Political Science

College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences
Political Science faculty 2022

Degree Options

On-Campus Degree Options

  • B.A. in Political Science
  • Minor in Legal Studies
  • Minor in Political Science
  • Minor in Public Administration

Online Degree Options

Who Would be Interested in Political Science?

Political Science is the perfect major for students who are interested in learning about:

  • U.S. and world government
  • International relations
  • Law
  • Public administration

Why Political Science?

Rewarding Career Opportunities

Students graduating with this major enter a variety of careers in:

  • Federal, state, and local government
  • Campaigns
  • Law
  • Business
  • Nonprofit organizations

Senior Internships

Many students participate in internships. The Colonels at the Capital Program sends students to both Frankfort, Ky. and Washington, DC.

Students have held recent internships with:

  • Washington Center 
  • Congressman Ben Chandler 
  • Kentucky Legislative Research Commission

What Are the Requirements to be Admitted to this Program?

Students may select Political Science as their major upon applying to the university.

What Is Concurrent Enrollment for Undergraduates?

Interdisciplinary concurrent enrollment allows exemplary undergraduate students to pursue nine credit hours of graduate level coursework in the Master of Public Administration (MPA) program which will substitute nine credit hours of their undergraduate degree requirements.

Q: What are the qualifications for students to request the concurrent enrollment option?
A: Students must be a junior or senior in standing with at least a 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA. Students are expected to maintain a cumulative 3.0 graduate GPA.

Q: What graduate courses could the undergraduate student enroll in?
A: Students will be limited to enroll only in the following graduate courses:

  • POL 801
  • POL 874
  • POL 875

Course Descriptions

POL 801 Administration, Ethics, and Public Policy
This course will introduce students to both the theoretical and practical aspects of public administration. Students will gain knowledge about the background and evolution of public administration, public policy formation, organizational and behavioral theories, performance management, and the significance of ethical standards for public and nonprofit administrators.

Throughout the course, students will engage in exercises aimed at connecting theoretical concepts with real-world applications through case studies. Additionally, they will actively participate in weekly group discussions and collaborate with fellow students to address specific discussion questions. In order to develop a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by leaders in the public sector, each student will be assigned a book by the instructor to review. Lastly, students will take a final exam consisting of essay questions.

POL 874 Public Sector Leadership
This course explores the theories and practices of leadership within public and nonprofit sector organizations. The primary focus is on contrasting leadership theories and analyzing leadership through various theoretical lenses.

Students will actively engage in various learning and research activities designed to foster a deep understanding of the theories and concepts taught in class. They will have the opportunity to evaluate their personal strengths and weaknesses in leadership and analyze EKU's strategic plan. Moreover, students will conduct research and prepare a leadership analysis for an individual occupying a leadership position in a public service capacity. Collaborating in teams, they will examine and present case studies on leaders and managers in the public and nonprofit sectors. Additionally, some modules will involve group discussions, brief quizzes, or essay responses by students.

POL 875 Organization Theory
In this course, students will gain knowledge of major organization theories, including the interaction between organizations and their environments, as well as the behavior of individuals within organizations. The course places a strong emphasis on exploring different approaches to organizations, with a particular focus on contemporary applications and critical evaluations of these theories.

Throughout the course, students will actively participate in weekly group discussions. They will review assigned discussion readings and address discussion questions by integrating theories, lectures, and concepts covered in class. Additionally, students will be assessed through a midterm exam and a final exam, which will consist of both short and long-answer questions.

Q: How will concurrent enrollment impact the student’s financial aid eligibility?
A: Federal regulations permit undergraduate students to receive financial assistance only for coursework required for their current degree program. Students who are enrolled in both undergraduate and graduate course work in the same semester may receive less financial aid than if only enrolled for undergraduate course work. Students are advised to contact BigECentral to find how their financial aid amount would be adjusted for mixed enrollment.

Q: How does the student apply and become approved for interdisciplinary concurrent enrollment?
A: Students must submit the online Concurrent Enrollment form. 

Upon form submission, the student’s enrollment request will be routed to the graduate program coordinator, undergraduate advisor, department, chair, and Graduate School dean.

Where Are Recent Graduates Employed?

  • Lawyer, Frost Brown Todd, Lexington, Ky.
  • Deputy Chief of Staff, Senate Democratic Leadership Office, Frankfort, Ky.
  • ARC Consultant, Hindman, Ky.

How Do I Get More Information?

On-Campus Program Information

government.eku.edu
Contact Lynnette Noblitt, Department of Government and Economics Chair
lynnette.noblitt@eku.edu

Online Program Information

ekuonline.eku.edu/political-science
Laquanda Miller
859-622-9959
Laquanda.Miller@eku.edu

 

Are There Scholarship Opportunities?

  • Kline Scholarship
  • Ogden Scholarship