Political Science

Political Science Department

Marie Courtemanche, Ph.D.
Department Chair

 mcourtemanche@thiel.edu
 724-589-2074

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  • Public Policy | Major

    Major: Public Policy

    Degree awarded: Bachelor of Arts

    Total credit hours: 41 - 55 CH depending on concentration

    Internship/Practicum opportunities: Visit the Career Development Center for internship information.

    About the program

    Public policy students at Thiel College have the opportunity to see all sides of serious public problems and to make informed decisions that can help to improve the lives of others. Public policy officials have to be prepared to solve problems ranging from crime, health care, education and so much more. To prepare you for this type of work, you will take a wide range of courses in order to successfully contribute to the policy making process.

    Visit our Academic Catalog (2023-2024) for course listings.

    Major Features

    1. Study closely with professors who have real experience in your field.
    2. Trace public policies’ origin and debate to see how legislative demands, the interests of constituents and groups, and economic realities all shape policy.
    3. Assess the impact of policies on their intended beneficiaries.
    4. Complete a capstone project where you will gain real-world experience conducting applied policy research for an external client.

    Scholarship Opportunities

    Thiel College offers scholarships to students for reasons such as academic success, community service or involvement, exemplary leadership and more! The scholarships available to political science majors are:

    • Dr. H. Reginald Belden Pre-Law Student Scholarship
    • Cigler Political Science Endowed Scholarship
    • William Randolph Hearst Scholarship Endowment Fund
    • Dr. Roy H. Johnson Memorial Award
    • The Dr. Roy H. Johnson Political Science Awards Fund
    • Luther Malmberg Scholarship Fund
    • Gilbert & Dorothy J. Taylor Scholarship
    • John S. Yocca Memorial Scholarship for Political Science

    Visit our Financial Aid page to learn more about the types of aid available to students.

    Clubs & Organizations

    It's easy to get involved on campus! Joining a student club or organization is an excellent way to meet others and gain leadership experience. A political science major might be interested in the following clubs and orgs:

    • Criminal Justice Club
    • Students for Civic Participation (S.C.P.)
    • Student Government Association
    • Tomcat Political Society
    • Pi Sigma Alpha (National Political Science Honorary)

    Visit our Campus Life page to see a full list of student clubs and organizations.

    Alumni & Careers

    As a public policy graduate from Thiel College, you will have the critical thinking skills in place to analyze difficult problems that face our society. This program prepares you for careers in government, lobbying the government, non-profit and for-profit as well as graduate school. Here are some examples of the jobs available to public policy graduates:

    • Non-Profit Organization Program Managers earn a median annual salary of $50,163* ensuring that the projects they oversee are in line with the stated goals of their organization.
    • Management Consultants earn a median annual salary $85,953* of identifying current problems and potential risks and helping their company to overcome them.
    • Policy Analysts earn a median annual salary of $56,525* working for government, NGOs, and for-profit companies to change, adjust, or implement new public policies, regulations, and laws.
    • Urban Planners earn a median annual salary of $55,115* analyzing economic, environmental, and social trends to map out the most effective use of a community’s land and infrastructure.
    • Public Policy Associates earn a median annual salary of $49,059* lobbying government officials, creating networks of support and funding and develop and implement legislative and advocacy campaigns.

    *Payscale.com

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    Thiel College
    75 College Ave
    Greenville, PA 16125
    1-800-248-4435