Skip to main content
Penn State Harrisburg
Hotline Visit Apply Give
  • Academics
    • Undergraduate Degrees
    • Graduate Programs
  • Admissions and Financial Aid
    • Office of Admissions
    • Tuition and Financial Aid
  • Research
  • Information For
    • Future Students
    • Parents & Families
    • Alumni & Supporters
    • Current Students
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Workforce Professionals
Full site navigation menu

This dialog contains the full navigation menu for this site.

Penn State Harrisburg
Enter the terms you wish to search for.
Search type:
Hotline Visit Apply Give
  • This is Penn State
    • Vision, Mission and Values
    • Diversity and Inclusion at Penn State Harrisburg
    • Outreach and Economic Development Services
    • Board of Advisers
    • Administration
    • Chancellor's Office
  • Academics
    • Undergraduate Degrees
    • Graduate Degrees
    • Minors
    • Graduate or Postbaccalaureate Certificates
    • Integrated Undergraduate/Graduate Degrees
    • Education Certifications and Endorsements
  • Admissions
  • Tuition & Financial Aid
  • Research
  • Athletics
  • Student Life

Find Information For:

  • Future Students
  • Parents & Families
  • Alumni & Supporters
  • Current Students
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Workforce Professionals

Helpful Links

  • Contact Us
  • Give Today
  • Directory
  • Events Calendar

Connect With Us

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • flickr
  • youtube
  • instagram
  1. Home
  2. School of Public Affairs
Political Science

Political Science (B.A.)

Penn State Harrisburg’s Political Science program major offers a flexible learning opportunity that students can tailor to their own interests and career goals while acquiring broadly employable skills for careers is a variety of fields. The program prepares students to exercise responsibilities of citizenship and leadership in a pluralistic democratic society, and as global citizens. Faculty teaching in the program have an international background and bring a variety of academic and practical perspectives to the program.

Foundational courses provide an opportunity to understand not only U.S. federal, state, and local governments, but also the political systems of other nations and the philosophies that underlie them; further, students learn about political theory, comparative and international politics, and methodology for policy analysis. Through the course of the program, students are able to build their own individual focus area of study, and can choose from one of the following recommended concentrations:

  • U.S. Political Institutions and Processes
  • Pre-law
  • International Studies
  • Security Studies

The major in Political Science is also a comprehensive learning experience, integrated with the Harrisburg Semester internship program, Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science Honor Society), Penn State Harrisburg Model United Nations, and Penn State’s Security Center for Research and Education

Career Outlook/ Job Opportunities

Bureau of Labor Statistics data indicate a projected growth of 2% in jobs for political scientists between 2016 and 2026. The ability of our students to follow specific concentrations, including security and emergency management, further improves this job outlook as those areas also have growth rates in the dimension of 10%.

Candidates who have specialized knowledge or experience in their field of interest will also have better job opportunities. Internships or volunteer work also may be helpful. Our program contributes to both.

More than half of all political scientists are employed by the federal government. Political scientists will continue to be needed in government to assess the impact of government policies, such as the efficiencies of public services, effects of departmental cuts, and advantages of proposed improvements. Political organizations, lobbying firms, and many nonprofit, labor, and social organizations rely on the knowledge of political scientists to manage complicated legal and regulatory issues and policies. Political scientists will be needed at research and policy organizations to focus specifically on politics and political theory. Organizations that research or advocate for specific causes, such as immigration, healthcare, or the environment, also need political scientists to analyze policies relating to their field.

Graduate Study

The major in political science provides a particularly strong foundation for further studies in law school or graduate school. Upon successfully completing the program, students may qualify for admission to one of our graduate programs and seamlessly continue their academic journey with us in residential, hybrid, or fully online programs. Those include:

  • Master of Arts in Criminal Justice
  • Master of Health Administration
  • Master of Professional Studies in Homeland Security
  • Master of Public Administration and Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration  

Political Science (B.A.)

  • Curriculum
  • Courses
  • Assessment
  • Program Contacts
Apply to Penn State
Online Application
Talk with a Student
Connect
Transfer to Penn State Harrisburg
learn more

Political Science and Public Policy Programs

Political Science (B.A.)
Public Policy (B.S.)
Political Science (Minor)

See Also

  • Suggested Academic Plan
  • Brochure (PDF)
  • Political Science Honor Society
  • Request Information
Pennsylvania map showing Penn State campuses with Penn State Harrisburg highlighted

Penn State Harrisburg

A comprehensive college in southcentral Pennsylvania offering more than 70 undergraduate and graduate programs.
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • flickr
  • youtube
  • instagram
Visit Apply Give
  • This is Penn State
    • Administration
    • Vision, Mission and Values
    • Board of Advisors
    • Outreach and Economic Development Services
  • Academics
    • Undergraduate Degrees
    • Graduate Degrees
    • Academic Calendar
  • Admission
    • Office of Admissions
    • Housing Options
    • Veterans
  • Tuition & Financial Aid
    • Office of Student Aid
    • Bursar's Office
  • Research
    • Office of Research and Outreach
    • Harrisburg LaunchBox
  • Student Life
    • Office of Student Life
    • Student Affairs
    • Student Initiated Fee
  • Community Safety & Health
    • University Police and Public Safety
    • PSUAlert
    • Weather Policy
Penn State University
777 West Harrisburg Pike, Middletown, PA 17057 717-948-6000

Footer Legal Menu

  • Privacy
  • Non-discrimination
  • Equal Opportunity
  • Accessibility
  • Copyright
  • Directory
  • The Pennsylvania State University © 2023
  • We Are Penn State