Bachelor of International Politics at Pennsylvania State University
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    Bachelor of International Politics at Pennsylvania State University

    Pennsylvania State University
    Pennsylvania State University
    United States of America
    United States of America, University Park
    University Rank:#82
    Bachelor of International Politics at Pennsylvania State University

    Study International Politics at Pennsylvania State University, a Bachelor degree offered across its Any Penn State Campus, University Park, and World Campus campuses in United States of America. This Full Time program is delivered on campus in English and takes approximately 4 years to complete. Students benefit from a structured learning experience designed to build both theoretical knowledge and practical experience. The next intake is scheduled for June 1, 2027.

    About Bachelor of International Politics

    International Politics is an interdisciplinary major focused on how power operates within and between states in the international arena. The program combines economics, history, and political science to examine topics such as human rights, ethnic conflict, terrorism, economic and political development and globalization, the environment, foreign and economic policy making, and national security. Students have the option to concentrate in either International Relations, International Political Economy, or National Security Studies.

    You Might Like This Program If...

    You are interested in learning about different cultures and political systems around the world and how their interactions create and are influenced by political and economic cooperation and conflict. This major is a good choice for students interested in national security, foreign policy, war, crime, and terrorism as well as in languages and history. International Relations is an exciting interdisciplinary major dealing with today's global problems and potential solutions.

    This major, administered within the Department of Political Science, is designed to provide students with a broad, comprehensive education in international politics by offering students options in International Relations, International Political Economy, and Security Studies. While most of the required courses are in the areas of international and comparative politics, the curriculum includes courses in economics, geography, risk analysis, and history. The major provides an opportunity to study in detail a variety of crucial contemporary issues--conflict among and within nations, democratization, economic and political globalization, regional conflicts and the emerging importance of non-state actors--as well as analysis of foreign and economic policy making and security issues in the United States and other nations.

    The major prepares students for career opportunities:

    • with U.S. government executive agencies dealing with foreign affairs, international and homeland security, and the international economy;
    • with relevant committees of the U.S. Congress;
    • with multinational corporations, banks, and consulting firms; and
    • with international organizations.

    The major also provides preparation for law and business schools and for graduate study in political science and international relations.

    • Students will develop substantive knowledge of the discipline of Political Science.
      • Students will be able to define and use the concepts political scientists employ to make and substantiate knowledge claims.
      • Students will be able to describe the central debates and theoretical frameworks of political science and international politics.
    • Students will develop knowledge about how political scientists use empirical analysis to gain insight into political and social processes, to advance political and social goals, and to evaluate the effects of programs and policies.
      • Students will be able to explain multiple approaches to empirical research, such as large-scale observational research, experiments, surveys, case studies, formal modeling, and elite interviewing.
      • Students will be able to describe both the application, and the advantages and disadvantages of different research methods in relation to particular problems.
    • Students will develop the ability to create coherent, persuasive, and empirically grounded oral and written arguments.
      • Students will be able to construct and defend logical arguments.
      • Students will be able to present evidence to support empirical claims.
      • Students will be able to communicate ideas effectively in conformity with academic standards.
    • Students will develop the ability to systematically analyze problems and draw evidenced based inferences. Students in different majors will accomplish this with different emphases depending on the courses they take as part of the BA/BS.
      • Bachelor of Arts students in PLSC and INTPL will analyze problems and draw evidence based inferences using a broad range of techniques according to programmatic focus and individual preference.
      • PLSC Bachelor of Science majors will analyze problems and draw inferences using various data sources and statistical tools.
      • PLSC SODA majors will analyze problems and draw inferences using computational tools appropriate to large complex data sets.
    • Students will develop the ability to combine the substantive knowledge, modes of inquiry, and analytic skills learned in the classroom to address contemporary problems in an uncertain world.
      • Students will be able to draw upon political science research to construct testable explanations of novel situations.
      • Students will be able to weigh the arguments, evidence and inferences used to address problems under conditions of uncertainty.
    • Students will develop ethical reasoning and citizenship skills to participate in a global, pluralistic society.
      • Students will be able to trace the possible ethical implications of public policies and political structures and their consequences for democratic political values.
      • Students will be able to articulate the goals, conditions, and challenges of democracy and describe the roles of citizens and public officials in manifesting and preserving democratic values.
      • Students will be able to critically evaluate the values inherent in the exercise of power through political systems, social structures, information, and collective action.

