Political Science, (Accelerated B.A./M.A)

University of Memphis

Program objectives for a B.A. in Political Science are: (a) basic understanding of political institutions and processes in the United States and other countries (b) basic understanding of the ways in which countries interact with one another, directly or through intermediary institutions (c) basic understanding of the development of political thought (d) able to apply basic political science methodologies to political science questions (e) able to analyze and explain political processes and outcome (f) able to interpret political attitudes, values, and beliefs (g) have the critical thinking skills necessary for careers in government, business, law, or academia.Accelerated B.A./M.A Program in Political ScienceThis program allows outstanding undergraduates to begin the coursework for the Master of Arts in Political Science during their senior year. Students are encouraged to begin planning to enter the Accelerated B.A./M.A. program early in their undergraduate career, in consultation with their advisor in the Department of Political Science.Working with the undergraduate and graduate academic coordinators, undergraduates selected into this program begin a carefully tailored course of study which will allow them to complete their B.A. degree while they also begin the coursework toward their M.A.To apply, students must have a minimum 3.25 grade point average, and must submit two reference letters and a copy of their transcript to the Political Science department. Each applicant will complete an interview with the graduate academic coordinator in political science.Students must also apply to the Graduate School for the accelerated B.A./M.A. program, which allows them to take graduate courses in political science. To continue in the program past the B.A., students must apply for full admission into the Graduate School and into the Political Science department’s M.A. program.Only in ABM programs, up to 12 hours of graduate course work may be applied to both the undergraduate and graduate programs. However, any graduate coursework will not apply to undergraduate GPA.

College of Arts and Sciences