Each week we search ULM’s campus for a major to highlight.

For students wanting a field of study encompassing many aspects of the world today, a political science degree is a viable option.

This degree guides graduates to graduate programs, law schools and public and political careers.

Political science professor Joshua Stockley said it is the study of government systems and analysis of political behavior.

“It is a study of how the world operates and includes every facet and component of society,” Stockley said.

The department continues to grow and to accommodate the changing needs of students.

Though students preparing to go to law school constitute a significant portion of the major, other career paths are also available in research, analysis, campaigns and other fields.

Ashley Aulds, a senior political science major, interested in current events and politics, finds the major to be inclusive of a variety of students’ interests.

“This major has allowed me to gather an understanding of what and why things are happening in our nation and around the world and I enjoy having that information,” Aulds said.

The department allows students in the major to have diverse experiences.

The department also includes ample elective hours in the curriculum.  This enables students to minor in another field that interests them or to even pursue a double major.

The department has several organizations available such as College Republicans and College Democrats. It is open to non-majors, too.

A Pre-Law Association is available for political science majors. This group allows students to gain knowledge of law school options and to prepare for the LSAT exam needed to enter law school.

The political science honor society, Pi Sigma Alpha, not only recognizes students’ achievements but also helps secure a job in the future by awarding points through the civil service system.

A well-known organization on campus is the Mock Trial team, which is sanctioned by the American Mock Trial Association.

The group is advised by local attorney Robert Noel, which was created to further prepare students for law school.

The team competes nationally, which gets students recognized by law schools across the nation.

The success rate of ULM’s political science program is a major tool in recruiting students both to ULM and to the department.

“About 78% of graduates attend graduate school or law school,” Stockley said.

With graduates at prestigious institutions like University of Rochester, American University, Tulane University and several others, the program strives to lead graduates in whatever direction they choose.

Students who enjoy national news and current events like Erin Abney, sophomore political science major, may thrive in the field of political science.

“I love watching news and getting involved in what’s going on in America today,” Abney said.

Whether interning at the Social Science Research Lab, working for a non-profit organization or simply taking a variety of courses that professors adjust to current events and to the job market, students have many opportunities within the political science major.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median income for a political scientist is about $107,000.

That figure varies depending on one’s chosen career path, but graduates certainly have a wide variety of options available. Some careers those with political science degrees have are lawyers, policemen, professors and of course politicians.