![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/online-political-science.jpg?resize=744%2C485&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Interest in politics \u2013 the people, the policies, the inner workings of government \u2013 seems to be at an all-time high. Between record-setting voter turnout and current global issues that captivate citizens from all corners of the map,\u00a0people are paying attention more than ever before.<\/p>\n
With people paying attention more than every before, it\u2019s a good thing there exists a discipline devoted to such a complex and diverse array of issues \u2013 and it\u2019s devoted to far more than the current political climate.<\/p>\n
\u201cPolitical science is the study of political behavior,\u201d says Rorie Solberg, Ph.D., an associate professor at Oregon State University. \u201cWe question and research why people \u2013 voters, elected officials, bureaucrats, etc. \u2013 behave the way they do. So, we, as a discipline, have been investigating the \u2018current political climate\u2019 for quite a while.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s a good thing for you, because Oregon State enables you to capitalize on your interests by earning a political science bachelor\u2019s degree online<\/a> and gaining transferable career skills.<\/p>\n Solberg, whose many courses include the popular PS 110 \u2013 Governing after the Zombie Apocalypse<\/a>, shared additional insight about how OSU\u2019s School of Public Policy \u201cprovides a roadmap that can help students navigate national, local, work and family politics.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOur classes provide substantive background on a variety of political topics \u2013 international relations, comparative politics, American politics and political philosophy \u2013 using social scientific methods to explain the patterns of behavior we have seen and new behaviors that are developing around the world.<\/p>\n \u201cUnderstanding why voters behave the way they do \u2013 why there is such increasing political polarization \u2013 is critical to navigating what seems to increasingly be a political minefield. Understanding the structures of government, how the decisions are made and the effects of those choices helps us understand how difference, power and discrimination have been embedded in our system.\u201d<\/p>\n Associate professor Rorie Solberg has a background in judicial politics. Here she is wearing a sweater inspired by the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cPolitical science, like many degrees in OSU\u2019s College of Liberal Arts, provides a critical basis for understanding and navigating the world. I think that political science provides the same broad training as most liberal arts degrees but adds the rigors of social science and methodology that are useful in almost any career.<\/p>\n \u201cMy students run the gamut from taking what many believe are the obvious paths into politics (running for office and running campaigns) and government (state, local and federal) to communications, advocacy, marketing, teaching, public health and business.\u00a0 Some pursue graduate work and some do go to law school.<\/p>\n \u201cThe fact is that most majors and careers are not tightly linked, and you will find drift over time that makes the link between college major and career less connected for many people. Political science provides the transferable skills, the networking opportunities and the rigor that our students need to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFirst, regardless of your major, you cannot live your life without contact with government. Your chosen career and your daily life are constantly going to be dealing with government rules and regulations. Understanding how government works and how to navigate governmental processes can help you get approval for an addition to your house, advocate for better schools or different local, state or national policies.<\/p>\n \u201cSecond, understanding how government decisions and laws structure our choices and create biases within our systems helps each of us make choices about how to advocate and work for change.<\/p>\n \u201cThird, the U.S. purports to be a democratic republic, and that system depends on individuals participating in elections and governance. To do so requires a modicum of understanding of the processes and how you can affect those processes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFirst, the animators working at OSU Ecampus did a wonderful job of creating an animation of the course origin story. I have already noticed that students online seem to engage more with the backstory than on-campus students, and I think it is because that animation sets the stage better than the written version.<\/p>\n \u201cDuring winter term 2020, I created some news sheets that highlighted some social issues that could come up in this fictional world. When I shared those with Ecampus, they immediately jumped on them and created audio newscasts that sound a bit like old-time radio broadcasts to keep the feel of a post-apocalyptic world. Combined, these two multimedia pieces help students remember the scenario and keep to their roles.<\/p>\n \u201cAdditionally, I have video clips and even a short narrated movie embedded in lectures to help explain or illustrate concepts such as race as a social construct, structural racism or how the alternative vote works.\u201d<\/p>\n Want to learn more about Oregon State’s online political science bachelor’s program?<\/p>\n <\/span> 4<\/span> minute read<\/span><\/span>Interest in politics \u2013 the people, the policies, the inner workings of government \u2013 seems to be at an all-time high. The 2018 U.S. midterm elections saw record-setting voter turnout, and current global issues are captivating citizens from all corners of the map. And Oregon State University enables you to capitalize on your rising interests by earning a political science bachelor\u2019s degree online and gaining transferable career skills.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1517,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,6,9,678,3,8],"tags":[75,640,169,25,24,50],"class_list":["post-1516","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all","category-ecampus","category-faculty","category-faculty-and-programs","category-features","category-students","tag-college-of-liberal-arts","tag-health-and-human-science","tag-online-degrees","tag-online-education","tag-online-learning","tag-political-science"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/online-political-science.jpg?fit=744%2C485&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7BNSE-os","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1662,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/political-science-online-christopher-stout\/","url_meta":{"origin":1516,"position":0},"title":"New era in politics creates a demand for political science graduates","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"December 28, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cThere are so many more jobs in politics now\u00a0than there has\u00a0been in recent history. When (our students) graduate, they don't just have the critical thinking skills, they also have the applied skills to go out and get some of these jobs and bring a new perspective to understanding politics.\u201d \u2014\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Photo of associate professor Christopher Stout, who teaches political science online and on campus for Oregon State University.