Political Science

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

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120 Credit Hours

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Up To 90 Hours

Transfer Credit
Cost per Hour

$421

Per Credit Hour
EKU Online > Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

Influence Decision Making and Tackle Real-World Problems

From taxes to healthcare, politics impacts every aspect of your life. 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.

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Benefits
Emphasis Areas
Minors & Certificates
Careers

Benefits of EKU Online

Choosing a career in political science positions you to shift the political conversation around the topics and issues you care about most. Providing an advanced understanding of U.S. and world politics, EKU blends academic and professional preparation through course topics such as comparative politics, American government, world politics, public administration and public policy.

Emphasis Areas

Selecting an area of emphasis allows you to focus 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

Minors & Certificates

Select from a wide range of minors, allowing you to explore interests or make use of prior credits. Suggested minors available online for this program include:

  • Communications
  • Pre-Law
  • Business

You can also choose from numerous undergraduate certificates in specialty areas that complement and enhance your major as you work toward your degree. Suggested online certificates for Political Science include:

  • Communication in the Workplace
  • Social Intelligence & Leadership
  • Veteran Studies

View the full list of certificates available for completion as you earn your degree

Career Opportunities

A political science degree hones the writing, communication, analytical, and data skills that are fundamental to entry-level positions within political and governmental institutions. 

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.

Careers Include:

  • Policy analysts
  • Public administrators within local, state and federal government agencies
  • Community service manager
  • Economic development officers
  • Nonprofit managers
Find your career

Curriculum

EKU’s online political science curriculum prepares students for a variety of rewarding career options as well as graduate and professional school programs including law, public administration, government, business and homeland security.

Bachelor of political science courses include comparative politics, American government, world politics, public administration and public policy.

Degree Requirements

A minimum of 120 credits are required to graduate with a bachelor degree, including 42 upper-division credits.

View the political science program degree requirements:

Please review the admissions requirements before applying for this or any program. If you have questions about the program or are planning to register for classes, please speak to the program advisor.

Transfer Credits

Students may transfer up to 90 hours of credit from accredited institutions. Please note that a minimum of 30 credit hours in this degree program must be completed at Eastern Kentucky University.

Previously earned credits must be reviewed upon admittance to EKU for appropriate articulation. Learn more about transferring to EKU.

Sample Courses

For a full list of course descriptions please see section 7 of the University undergraduate catalog.

POL 340 – Political Parties and Interest Groups (3)

An overview of the informal institutions of American government: functions, organization, financing of political parties, interest groups, and their relationship to democracy.

POL 321 – American Foreign Policy (3)

Analysis of the internal processes and external factors which affect U.S. foreign policy, with emphasis on the post-World War II period. Case studies in decision-making.

POL 333 – American State and Local Government (3)

Study of the institutions and processes of government of the fifty states and of cities and counties.

POL 331 – Urban Politics (3)

Political processes of urban areas including comparisons of alternative structures of urban and other local government.                                            

Enrollment

Laquanda Miller

Laquanda Miller

Enrollment Advisor

Call or email Enrollment Advisor Laquanda Miller for information about the EKU Online Political Science program.

Contact Info:
859-622-9959
Laquanda.Miller@eku.edu

Application Deadlines

Term Application Deadline Classes Begin
Fall A July 5 August
Fall B August 31 October
Spring A November 30 January
Spring B January 31 March
Summer A April 5 May
Summer B  May 31 June

Additional Contact Information

Admissions: 859-622-2106
Academic Testing: 859-622-1281
Big E Central (Financial Aid & Student Account Services): 859-622-2361
Military & Veterans Affairs Office: 859-622-2345

Student Success

I chose EKU because I am a unique student with unique needs, and EKU provides an avenue for students like me to succeed.

Jason TateEKU Online Student

The Value of a Political Science Degree

The EKU Online political science degree will prepare you for a variety of career options, including local, state and federal government agencies; regulatory agencies; law; nonprofit work; and community and economic development.

Online Military Students

EKU Online offers veterans and active duty military students an unparalleled online learning experience that provides accessibility, convenience and flexibility.

Special Tuition for Active Duty* Military
Eastern Kentucky University offers reduced tuition expenses to $250 per credit hour for undergraduate and $325 per credit hour for graduate courses to all service members currently serving on active duty.

*Active duty is defined as on federal orders for 180 days or more.

“I’d like to thank the EKU College of Justice & Safety for the opportunity to complete my degree online. It’s very user-friendly, and everyone has bent over backwards to make this happen.”

– 1LT Heath Bergmann, EKU Online Graduate

Heath Bergmann
  • “I can confidently say that — as someone who doesn’t even live in the United States — EKU’s online program has been extremely accommodating and flexible. I can discuss advising appointments over email, and I can have my textbooks shipped to my address overseas.” – Sydney Garner Lewis
  • “After the birth of our first child, I knew I needed to go back and finish what I started,” said McKenzie. “I was happy that I could pick up where I left off at EKU even though I lived in a different state.” – EKU Online student and mom
  • “I chose EKU because I am a unique student with unique needs, and EKU provides an avenue for students like me to succeed.” – EKU Online Psychology student Jason Tate
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