Political Science

www.linnbenton.edu/political-science

The Political Science emphasis, Associate of Science degree program is designed for students interested in completing a bachelor’s degree at Oregon State University (OSU) in Political Science. Students interested in this option are strongly encouraged to enroll in the Degree Partnership Program (DPP) as there may be lower division courses required by their chosen discipline that are only offered at Oregon State University. Students interested in a general transfer degree should follow the guidelines for the AAOT and work with an advisor from the college/university they plan to transfer to to be sure the appropriate courses are being taken at LBCC.

An Oregon State University Bachelor of Arts degree requires that students take two years of a college-level second language. While this is not a requirement for this Associate of Science degree, it is highly recommended that students complete this coursework at LBCC, or after transfer using the Degree Partnership Program.

Political scientists study the history, development, and the functioning of political systems. Students pursuing a degree in political science will study, for example, how to understand and predict voter behavior; how political systems influence the economy, society, and culture of a place; and how the media and politicians shape public opinion. Because there is a large emphasis placed on learning how to evaluate evidence, form theories, and think and write critically, political science students are well prepared for a variety of occupations. Depending on the area of political science studied while in school and whether or not a student pursues post-graduate education, career opportunities for students majoring in Political Science currently include jobs such as lawyers, legislative staffers, policy analysts, journalists, teachers, business executives and university professors. Many students go on to advanced study in fields such as law, diplomacy, public policy, and public administration.