BA Political Science at University of Alabama

Programme overview

Students enrolled in political science classes may have interests in public service careers at the national, state, and local levels; the legal profession; teaching in high schools and universities; political advocacy; nonprofit organizations related to public policy; elective and appointive office; political campaigns; and the media. Studying political science also contributes to informed and effective citizenship. Students must earn a minimum of 3 hours in three of the fields listed below, for a total of 9 hours.

Faculty: J. Frank Barefield Jr. College of Arts and Sciences | Department: Political Science | Study mode: full-time | Location: Tuscaloosa, AL, United States

What you will study

Courses in the listed curriculum include PSC 101 Intro American Politics, PSC 211 State & Local Govt, PSC 311 Pol Party & Elections, PSC 312 Amer Legislative Syst, PSC 313 The American Executive, PSC 314 Amer Judicial System.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Students are expected to formally declare a major no later than the fourth semester of full-time enrollment (or at 61 semester hours for transfer students). Students can declare a major by meeting with an academic advisor and requesting the major be added to their academic record. Unless otherwise stated, the prerequisite for enrollment in PSC 318 Con Law: Limits of Gov Power, PSC 319 Con Law Civ Rts and Libs, and PSC 439 UK Politics and Policy is PSC 101 Intro American Politics. PSC 204 International Relations is the prerequisite for PSC 435 War And Peace and PSC 444 International Organizations The prerequisite for enrollment in 300-level political science courses is sophomore standing or permission of the instructor, and the prerequisite for 400-level political science courses is junior standing or higher or permission of the instructor. Besides preparing students for positions in the fields of public service and politics, law, education, and journalism, the PSC major also provides s University-level freshman admission (not programme-specific): 4 units English, 3 units mathematics, 3 units natural sciences (two with labs) and 10 other academic units; ACT or SAT is required if the cumulative high school GPA is below 3.0 for 2027 entry (all applicants for 2028 entry).

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, Spring and Summer (the admissions page lists Spring, and Summer/Fall priority deadlines).

First-year priority deadlines: November 2 for Spring entry and December 4 for Summer/Fall entry. Applications are accepted through the UA Undergraduate App, and first-time freshmen may also apply through the Common App.

Transfer priority deadlines: October 1 for Spring entry and March 1 for Summer/Fall entry. The application fee is $50 (nonrefundable); Alabama residents applying via the UA Undergraduate App pay no fee.

First-year applicants for a 2027 entry term must submit an ACT or SAT score if their cumulative high school GPA is below 3.0; all students applying to enroll in 2028 must submit test scores.

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

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