    Disciplines

    Liberal Arts

    Requirements and Admission Criteria for Bachelor of International Politics at Pennsylvania State University

    Entry Requirements

    Penn State requires the submission of specific academic credentials to complete your application. Review the secondary and post-secondary requirements for your country below.

    If you are a first year student applying to Penn State:

    Click Apply to start your Penn State application. Before starting, you can also review the Applying Online Worksheet for more details and helpful hints about the application.

    Your application work can be saved at each step of the process by clicking the Save and Continue button at the bottom of the page. This feature will allow you to move back and forth within the application or log off and return to complete your application at a later time.

    After completing your Academic History, you will need to provide your Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR). As you begin the SRAR process, a new window will open allowing you to complete your SRAR. SRAR will focus on your high school coursework. It is important that this step is a complete and accurate representation of your school record. Therefore, have a copy of your secondary school records available as you complete your SRAR. You will need to enter every class and every grade earned for the last three years, as well as those classes in progress.

    After completing your SRAR, you will be directed back to the Penn State application in order to complete the Program of Study portion of the application. Here, you will indicate your desired starting semester, your intended program of study, and your starting and ending campus. For further details on how to complete this portion based on your applicant type, please see the steps to apply for first-year students.

    After completing this section of the application, you will provide some additional information, an activities resume, and a personal statement. You will be able to paste in this information from other sources, but note that the formatting may not always paste in as intended.

    If you are a transfer student applying to Penn State:

    All international transfer students will be required to submit official high school transcripts in order to complete the application. International transfer students will not complete the Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR) for either their high school or college coursework.

    If you have accepted your offer of admission to Penn State:

    If you completed SRAR and are accepted to Penn State, please provide the following for grade verification:

    • Official transcript from years 9, 10, 11, and 12. If the transcript is issued in a language other than English, it must be accompanied by a separate line-by-line English translation.
    • Official copy of the Tawjihi, accompanied by a separate line-by-line English translation.

    English Requirements

    • IELTSMin 6.5
    • TOEFLMin 80

    Career Opportunities after Completing Bachelor of International Politics

    Employment opportunities have grown steadily for international politics graduates due to the global integration of political and economic activity and the increasingly global scale of both human problems and efforts to solve them. The ability to navigate across cultures, as well as a knowledge of foreign governments, legislative processes, international organizations, terrorism and conflict, and economic development are vital to the fields of business, finance, journalism, and activism for social change at the global level. The BA in International Politics prepares people for governmental and non-governmental jobs, as well as positions in multinational corporations, banks, consulting firms, and international organizations.

    Graduates of the program have pursued careers with the federal government in positions with the CIA, the military, U.S. embassies, and the Department of Commerce. Others work for international organizations such as the United Nations, UNICEF, and the Red Cross as well as in international business and legislative affairs.

    Tuition and Fee Information for Bachelor of International Politics at Pennsylvania State University

    Application Fee 75

    How to Apply for Bachelor of International Politics at Pennsylvania State University

    Step 1: Choose Your Application Method

    Apply through MyPennState

    The first step of the application process is to create a Penn State account, if you do not have one already. MyPennState is where future students can access the online application.

    If you are new to MyPennState, you will need to establish a Penn State User ID and password, which you will access during the MyPennState profile creation process. Once you have your log in information, you can sign in to begin work on your application.

    When creating the profile, please use the name that is on your passport. Because materials are filed alphabetically under the family name on the application, it is important that all correspondence and records consistently use the same name (family and given) and spelling. If this name does not match your academic records, please notify us of the difference. Please note: In the U.S., the family name is usually referred to as the last name, and the given name is referred to as the first name.

    Additionally, Penn State requires a current, valid email address, as that is our primary means of communication with international students. To ensure deliverability, please make Penn State (psu.edu) an eligible sender to the account.

    Applying through the Common App

    Applying to Penn State via the Common App is available to first-year (freshman) international students. If applying through the Common App, Penn State will create a MyPennState profile when the application is submitted and you will receive instructions on how to access your profile. If you intend to apply with the Common App, you do not need create a MyPennState profile prior to submitting your application.

