The degree program provides students with the education and necessary to produce empirical research pertaining to politics.
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Political Scientists, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/political-scientists.htm (visited March 24, 2022).
Because a Bachelor's degree is considered a four-year degree, if you have already earned your Associate's degree and take a full-time class load it may take you as little as two more years to complete your Bachelor's. If you're taking a half-load of courses, it will take you approximately four additional years.
Although your specific coursework will be determined by your school of choice as an example the following classes are required by the University of Maryland:
You can't major in political science at a school that doesn't offer the coursework, so this should be a priority when choosing a school. In addition, check to see whether the school offers a graduate program. If it doesn't, verify your Bachelor's degree credits will transfer to another school in case you decide to earn your Master's degree at a later date.
Look closely at the school's website and check the graduation rates. While you may plan to attend part-time, which will take more than four years, the four-year graduation rates will give you an indication of how much support you'll get once you enroll. A low graduation rate may be an indication the school is more interested in enrolling students than in helping them succeed.
If the school has great student success it will be easy to find on their website because it's a great selling point. Look closely at the graduation and job placement rates and check if the school has partnerships with major corporations in the area. Don't rely on the college information alone; do web searches for forums and similar discussions about student satisfaction to verify the information promoted by the school itself. Look closely at the job placements listed and make sure they include the type of career you're working towards.
A degree is only a piece of paper if it's not respected by your prospective employer. While online degrees are now a respected form of education, not all schools are created equal, so the research you do before enrollment can make a big difference when you're ready to add your degree to your resume. If you're not sure about a college you should ask the opinion of professionals in your field of choice before enrolling. This way you can verify your degree will be respected and earn you the salary you expect once you graduate.
Also, be sure to pay attention to the general school rating of the institutions you consider. Though not as important as accreditation, this can also affect an employer’s response to your resume and your chances to be interviewed for a job in your chosen field.
