Learn About Politics, Gain High-Demand Career Skills
Dramatic headlines are a constant in modern politics: School boards banning books. State legislatures restricting abortion. Insurrectionists attacking the U.S. Capitol. Authoritarians threaten democracy in many countries. Russia invading Ukraine. Policies on energy and the environment promise to change all of our lives. It seems like everywhere you turn, politics is rocking our lives like never before. Why is there so much turmoil? Where did it come from? Where is it likely to lead? And most importantly: What can we do?
Questions like these lie at the core of political science. Political science is the study of political institutions, processes, and players at all levels of government and at the global level. It examines them in a variety of contexts: institutional, legal, historical, behavioral, philosophical, sociological, and political-economic. Ultimately, political science is about power: who has it, how they got it, how they use it, and how they keep it.
As a political science major at the University of Michigan-Flint, you’ll become highly skilled in the core subject areas within the discipline. But equally important, the political science program harnesses logic, knowledge and passion and will teach you how to:
- Think critically and analytically
- Express yourself orally and in writing
- Conduct systematic research
- Solve complex problems
- Understand and participate in your community
- Learn on the job and throughout life
The skills and knowledge you’ll develop at UM-Flint are transferable. You will prepare to work in government and politics, public policy, advocacy, nonprofits, business, journalism, and many other areas. They’ll also equip you for graduate studies in fields such as law, public administration, public policy, education, public health, journalism, and academic social sciences.
Why UM-Flint?
There are many reasons you should study political science at UM-Flint. Here are just a few:
- You can get valuable hands-on experience collaborating with faculty on research projects and initiatives relating to voting, democracy and other topics.
- You can gain more hands-on experience through the internship course that political science majors can take. Your internship will give you the opportunity to develop useful career skills and contacts. It also can make all the difference when you’re applying for a job or to graduate school.
- UM-Flint offers meaningful co-curricular activities like our Moot Court, where you can hone your critical thinking skills in mock Supreme Court-style oral arguments and compete with students from other schools.
- We sponsor two student groups of special interest to political science majors: Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honors society, and the Pre-Law Society. These groups provide the opportunity to meet and learn with students who share your interests and career aspirations.
- If you’re interested in law school, we offer pre-law advising starting as early as your freshman year. Our graduates have been accepted at law schools including the University of Michigan, Georgetown University, Notre Dame University, the University of Minnesota, Emory University, Penn State University, Wayne State University, Michigan State University, Marquette University, and more – often supported by substantial scholarships.
“I have always been interested in going into politics or being an attorney and Political Science is a common pathway for both. Studying Political Science allowed me to gain knowledge in subjects like history, law, and policymaking. My classes were small enough that there was always room for ample discussion, which empowered me to learn new things, connect them with my values and beliefs, and then form opinions that I could develop meaningful arguments for.”
Tyrice is currently a law student at Marquette University Law School.
Tyrice Denson
Political Science 2019
Political Science Programs at UM-Flint
Most students pursue the Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Another option is the Integrated Social Sciences with an emphasis in political science, which results in a BA degree.
Four minors are available to students in any program at UM-Flint:
You also can continue your education with our graduate program that leads to a Master of Public Administration degree.
Scholarships for Political Science Majors
UM-Flint provides a number of scholarships that are specifically for political science students. They include:
- David French Memorial Scholarship
- Richard S. Harris Scholarship Fund
- David R. Keller Book Fund
- Gilbert Rubenstein Attorney at Law Scholarship Fund
- Lillian B. and Bruce E. Wright Memorial Scholarship
In addition, if you’re a first-year student coming out of high school and have a strong academic record, you may qualify for either of two programs:
- Through our Merit Scholarship program, you could get up to $10,000 per year for school, depending on your GPA and ACT/SAT score. Limited full-ride awards are available. You’re automatically considered for a Merit Scholarship when you apply to the University of Michigan-Flint.
- Our Go Blue Guarantee automatically awards free tuition if you have a high school GPA of at least 3.5 and a family income of $65,000 or less and assets below $50,000.
Our Office of Financial Aid also offers a variety of other scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. They’re all part of our effort to make your world-class University of Michigan-Flint education affordable.
Academic Advising for Political Science Majors
Going to college is challenging no matter what your background may be. To help you succeed, the College of Arts and Sciences provides dedicated academic advisors. They can help you choose classes, navigate program requirements, overcome personal issues, develop post-graduation plans, and more.
Megan Presland is the dedicated political science advisor. You can contact her at [email protected] or schedule an advising appointment.
To help you envision what your experience as a political science major will look like, we’ve created a major map. It provides year-by-year details about classes you’ll take, experiences available both on and off campus, preparing for life after graduation, and more. Download the major map today and start planning your future.
Career Opportunities in Political Science
Your Bachelor of Arts in Political Science degree from UM-Flint will open the door to a huge range of career options. UM-Flint political science graduates have gone on to successful careers in law, policy analysis, business, medicine, nonprofit agencies, the media, and education, and they’ve held elected office at various levels of Michigan government. Consider these job projections for just a few career possibilities from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- Political scientists
- Job growth through 2030: 9 percent
- Job openings annually through 2030: 700
- Typical entry-level education required: Master’s degree
- Median annual salary: $122,510
- News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists
- Job growth through 2030: 6 percent
- Job openings annually through 2030: 5,400
- Typical entry-level education required: Bachelor’s degree
- Median annual salary: $48,370
- Lawyers
- Job growth through 2030: 9 percent
- Job openings annually through 2030: 46,000
- Typical entry-level education required: Juris Doctor degree
- Median annual salary: $127,900
- Labor Relations Specialists
- Job growth through 2030: -4 percent
- Job openings annually through 2030: 6,400
- Typical entry-level education required: Bachelor’s degree
- Median annual salary: $77,010
More information about careers for political science majors is available from the American Political Science Association.
Get Started on Your Political Science Career Today
If you want a degree that provides a strong academic foundation and skills that open the door to a wide range of exciting career opportunities, apply to the University of Michigan-Flint’s Bachelor of Arts in Political Science program today. If you have questions, you can contact the program’s dedicated academic advisor, Megan Presland, [email protected] or schedule an advising appointment.
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