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Chris-Stout-744x478-201222.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Chris-Stout-744x478-201222.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Chris-Stout-744x478-201222.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Chris-Stout-744x478-201222.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1457,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/political-science-online-jeffery-tobin\/","url_meta":{"origin":1516,"position":1},"title":"Oregon State Everywhere: Embracing change and challenges","author":"Jeffery Tobin","date":"July 10, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"\"After intense research on which institution to attend, Oregon State became the clear choice due to its rich course selection, excellent faculty and overwhelming positive reception by former students. The guidance of instructors and advisors kept my studies on track and my drive focused in the right areas. Learning online\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Jeffery Tobin, a political science graduate of Oregon State University who earned his degree online","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Jeffrey-Tobin-744x478.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Jeffrey-Tobin-744x478.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Jeffrey-Tobin-744x478.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Jeffrey-Tobin-744x478.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1399,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/online-sociology-natural-resources\/","url_meta":{"origin":1516,"position":2},"title":"Oregon State’s online sociology degree adds environmental focus","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"May 7, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"The OSU Ecampus sociology online bachelor\u2019s degree program gives students the ability to enroll in an environmental and natural resource option. The multidisciplinary coursework in this option examines environmental issues from a social science perspective, and it provides an in-depth analysis of how societies interact with their biophysical environments.","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A person's gloved hand reaches toward a discarded plastic water bottle on the ocean sand, with other people in the background also involved in the cleanup effort. Environmental and natural resource option in Oregon State's sociology bachelor's degree program.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/environmental-natural-resource-sociology.jpg?fit=744%2C496&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/environmental-natural-resource-sociology.jpg?fit=744%2C496&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/environmental-natural-resource-sociology.jpg?fit=744%2C496&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/environmental-natural-resource-sociology.jpg?fit=744%2C496&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1173,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/online-msb-supply-chain-analytics\/","url_meta":{"origin":1516,"position":3},"title":"Oregon State unveils online MSB in Supply Chain Analytics","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"April 5, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Oregon State University is expanding its catalog of online business programs by offering a new Master of Science in Business (MSB) in Supply Chain Analytics to students worldwide. The program focuses on two areas \u2013 supply chain and logistics management and business analytics \u2013 in which organizations need trained and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"MSB in Supply Chain Analytics","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/MSB-Supply-Chain-Analytics-1280x550.jpg?fit=1200%2C516&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/MSB-Supply-Chain-Analytics-1280x550.jpg?fit=1200%2C516&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/MSB-Supply-Chain-Analytics-1280x550.jpg?fit=1200%2C516&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/MSB-Supply-Chain-Analytics-1280x550.jpg?fit=1200%2C516&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/MSB-Supply-Chain-Analytics-1280x550.jpg?fit=1200%2C516&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1746,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/ecampus-honors-faculty-staff-2021\/","url_meta":{"origin":1516,"position":4},"title":"OSU Ecampus honors faculty, staff for commitment to online learning and students","author":"Carly Fredericks","date":"May 5, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"The Oregon State Ecampus Awards showcase OSU Ecampus faculty and staff commitment to online education, student success and course development. Through innovation, iteration and integrity, these Ecampus partners take on life's biggest challenge: shaping this world's future through education.","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-05-at-8.42.41-AM.png?fit=1200%2C693&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-05-at-8.42.41-AM.png?fit=1200%2C693&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-05-at-8.42.41-AM.png?fit=1200%2C693&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-05-at-8.42.41-AM.png?fit=1200%2C693&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-05-at-8.42.41-AM.png?fit=1200%2C693&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1760,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/new-center-for-online-engineering-students\/","url_meta":{"origin":1516,"position":5},"title":"New center to advance online engineering education at Oregon State","author":"Keith Hautala","date":"May 5, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Oregon State University College of Engineering and Ecampus have announced a plan to launch a new center on campus for exploring innovation in online engineering education.","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Ecampus computer science student, Mark Moore, works happily from his laptop.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Mark-Moore-744x478.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Mark-Moore-744x478.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Mark-Moore-744x478.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Mark-Moore-744x478.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1516","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1516"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1516\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1517"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1516"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1516"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1516"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}How do the courses in Oregon State\u2019s political science program help students understand the political world?<\/h3>\n
![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/rorie-solberg-online-political-science.jpg?resize=265%2C260&ssl=1\")
You\u2019ve built a career around higher education and research interests in judicial politics. How diverse are the career opportunities for political science graduates?<\/h3>\n
In addition to the professional benefits, how does earning a political science degree benefit people as private citizens?<\/h3>\n
In your Governing after the Zombie Apocalypse course, how do you use multimedia to engage your students in the online classroom?<\/h3>\n
\nRequest information<\/a><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"