Studying political science at Alvernia University opens your eyes and mind to the world around you. As our world becomes increasingly complex, understanding politics is crucial for being informed and involved citizens.
Political Science isn’t just for students who aspire to work in government. Those seeking careers in law, business, journalism, teaching, or non-profits benefit from understanding policy and politics. Indeed, the skills you acquire as a political science major at Alvernia will serve you well in nearly any career.
Political Science helps you understand the nature of politics, how politics relate to issues of justice, the role of government in societies, the responsibilities of citizenship and gives you an understanding of important international and domestic issues. With a political science degree, you’ll also develop critical thinking skills, excellent writing skills, and deeper abilities to reason and think analytically about the world.
You’ll gain insight into contemporary problems and issues both in the United States and around the world, and learn how to assess the problems and creatively think about solutions to them. You will also learn to communicate effectively, supporting your opinion with reason and evidence.
Your Career
With a degree in political science from Alvernia University, you will be poised for a variety of exciting careers. Some students pursue careers in government service in Washington, D.C. Others work in state government or run for office, work on campaigns, or work for elected officials on Capitol Hill.
Perhaps you’re interested in career in international relations, such as journalism, international business, foreign service, international aid, or defense analysis. If you’re adept with foreign languages, you might consider a career as an interpreter or policy analyst.
Political science majors at Alvernia have gone into careers in law, international business, government service at the federal and state levels, public policy, journalism, political activism, management, non-profit positions, teaching, social work, counseling, criminal investigation and policy analysis. Political science students excel in careers that require excellent communication and analytical skills and knowledge about the world.
Many political science graduates have chosen to continue their educations at graduate institutions, including Lehigh University, University of Pittsburgh, Villanova University, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, Widener University, Marquette University, State University of New York, George Mason University, Suffolk University, and others.
- Curriculum
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All Alvernia students must successfully complete a minimum of 123 semester credits to complete a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree. Political science majors must complete 30 credits in the major.
Required courses for political science majors are:
- POS 101: Introduction to Political Science
- POS 111: American Democratic Government
- POS 212: Comparative Politics ---OR--- POS 225 Contemporary World Affairs
- POS 424: History of Political Thought
- POS 425: Research Seminar
You also must take 5 elective courses in political science. Elective courses include those regularly in the catalog, such as Constitutional Law, the Presidency, or the Legislative Process, as well as a variety of special topics courses such as: Election 2016 Bootcamp, Media and Politics, Religion, War and Politics, Military History, and Utopian Societies. Political science majors are encouraged to earn between 3 and 12 credits for successfully completing one or more internships, which provide practical experience in the field.
Students who minor in political science are required to complete any 18 credits in political science, including up to 6 hours through an internship.
- Experiential Learning
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Through internships, students have opportunities to apply theories and knowledge learned in the classroom in a variety of professional settings. In addition to providing exposure to the activities and expectations of a real-world workplace, internship experiences help students develop their network of professional contacts.
- Tuition
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To determine the cost of this program, please visit our Tuition page. For a personalized estimate, please contact an admissions counselor at 610-790-8269 or at admissions@alvernia.edu.
- Financial Aid
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Alvernia offers loan, grants, scholarships, and payment plans. Our admissions counselors can help you identify the aid that is available to you and for your program. For more information, visit our Financial Aid page.
- Accreditation
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All programs offered by Alvernia University are approved by the Department of Education of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.
Learn More
For more information about Alvernia’s Political Science Program, please contact the Admissions Office at 1-888-ALVERNIA or 610-796-8269 or admissions@alvernia.edu, or reach out directly to:
Dr. Victoria Williams
Associate Professor of Political Science
Francis Hall Room 406
610-796-5511
