For more than 100 years, the Department of Political Science at the University of Kentucky has been serving students in the Commonwealth, preparing them for careers, service, and inquiry in Kentucky and beyond.

Students are at the core of our mission.  The department offers a BA in two majors, Political Science and Law and Justice, as well as a PhD in Political Science. We are also home many other educational opportunities such as the Peace Studies Certificate. We have more than 600 majors and minors, taking courses across American politics, comparative politics, and international relations. 

Students have many opportunities for high impact, hands-on experiences in Political Science at UK. The department supports internship programs in Washington D.C. (WilDCats at the Capitol) and in Frankfort, Kentucky (KLIP) as well as the UK BLUE (Bachelor to Law) program. We have many opportunities for students to connect outside of the classroom. In particular, we have a very active chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society, which was named Best Chapter in the U.S. in 2022.

Students also actively engage in research, working with faculty, completing independent studies, and enrolling in our research capstone courses. This gives them the opportunity to work closely with world class faculty, and UK Political Science was recently ranked #38 for research productivity in the United States. Students learn important skills in writing, data collection, and data analysis.  Many students who engage in research also go on to present at the Showcase of Undergraduate Scholars and prestigious regional and national conferences.

We prioritize student support. This includes connecting them to career and professional resources, financial support for internship opportunities and instances of hardship, and a wide range of scholarships and awards.  If you are interested in learning more about support in PS or making a gift to support our students, please click here.

Thank you for taking the time to look around our website.  Please feel free to reach out at any point.  We are so happy to have you here.

Michael Zilis, Professor & Chair