Outcomes

Earning a degree political science paves the way for graduates to pursue a variety of roles that go well beyond government and politics, while also developing critical thinking, research, writing and analytical skills. No matter what area of political science you study, the critical skills you develop in research, analysis and communications can help you succeed both inside and outside the political arena.

University of Louisville’s Political Science graduates have been extremely successful in earning prestigious scholarships and fellowships, including numerous Fulbright Award winners and multiple Truman Scholars. Many graduates go on to have successful careers—both in the U.S. and abroad—in the following fields:

• Local, state and federal government agencies
• Campaigns
• International affairs
• Economic development offices
• Non-governmental organizations
• Nonprofit organizations
• Regulatory agencies
• Law/legal organizations
• Public policy
• Business
• Academia
• Media

This degree is also a stepping stone for anyone looking to pursue a career as a political scientist. Political scientists earn a median pay of $122,220, with job outlook project to grow 6% by 2029 (bls.gov).

Students who want to explore their career options with a bachelor's degree in political science can reach out to the UofL Career Development Center, which supports students from their freshman year to their senior year and beyond with career assessments, advising, job and internship postings, resume and interview help, special events and more.

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Note: We admit students on a rolling basis. The preferred deadlines help you complete the application process on time, be notified of acceptance and enroll before the term begins. We review applications as they become complete, and admit students for a specific term up to the day classes start. We recommend you work on and submit your complete application well in advance of the preferred deadline, as obtaining transcripts and other materials may take more time.

Steps to Apply

1. Complete undergraduate application
2. Submit $25 non-refundable application fee
3. Submit official college transcripts for transfer credits from all attended institutions
4. Check for scholarships

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Admission Requirements

• Minimum GPA of 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale)

Transfer Credit

If you have college credit but did not finish your bachelor’s degree, earn your degree in as little as 2 years through UofL’s online B.A. in Political Science. Transfer up to 60 hours from a community college and up to 90 hours from an accredited 4-year college. Transfer applicants must have a minimum college GPA of 2.5 to be admitted in good standing. Complete the credit transfer pre-evaluation to get an idea of how many credits you'll be able to transfer in toward your UofL bachelor's degree, and visit our General Transfer Student page for more details.

Are you a KCTCS student? KCTCS students can transfer completed associate degrees in their entirety and begin immediately with online upper level coursework at UofL. Visit our KCTCS Transfers Page for more information.

See the UofL Transfer Credit Policy for more information.

International Students

• If you live outside of the United States and intend to complete an online academic program from your home country, be sure to view special requirements for international students.
• International applicants must take the TOEFL exam if applying from countries where English is not the native language. Applicants holding a baccalaureate or advanced degree from an accredited institution in the United States are exempt from this requirement.
• Bachelor's degrees earned internationally must be assessed to ensure that entrance requirements are met.
• International students will not be issued a U.S. visa if admitted to the online structural transportation certificate program, since there are no campus attendance requirements.

The online Bachelor of Arts in Political Science is a 121-credit hour program broken down into the following curriculum components:

1. General education classes (31 credit hours)
2. Arts & Sciences programmatic requirements (22 credit hours)
3. Core political science courses (15 credit hours)
4. Supporting Courses (53 hours)

Students are required to take at least one course from each of Political Science's five subfields.

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Core Course Descriptions