BA Political Science at North Carolina State University

Programme overview

Major requirements are: 18 hours of core courses that cover major political science sub fields (i.e., American government, international relations, comparative politics, theory, public law and policy, and research methods); 15 hours of political science electives, 12 of which must be taken at the 300 level or above, and one of which must be a 400 level senior seminar, which includes a substantial research requirement. Grades of C- or better are required for courses applied towards the major.

Faculty: College of Humanities and Social Sciences | Study mode: full-time | Location: Raleigh, NC, United States

What you will study

The plan of study totals 120 credit hours. Courses listed in the plan include: PS 231 Introduction to International Relations; PS 361 Introduction to Political Theory; PS 201 American Politics and Government; PS 241 Introduction to Comparative Politics; PS 371 Research Methodology of Political Science; PS 305 The Justice System in the American Political Process. Concentrations/options listed: Law and Justice; Public Policy; American Politics; International Politics.

Career pathways

A degree in political science is excellent preparation for a number of careers and graduate opportunities. Political science majors study critical issues surrounding such things as international security, public policy, and government practices. Career titles listed include: Adjudicator, Administrative Law Judge, Admiralty Lawyer, Anthropologist, Anti-Terrorism Intelligence Agent, Appeals Examiner, Arbitrator, Attorney, Border Patrol Agent, City Planning Aide.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admission is to the university and the major is selected on the application (first and second choice); applicants submit a high school transcript, essays and a short answer question, and SAT/ACT/CLT scores are optional for applicants with a weighted GPA of 2.8 or above (applies to the university, not specific to this major).

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Entry terms: Fall and Spring. Applicants admitted for fall may request Summer Session II entry (begins at the end of June). Some majors do not accept first-year or transfer applications for spring entry (Applied Math, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, Music Technology, Fashion and Textile Design, College of Design studio-based majors, Exploratory Studies; first-year College of Engineering applications).

First-year fall entry: Early Action deadline November 1 (decision by end of December for NC residents, January 31 for others); Regular Decision deadline January 15 (decision March 31). First-year spring entry: application deadline October 1, materials October 15. Studio-based majors (Architecture, Media Arts Design and Technology, Fashion and Textile Design, Graphic & Experience Design, Industrial Design): single deadline November 1 with portfolio. Enrollment confirmation deadline is May 1 for fall admits and December 1 for spring admits. The undergraduate application opens August 1.

Transfer applicants: fall deadline February 15 (materials March 1); spring deadline October 1 (materials October 15); studio-based majors November 1. International first-year and transfer applicants follow the same deadlines.

Apply through the Common App or Coalition on Scoir; the non-refundable application fee is $85 for first-year applicants (fee waivers available). International applicants pay a non-refundable $100 USD application fee (no fee waiver for F or J visa students). NC State is test optional for applicants with a weighted GPA of 2.8 or above (SAT, ACT or CLT scores may be submitted).

Apply through the official page: https://admissions.ncsu.edu/apply/

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