political science

our political science program is based on an age-old approach:

• rigorous research
• classical readings
• statistical, civic, and technological literacy
• writing convincingly and clearly

streamlined and efficient, our political science major enables you to take on a second major. in fact, you can earn your degree in three years and get preferential admission consideration for select master's programs at lipscomb.

we offer rich and dynamic learning opportunities outside of a traditional classroom, giving students experiences that provide them with the tools necessary for success in their field. our students serve and learn through:

• pi sigma alpha honor society (national political science honor society chapter). every fall, we induct a new class of honor students in political science into our chapter, alpha zeta upsilon.
• tennessee intercollegiate state legislature (tisl). each fall, we send a delegation to a mock legislature held at the tn state capitol. students participate as senators, representatives, lobbyists, media and other positions. this is a 4-day experience that more than 30 colleges and universities throughout tn participate in.
• appellate moot court collegiate challenge (amc3). concurrent with tisl, the amc3 competition pits lu against colleges throughout the state in a head-to-head competition to argue constitutional cases. our team writes a brief analyzing the case, then argues in front of a succession of panels in an exciting competition.
• model united nations. the political science program sponsors a model un club that will simulate the united nations through various scenarios throughout the school year. they will travel to compete with other universities across the southeast.

political science majors find success across the spectrum of careers. government is involved in most everything and as a consequence, political science has been the springboard for so many of our greatest leaders in government, business and academia.

• political science is the #1 major for law school students.
• political science majors have an advantage in securing a job with america's #1 employer--the us government.
• political science majors with bachelor's degrees outperform the average salary for all bachelor's degrees and the average for all social science majors.*
• graduate degree holders who major in political science outperform the average salary for all majors and the average for all other social sciences.*
• famous political science majors include former president barak obama, former vice presidents joe biden and dick cheney, speaker of the house paul ryan, senate minority leader nancy pelosi, former secretary of state john kerry.

*sources: georgetown university center on education and the workforce (https://cew.georgetown.edu/).

history, politics and philosophy students are exceptionally well prepared for continuing their educations in graduate school or law school. recent graduates have gone onto study at some of the best institutions in the country, including ivy league schools, often with full-tuition fellowships.

in stressing both skills and breadth of knowledge, our students combine the best of a pre-professional education with the rich and full tradition of a liberal arts education. graduate and law schools emphasize strong verbal, writing, and analytical skills and a sophisticated understanding of the social, political, economic and cultural context of our society.  political science majors are the #1 major for students attending law school.

the political science program has partnered with the college of business and the college of leadership and public service to offer an innovative "3-then-1" pathway that would enable ambitious lipscomb students to complete an undergraduate degree in political science in three academic years. during their final semester, they would receive preferential consideration for admission to lipscomb's one-year master's program in the college of business or the one-year master's program in the college of leadership and public service. if admitted to one of these programs, and upon successful completion of it, students in the "3-then-1" pathway will earn a bachelor's degree in political science, and a master's degree in either business, conflict management, or leadership & public service in only four years. for more information, contact one of the undergraduate advisors in the department of history, politics and philosophy.