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KU Political Science Undergraduate Programs

The Department of Political Science offers BA and BGS programs for students.

The primary distinction between the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of General Studies degree is the foreign language requirement, which is part of the BA degree. Students must demonstrate proficiency in one foreign language through the fourth-semester level in one of three ways.
This may be done by: 1) Pass the proficiency examination in one foreign language, 2) Complete a fourth-semester level course in one foreign language, 3) Complete any foreign language course that has a fourth-semsester-level course as a prerequisite. Students whose native language is not English may be exempt from the foreign language requirement if they can show that the high school they attended taught in a language other than English.

A requirement of the BGS degree is junior/senior concentration, an approved minor outside the major, or a second major or degree.
-The junior/senior concentration requires a minimum of three upper-level courses (numbered 300 and above) totaling at least 9 credit hours in one department outside the major.
-Requirements for the minor vary, but all must be at least 18 hours including 12 hours at the junior/senior level (numbered 300 and above). Nine of the junior/senior hours must be taken in residence at KU.
-Students completing 2 or more majors or degrees are exempt from this requirement.


What is Political Science?

In the broadest sense, political science is the study of governments and governmental procedures. Political science is as old as civilization, because people always have been interested in their government and in their leaders. But, political science as it is thought of today, as one of the social sciences, is a comparatively new discipline. It developed in the United States during the last century as political scientists developed an ability to make increasingly scientific observations of government. Political scientists are concerned with the origins and sources of governmental organizations, their growth and their decline as well as the processes and structure of government.

Undergraduate Major Requirements : A detailed listing of requirements and courses.

Scholarships: The department gives a number of awards, as well as competitive scholarships for study abroad and participation in the Washington Semester program, to outstanding upper-level political science majors. These are based on faculty recommendations, not student applications. For information about additional scholarships from KU and various outside agencies based on academic merit, diversity, major and residence, visit the Scholarship Information for KU Students web site at www.scholarships.ku.edu.

Robert J. Dole Internships: Program information on Topeka Internships and Washington Internships .

Other Internships are available as well.