Politics and International Relations (B.A.) with American Politics Concentration

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates from Messiah’s Politics program can:

1. Explain foundational content, practices and philosophical and ethical assumptions of political science.
2. Explain the empirical and normative approaches of political science inquiry.
3. Demonstrate commitment to democratic values for meaningful participation in the political process.
4. Explain the impact of global interactions and identify the significance of different cultural and political structures.
5. Demonstrate writing, information search methods, and forms of documentation appropriate to the discipline of Political Science and the procedures for pursuing research in the discipline of Political Science.
6. Demonstrate proficiency in the field of political science sufficient to pursue a career and/or continue education at the graduate level.
7. Identify options for employment, voluntary service, and/or graduate education in the field of Political Science and identify one’s sense of vocation in this field.
8. Articulate how faith connects to the field of Political Science and to potential career options in the field of Political Science.
9. Explain the impact of political forces, institutions, policy and law on the American political system.

Program Overview

The Politics and International Relations program explores how people make collective decisions through government. From a Christian perspective, politics is part of God's provision for Creation, a means of reconciling self-interest and social interaction. The major nurtures the analytical, verbal, and written abilities that are the hallmark of the liberal arts. 

Faculty encourage students to think independently, engage opposing points of view, and develop an abiding concern for public life in the interest of social justice. These perspectives prepare students for thoughtful and meaningful participation in democracy to solve problems facing society.  Moreover, students analyze the forces of globalization—the power relationships responsible for an increasingly integrated world.

Students have the opportunity to pursue internships in a variety of sectors, conduct specialized research, and apply their learning through off-campus study in the US and abroad. Our graduates have served in various capacities in both the public and the private sphere including but not limited to: law, consulting, business administration, data analytics, government relations, journalism, think tanks campaign management, non-profit creation and administration, foreign service, national security, and, of course, government service.

The American Politics concentration within the major provides a rich understanding of the country’s political system with a focus on the political forces that emerge from the culture, the institutions that make decisions, and the impact of the policy resulting from those decisions. 

Major Requirements

Nine credits is the maximum number of internship/practica credits that can apply toward the Politics major. This maximum includes any courses or experiential credit earned as a part of a semester-long off-campus program.

Complete the following for your major:

American Politics concentration (21 credits)

Three credits from the following:

Three credits from the following:

QuEST Requirements