    Step 2: Access the Application and Review Important Dates

    While you can create a MyPennState profile at any time, the application for admission becomes available on the following dates:

    Fall/Summer Admission: August 1

    Spring Admission: June 1

    The application submission dates vary by applicant type and intended program of study. Some programs have specific deadlines or admissions requirements. Please refer to our Dates & Deadlines for more information about application deadlines, as well as our Admissions Requirements to review information about any additional materials required for your intended program of study.

    Step 3: Start Your Penn State Application

    If applying through MyPennState:

    Click Apply Online to start your Penn State application. 

    Your application work can be saved at each step of the process by clicking the "Save and Continue" button at the bottom of the page. This feature will allow you to move back and forth within the application or log off and return to complete your application at a later time.

    After completing your Academic History, you will need to provide your Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR), unless otherwise directed. You will be directed to enter information about your secondary school coursework. Please have a copy of your secondary school records as you complete SRAR. It is important that this step is a complete and accurate representation of your school record. You will need to enter every grade for every course you have taken in the last three years, as well as your current schedule of classes.

    Students educated in South Korea will not complete SRAR. The document requirements for South Korea can be found by reviewing our International Credential Requirements.

    After this section, you will be directed back to the Penn State application to complete the Program of Study portion. Here, you will indicate your desired starting semester, your intended program of study, and your starting and ending campus. For further details on how to complete this portion based on your applicant type, please see the steps to apply for either first-year students or transfer students.

    After this portion, you will provide some additional application information, an activities resume, and a personal statement. You will be able to paste in this information from other sources, but note that the formatting may not always paste in as intended.

    If applying through the Common App:

    Complete the Common App, which will then direct you to MyPennState to complete SRAR. Applicants using the Common App may feel that they provided their high school record via the Common App, but Penn State requires the completion of SRAR via MyPennState. We strongly encourage you to obtain an official copy of your high school transcript to ensure accurate entry of your coursework completed and grades earned. The SRAR will include all of your high school coursework from your last three years of work and your current year schedule. If your final year grades are available when you enter SRAR, you can enter them at that time.

    Step 4: Submit Your Application

    The application requires a nonrefundable application fee of $75 for international students. Be sure to complete the last step after Summary and Review, which finalizes payment of your fee, and be certain it is successfully submitted. Once the application is submitted, you can verify its completion by accessing your MyPennState profile.

    Step 5: Submit Required Application Materials

    In order to complete your Penn State application, we need the following materials:

    • Application
    • Secondary school record
    • Post-secondary school records (if applicable)
    • First-year applicants only: Official test scores: SAT (code #2660) or ACT (code #3656)

      Writing Component and Subject Tests

      Please note: The writing component of standardized tests (SAT or ACT) is not required. The writing component will not be used as part of our evaluation. If your test scores include the writing component, by all means, have those scores sent to Penn State. Additionally, we do not require SAT Subject Tests.

    • English language proficiency, if your native language is not English

    Please see the admissions requirements for international students to review the details about the required application materials. Some programs require additional items to complete your application. Please review our Admissions Requirements for those details.

    Penn State does not require letters of recommendation, nor are they used in a student’s evaluation (unless required for a specific program).

    Step 6: Check Your Application Status in MyPennState

    You can always check the status of your application in MyPennState. We will communicate with you via MyPennState and through a series of emails regarding the missing items for your application. When everything has arrived, you will see a status in MyPennState confirming the completion of your application.

    Please note: It is your responsibility to check on the status of your application and send us any missing materials.

    Step 7: Receive Your Admission Decision

    Once we have reached a decision regarding your application, we will update your status in MyPennState and provide a printable PDF of your decision letter. Review our Dates & Deadlines to see when you should expect your decision.

    If accepted, you can accept your offer of admission in MyPennState to begin the process of becoming a Penn State student. Visit our Accepted Students section to review the next steps in this process. Once you accept your offer of admission to Penn State, those students completing SRAR will submit their official records for validation purposes as soon as possible.

    Bachelor of International Politics at Pennsylvania State University
    Pennsylvania State University
    Pennsylvania State University
    United States of America

    United States of America, University Park

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