blends academic and professional preparation through course topics such as comparative politics, American government, world politics, public administration, and public policy.
- Accelerated 8-week terms
- Courses begin 6 times per year
- Reduced tuition for active-duty military members
- Personalized graduation plan
- No campus visits required
- Free online tutoring and career services assistance
- Generous credit transfer policy
- Quality courses from respected political science department faculty who teach the same classes online and on-campus
- Ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the best universities offering online degrees
Why choose EKU?
EKU is a regionally accredited, brick-and-mortar university that is ranked among the nation's best colleges and has been educating students for more than a century. EKU has received numerous honors, including being named one of the best online colleges in the nation and one of the most veteran-friendly campuses.
Core Courses --- 36
- POL 101 --- Introduction to American Government --- 3
- POL 212 --- Introduction to Comparative Politics --- 3
- POL 220 --- Introduction to World Politics --- 3
- POL 250 --- Introduction to Political Philosophy --- 3
- POL 280* --- Research and Writing in Political Science --- 3
- POL 370 --- Introduction to Public Administration --- 3
- POL 400W --- Capstone Course in Political Science --- 3
An additional 15 hours of POL courses, all of which must be numbered 300 or above, with a minimum of three hours each in three of the following four areas (see catalog for details):
American Politics --- 3
Comparative Politics --- 3
International Relations --- 3
Political Philosophy --- 3
* No more than six hours of POL courses numbered 300 or above may be taken prior to completing POL 280.
Free Electives --- 47
EKU General Education Requirements --- 37
Total Hours --- 120
Find Your Scholarship
A scholarship is a financial award given to students to help pay for their education that does not need to be paid back. Scholarships are awarded by schools, universities, and other organizations, and are based on a variety of criteria, such as academic achievement, financial need, or professional experience. The money can be used to cover tuition, books, housing, food, and other educational expenses. Please note that institutional scholarships, including merit awards, may not be stacked with other scholarships or tuition waivers and require the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Merit Scholarships for In-State First-Time Freshmen
Merit scholarships make EKU even more affordable for first-time students.* EKU recognizes the hard work and dedication needed to achieve at a high level. Get rewarded for your high school accomplishments with merit scholarships. If you meet the following criteria, merit scholarships will automatically be applied to your account. No application needed!
Merit Scholarships for Out-of-State First-Time Freshmen
High-achieving students can get rewarded for their work and receive additional scholarships to make EKU even more affordable. If you meet the following criteria, merit scholarships may be applied to your account automatically without the need for an application!
Additional EKU Scholarships for First-Time Freshmen
Kentucky residents who are Pell Grant-eligible may receive this scholarship, which will cover up to 100 percent of tuition and fees for first-year students who have a 3.0 high school GPA. This scholarship is intended to act as “gap funding” for any first-time freshman who has exhausted all avenues of federal, state, and institutional scholarship and grant assistance, and still has a remaining balance for tuition and required fees. This scholarship is for on-campus students only. This cannot be awarded in addition to a Merit Tier scholarship.
Eligibility Requirements: On-campus, Pell Grant-eligible, Kentucky resident, first-time freshman with a 3.0 high school GPA
EKU Scholarships for On-Campus, In-State Transfer Students*
Eastern Kentucky University values the education and experience students from other schools bring to their EKU experience. On-campus students who transfer to EKU with 24 earned college credits are eligible for the following scholarships. If you meet the following criteria, transfer scholarships will automatically be applied to your account. No application needed!
Foundation Scholarships
EKU has made a difference in thousands of lives. Donors who have experienced the life-changing effect an EKU education can have now want to make a difference in your life. Thanks to their generosity, there are hundreds of scholarships available for EKU students.
Eligibility criteria range from GPA to county of residence to degree program and more. Simply fill out the foundation scholarship application, and you’ll learn which scholarships you may be eligible for.
Outside Scholarships
These scholarships are awarded by an organization other than the government or university. They are available from several groups, organizations, and entities nationwide. Third-party scholarships can be general in nature or very specialized and tied to the type of work you would be doing after graduation.
If you receive an outside scholarship, you must notify Big E Central so the award can be properly reported as part of your total aid package. Failure to report awards can result in the award not being accepted or a portion of the funds having to be repaid due to overpayment.
A political science degree hones the writing, communication, analytical, and data skills that are fundamental to entry-level positions within political and governmental institutions. This kind of education will prepare you to think critically and independently, help you appreciate differing points of view, and broaden your knowledge of current affairs.
Political science careers are challenging and offer unique opportunities. A bachelor's degree in political science can lead to employment in a wide variety of fields. Whether you have a budding political career or have your eye on law school, an online bachelor’s degree in political science could be your first step to a rewarding career.
Job Opportunities
Community & Social Service Managers
- Median Annual Salary: $65,320 per year / $31 per hour
- Number of Jobs: 168,800
- Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor's Degree
Public Relations & Fundraising Managers
- Median Annual Salary: $114,800 per year / $55 per hour
- Number of Jobs: 81,200
- Typical Entry-Level Education: Bachelor's Degree
Social & Human Services Assistants
- Median Annual Salary: $33,750 per year / $16 per hour
- Number of Jobs: 413,700
- Typical Entry-Level Education: High School Diploma
Job Titles
- Customer Service Representative
- Law Clerk
- Attorney
- Human Resources Manager
- Litigation Attorney
- Low-cost textbooks through EKU BookSmart
- No application fee
- Reduced tuition for active-duty military members and their spouses
- Fast-track opportunities for students with 80 or more credit hours
- Dynamic, supportive learning environment
- Fitness & wellness management program provides students with knowledge & skills needed to successfully certify through ACSM, ACE, NSCA, AFAA, & other professional groups
- Dedicated faculty advisors who work with pre-professional health students on the ins and outs of applying to professional programs of choice
- Pre-professional curricula emphasize inclusion of prerequisite courses, foundational content & additional courses to prepare students for graduate/professional programs
- Diverse faculty are actively involved in the profession & have real-life expertise
