Radford University's culture centers on you, the student. From the very beginning of your time with us, you will have all the support you need to help you succeed and excel.
From the very beginning of your time with us, you will have all the support you need to help you succeed and excel. Our world-class faculty are here to help you achieve your goals, or you can visit the Highlander Success Center for academic advising.
Everyone is welcome in Highlander country, and we'd love to have you join us. If you are currently enrolled in a 2-year or 4-year higher education institution and want to make the move to Radford University, we can help. For students in the Commonwealth of Virginia, we can count most or all of the classes you've already taken towards your degree progress so you stay on target to graduate on time.
Our Transfer Resources page has opportunities to tour campus, requirements to apply, credit transfer guidelines, deadlines to apply, counselors ready to answer your questions, and materials to support your transition to Radford University. You can also contact our department directly for questions about major classes and the Radford University Poli Sci experience.
Students should carefully consider the prospect of going to graduate school. Our department has pamphlets on graduate and professional school for our students. Stop by Hemphill Hall 5300 for more information.
A political science degree from Radford University is excellent preparation for for graduate study in the following areas:
MA degrees in Political Science can prepare you for work in government, non-profits, think tanks, corporate lobbying, and much more.
Ph.D. degrees in Political Science are most useful for those seeking to work in research or teaching at the college level. Ph.D.-granting programs in the US can be found on the American Political Science Association website.
To get ready for graduate school in Political Science, make sure you do the following while you’re at Radford:
Many students use a political science undergraduate degree as a springboard to law school.
The most important factors in law school admissions are your LSAT and GPA. No particular major is required. Take courses that you will like and do well in. Get to know your professors, so you’ll be able to get strong letters of recommendation. Take the lead on campus and achieve something tangible during your college years.
Law School generally takes three years during which students learn to reason and argue like attorneys. Law school can be extremely expensive but also very rewarding for the right people. Inform yourself during your undergraduate years by attending pre-law events, interning in a legal office, taking pre-law classes, and other means.
Consider reading Scott Turow’s book One L on his first year at Harvard law school. It’s a classic. Susan Estrich’s How to Get into Law School is a great primer with lots to think about.
The Masters in Public Administration (MPA) degree is the management degree for the public sector. It prepares students to manage both public organizations and non-profits. You will learn many of the management skills that you would in a business program (human resources and accounting), but you will also learn about the unique features of managing in the public (intergovernmental relations) and not-for-profit sectors (fundraising, grant writing). MPA education tends to be hands-on and very applied. Case study discussion is common. Capstone projects may involve consulting for a real-world client.
It is also possible to pursue a Ph.D. in Public Administration. This would be most useful for those wanting to teach at the university level.
To get ready for graduate school in Public Administration, make sure you do the following while you’re at Radford:
The Masters in Public Policy (MPP) degree is often highly interdisciplinary. Political science, sociology, economics, management, and policy analysis can all play a part. Case study discussion is common. Capstone projects likely involve consulting for a real-world client. Harvard's Kennedy School has an excellent description of its MPP curriculum, the gold standard in Public Policy education.
It is also possible to pursue a Ph.D. in Public Policy. This would be most useful for those wanting to teach at the university level.
To get ready for graduate school in Public Policy, make sure you do the following while you’re at Radford:
MA degrees in International Studies or international affairs are good training for working in government, policy advocacy, activism, NGOs, development, and international institutions.
MA degrees will prepare you within 18 months to two years for work in a professional position.
Ph.D. degrees in International Studies can prepare you to teach International Studies at the college level. This is a program that is expanding exponentially at many colleges and universities.
Talk to Radford’s Director of the International Studies minor (Tay Keong Tan, Ph.D.) to learn more about IS graduate degree programs.
To get ready for graduate school in international affairs, make sure you do the following while you’re at Radford:
Each year, several political science majors with high merit are chosen for the Joyce Mercer Reynders & Thomas Rickert Reynders Endowed Scholarship.
Mrs. Reynders passed away in 2009 and left her estate to Radford University to create this scholarship. Mrs. Reynders was born in Bristol, VA. She graduated from Virginia High School, and from Radford College in 1965, she was a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma. She worked for the DC Crime Commission; she was also Executive Assistant to Ambassador Bruce Laingen at the Academy of Diplomacy and General Alexander Haig at World Wide Associates and an agent for Weichert Realtors. She loved to travel and accompanied her husband on his assignments to Jakarta, Indonesia, Hamburg, Rome, Paris and Amsterdam. Joyce was an elegant woman of faith with a compassionate heart.
The scholarship recipient must be an incoming or current Radford University student and be a declared major in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations. The recipient must have achieved a 2.5 or higher overall GPA and must maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA in the major.