Political Science

🧭 Compass Roadmap

ACU’s Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice has carefully curated this roadmap which features unique opportunities for you as a student in their major. Take a look below and visit with your faculty mentor and academic advisor so you can explore the best path for you as you progress through your department. For more information about Compass and ACU Roadmaps, be sure to check out acu.edu/compass, or reach out to your Compass team at compass@acu.edu.

POLITICAL SCIENCE PROGRAM
Home/ ACU Compass/ Compass Roadmaps/ Political Science Roadmap

ACU’s Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice has carefully curated this roadmap which features unique opportunities for you as a student in their major. Take a look below and visit with your faculty mentor and academic advisor so you can explore the best path for you as you progress through your department. For more information about Compass and ACU Roadmaps, be sure to check out acu.edu/compass, or reach out to your Compass team at compass@acu.edu.

POLITICAL SCIENCE PROGRAM

Main Content

Compass Roadmap | Political Science


Begin Your Journey		First Year
Pursue Community		Second Year
Pursue Hospitality		Third Year
Pursue Calling		Fourth Year
Pursue Wisdom
Grow Intellectually
  • Meet the Department of Political Science faculty during Wildcat Week
  • Create a POLS-related bibliography in Cornerstone (CORE 110)
  • Explore departmental minors (e.g., public service, legal studies, criminal justice)
  • Explore the life of Jesus and the New Testament church in BIBL 101 and 102
  • Support your peers by attending ACU's URCI Festival
  • Explore the message of the Old Testament in BIBL 211
  • Look to the future by attending meetings about scholarly and graduate opportunities
  • Gain a variety of perspectives by helping to host alumni or guest speakers
  • Apply for the Jack Pope Fellows Program

  • Engage in a faculty-mentored research or creative project
  • Participate in information literacy workshop
  • Develop your research skills by completing POLS 315: Research Methods
  • Apply for a major scholarship
  • Present at the URCI Festival or other conference

  • Present for a second time at the URCI
  • Finish strong by completing your Capstone course POLS 499: Public Service Internship
Grow Spiritually
  • Participate in chapel, including departmental chapel
  • Experience Candlelight Devo during Wildcat Week
  • Participate in the life of a local Church
  • Engage in practices of meal fellowship, testimony and breath prayer

  • Participate in chapel, including departmental chapel
  • Participate in the life of a local church
  • Learn about service opportunities at the Local Missions Fair
  • Commit to volunteering in the Abilene community
  • Participate in the life of a local church
  • Engage in practices of intercessory prayer, pilgrimage and journaling
  • Participate in chapel, including departmental chapel
  • Gain hands-on ministry experience on a Global Service Trip
  • Explore your vocational pathway by attending Summit
  • Engage in practices of silence, spiritual listening and examen
  • Participate in chapel, including departmental chapel
  • Engage in a local church
  • Experience Candlelight Sendoff
  • Engage in practices of friendship, relinquishment and developing a rule of life
  • Receive and extend blessings at the POLS/CJ BBQ and Senior Blessing
  • Explore different philosophical approaches to life in BIBP 486: Ethics
Grow Personally
  • Take StrengthsFinder assessment
  • Be involved in the ACU community by joining a student organization
  • Identify a potential faculty, staff or older student mentor in the department of Political Science
  • Grow as a leader through ACU LEADS: Emerging Leaders


  • Care for your whole person by taking advantage of recreation opportunities on campus (SRWC, intramurals, etc)
  • Actively engage in a student organization
  • Develop personal relationships within your department by sharing a meal with peers in a professor's home

  • Develop your leadership skills while serving in a leadership role on campus
  • Lead in a church ministry or local service organization

  • Mentor a younger student in the Department of Political Science
  • Lead a student club or organization
  • Develop your leadership skills through ACU LEADS: Elected Leaders
Grow Culturally
  • Attend events hosted by the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA)
  • Explore the opportunities to study abroad at a Study Abroad interest meeting
  • Attend Events Hosted by the International Students Association (ISA)
  • Study abroad for a semester in Oxford, Leipzig or Montevideo
  • Expand your cultural knowledge by taking a foreign language course
  • Attend Events hosted by the Carl Spain Center on Race Studies and Spiritual Action
  • Participate in a World Wide Witness summer internship
  • Volunteer or intern at International Rescue Committee (IRC)
  • Apply to be a Fulbright Scholar, AmeriCorps, PeaceCorps, or other international service opportunities
  • Help implement an OMA, ISA, or Carl Spain Center event
Grow Professionally
  • Explore career possibilities by completing PathwayU
  • Begin connecting with potential employers by activating your Handshake profile
  • Learn new creative possibilities through Creative U
  • Begin to look to the future by creating a rĂ©sumĂ© and discussing your career plan with a professor
  • Update your rĂ©sumĂ© and participate in a mock interview
  • Get a summer job or internship related to your field of interest
  • Identify ACU alumni in your career field of interest

  • Research graduate schools that interest you
  • Identify faculty members who could write recommendations
  • Create a LinkedIn Profile
  • Prepare for the LSAT and/or GRE
  • Meet with a professor to discuss internship, career path and post-graduate opportunities
  • Finalize your rĂ©sumĂ©
  • Secure letters of recommendation
  • Apply for jobs and/or graduate school
  • Complete first destination survey
  • Take LSAT and/or GRE

Exploring Areas of Growth

Five Areas of Growth

  • Grow Intellectually – Sharpen your mind through critical thinking, problem solving and engaging in original research or creative projects. Build knowledge in your field and develop relevant skills through innovative and experiential assignments and activities.
  • Grow Spiritually – Grow in likeness of Christ, as the Spirit leads both individuals and communities into deeper love of God and others. Cultivate Christian community, hospitality, vocation and wisdom through reflective participation in community practices such as worship, study and service. 
  • Grow Personally – Mature as a whole person through mentorship, peer-to-peer relationships and cultivating habits that produce wellness. Discover your strengths, become a productive team member and grow as a leader.
  • Grow Culturally – Deepen intercultural knowledge and the ability to communicate with and relate to people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and geographic areas. Foster a greater respect and empathy for all peoples through building dynamic and mutually rewarding relationships in local and global contexts. 
  • Grow Professionally – Prepare for a meaningful career by exploring options, participating in career development activities, gaining relevant experiences and making purposeful connections that launch your professional life.

Integrated Spiritual Formation Themes

NOTE: Transfer students and those that surpass traditional semester cadences can progress to the next phase when appropriate for their needs.

Year 1 – Pursue Community

Connecting students to cruciform relationships with peers and adults on campus and in Abilene through compelling opportunities to invest in a variety of Christian organizations, both discovering and experiencing the distinctive nature of Christian community.

Year 2 – Pursue Hospitality

Engaging students in encounters with diverse peoples, ideas, and cultures through both local and global opportunities to extend and receive hospitality and to serve others in Christ’s name.

Year 3 – Pursue Calling

Advancing students’ understanding of vocation in a manner that integrates each student’s particular identity, career goals and vision for life with the broad calling for Christians to participate in the ongoing mission of God revealed in the pattern of Christ’s life and death.

Year 4 – Pursue Wisdom

Launching students into cruciform and purposeful living beyond the university by equipping them with tools for and experiences seeking Christian wisdom as they prepare to transition into a new season of life and career.