Political Science
How power, government, and political systems work.
Political science studies political institutions, behavior, and theory: how governments function, how policy gets made, how citizens participate, and how political ideas have developed over time. Most programs cover American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory as core subfields.
Coursework mixes theoretical and historical study with empirical political analysis, and upper-level courses often involve research papers analyzing real policy questions or political events, building both analytical and persuasive writing skills.
Typical courses you might take
- ✓Introduction to American Government
- ✓Comparative Politics
- ✓International Relations
- ✓Political Theory
- ✓Research Methods in Political Science
- ✓Public Policy Analysis
- ✓Constitutional Law (often elective)
- ✓Senior Thesis or Capstone
Sample four-year plan
Illustrative, not a registration planOne possible way these courses could be sequenced alongside general education and elective credit. Real programs vary in order, pacing, and prerequisites by school, use this to get a rough sense of the arc, not to plan actual registration.
- ✓Introduction to American Government
- +General education requirement
- ✓Comparative Politics
- +General education requirement
- ✓International Relations
- +General education requirement
- ✓Political Theory
- +Free elective
- ✓Research Methods in Political Science
- +Free elective
- ✓Public Policy Analysis
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓Constitutional Law (often elective)
- +Elective in the major (or minor coursework)
- ✓Senior Thesis or Capstone
- +Capstone, thesis, or culminating project (common in many programs)
Skills you'll build
This major might be a good fit if you...
- ★Interested in government, policy, and current events
- ★Enjoys debate, discussion, and argumentative writing
- ★Comfortable engaging with controversial or contested topics evenhandedly
- ★Considering law, public service, or policy-related paths
Common minors & double-major pairings
Economics · History · Foreign Language
Roles this major could lead to
Factual, day-to-day descriptions from our Career Role Encyclopedia, not a guarantee this major leads to any specific job.
Paralegal
Supports lawyers with legal research, drafting, and case preparation.
Policy Analyst
Researches and evaluates policy options for government or advocacy organizations.
Legislative Aide / Staffer
Supports an elected official's policy work, research, and constituent services.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Political Science major?
How power, government, and political systems work.
What courses do Political Science majors take?
Typical coursework includes classes like Introduction to American Government, Comparative Politics, International Relations, among others, see the full course list above for this major's typical lineup.
What skills do you build in a Political Science program?
Political Science coursework typically builds skills like Political and institutional analysis, Research and argumentative writing, Understanding policy processes, Critical evaluation of political claims and media.
Is Political Science a good major for me?
It tends to be a good fit if signals like "Interested in government, policy, and current events" or "Enjoys debate, discussion, and argumentative writing" describe you. See the full "good fit if you..." list above for more.
What can you do with a Political Science degree?
Majors in this field often go on to roles like Paralegal, Policy Analyst, Legislative Aide / Staffer. See our Career Role Encyclopedia for more, a major shapes what you study, not a guarantee of any specific job.
What other majors pair well with Political Science?
Common minor or double-major pairings include Economics, History, Foreign Language.
How is Political Science different from International Relations?
They're related but distinct. Political Science: How power, government, and political systems work. International Relations: How countries, institutions, and global forces interact. Use the compare tool to see courses and skills side by side.
How long does it take to earn a Political Science degree?
Most bachelor's degrees, including this one, are designed to be completed in about four years of full-time study. Exact timing depends on your school, course load, transfer credit, and any changes of major along the way.
From our guides
Printed from majoratlas.com/majors/political-science