Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
DURATION
120 Hours
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
May 2025
TUITION FEES
USD 443 / per credit *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
* per credit hour
Introduction
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.
| Format: 100% online Credit Hours: 120 hours Tuition:
Transfer Credits Accepted: Up to 90 hours* Career Options: Policy analysts, public administrators, and economic development specialists within local, state, and federal government agencies, regulatory agencies, community, and economic development offices, and nonprofit organizations. Graduate and professional school programs including law, public administration, state and federal government, business and homeland security * A minimum of 30 credit hours must be completed with EKU |
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.
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Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Grants
Grants are a type of financial support that does not need to be repaid. Many grants are based on financial need alone, however, some grants also take academic performance, academic degree program, and/or residence status into consideration.
Grants are available at the federal and state level.
Private Loans
Private student loans are not funded or subsidized by the federal government; instead, they are funded by banks, credit unions, or other types of lenders.
The bank or lender – not the federal government – sets interest rates, loan limits, terms, and conditions of private student loans. Your ability to qualify for and borrow a private student loan may be based on numerous factors that can include your credit history, whether or not you choose to have a co-signer, your co-signer’s credit history, your choice of school, and your course of study. These loans do not offer the flexible repayment terms or borrower protections featured by federal student loans.
Employer Tuition Reimbursement
Employer tuition reimbursement includes a variety of employer-sponsored programs to help employees pay for college. In many cases, the funds received from these programs will be excluded from income and are tax-free.
Employee tuition reimbursement programs are typically governed by an employer’s human resources department. Employers may provide up to $5,250 per year in employer education assistance benefits for undergraduate or graduate courses.
Your employer may require you to attain a particular grade or to complete a program in order to obtain reimbursement. The employer may also require that you remain employed for a period of time after completing the course of study. Finally, your employer may require you to provide receipts or other substantiation of the educational expenses.
Military Benefits
For information on veteran and active duty military services and offerings, contact the EKU Office of Military and Veteran Affairs at 859.622.2345. EKU is repeatedly recognized by both Military Times and GI Jobs as a leader among Military Friendly® Schools and we look forward to helping you reach your goals.
Outside Scholarships
These scholarships are awarded by an organization other than the government or university. They are available from a number of groups, organizations, and entities nationwide. These 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 your financial aid office 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.
Departmental Scholarships
Departmental scholarships are awarded by specific EKU departments. The types, size, and criteria for these scholarships will vary by department.
If you receive a departmental scholarship, you must notify your financial aid office 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.
Foundation Scholarships
EKU is fortunate to have hundreds of generous individuals and organizations that have donated scholarship money for current EKU students from a variety of backgrounds, situations, and interests. These are referred to as EKU Foundation Scholarships. Due to the number of these scholarships and the varying criteria for them, EKU has developed a single Foundation Scholarship application.
After completing the application, you will be considered for any foundation scholarship for which you are eligible. Criteria for these scholarships vary and can include academics, major, interests, place of residence, and more.
Curriculum
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
Program Tuition Fee
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. 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
English Language Requirements
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