• Up to 15 specified credit hours may be awarded for those who have completed police academies.  See Prior Learning Assessment under Office of the Registrar.

• Up to 9 specified credit hours may be awarded for those who have completed Introduction to Correctional Techniques through the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.

Entry to law school requires a high score on the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT). In order to accomplish that, one’s research skills, analytical skills, and writing skills must be honed razor sharp.

There are several academic disciplines that are considered to be traditional preparatory paths for law school – Criminal Justice, History, English, Political Science, Economics, and Business.  LSUA’s Criminal Justice faculty collaborate yearly with a law school to provide testing strategies and sample LSAT testing.  For those focusing on practicing in the criminal system. Criminal Justice is the degree to prepare you.

Students who earn this baccalaureate degree will produce the high-quality work that will make them eligible for a Political Science graduate program; or entrance into law school; or graduate education in library science; or elementary education with alternative certification program; or secondary education in social studies with a Secondary Education Minor or alternative certification.  The BGS-POLI degree will also make graduates more attractive for immediate employment in the public sector at the federal, state and local government level.

Some students may not intend to pursue those careers that have traditionally been associated with a Political Science degree (i.e., Law School or elective office); instead, they may wish to acquire a foundation in Political Science to complement another area of expertise such as business administration, criminal justice, government, or human service.  The increasing realization of the relevance of Political Science to these and other fields means that such career possibilities are likely to only increase in the coming years.

A bachelor’s degree with the Disaster Science and Emergency Management concentration can lead to a career in federal, state, or local government. Career positions such as Emergency Management operations, private-sector emergency management consulting, international organizations that have an emergency management or disaster relief aspect, nonprofit organizations, policy advocacy, and journalism are among them.   It is excellent preparation for graduate study in this field, which can lead to a career in research and/or college or university teaching.  One can also benefit from studies in DSEM, without pursuing it as a professional career, simply by being a knowledgeable resource who can help family, friends, and neighbors understand the nature of an unfolding disaster or emergency and what to expect Emergency Management authorities to do (or not do) about it.