Colleges with Strong Political Science Programs

Political science remains one of the most popular college majors each year. And for good reason. Students who study political science have the opportunity to hone their debate and public speaking skills while also becoming strong writers and critical thinkers. In today’s political climate, this major feels as timely as ever. If you have volunteered for a political campaign, listen to podcasts like Pod Save America, or watch PBS NewsHour instead of reality tv, this may be the major for you. Political science is a social science discipline with qualitative (case studies, historical analysis) and quantitative (game theory, statistics) components. At most colleges, political science/government courses not only address current events, but also delve into political theory, international relations, international law, and other subfields. After graduation, political science majors often go on to graduate school in law, business, journalism, or public policy or move to D.C. to work at think tanks, consulting firms, news organizations, or the government itself. Entry-level job titles for political science majors might include “legislative assistant,” “policy analyst,” or “public relations specialist.”

COLLEGES WITH THE STRONGEST POLITICAL SCIENCE PROGRAMS

Using data compiled from sources such as U.S. News and World Report, Rugg’s Recommendations, and Niche, we have gathered information about the strongest political science programs for undergraduates in the United States, organized by region:

Northeast:

Harvard: It comes as no surprise that Harvard, with notable alumni including eight U.S. presidents, boasts one of the best government programs in the country. The Government Department at Harvard also offers four optional programs of study as part of the degree: Data Science, Tech Science, Public Policy, and Political Economy. Students who opt into one of these themed programs take specialized courses and may participate in additional co-curricular programming. Harvard offers the opportunity to conduct research for academic credit and students benefit from career chats with alumni—perfect for post-grad networking.

Columbia: Political science majors at Columbia develop depth by specializing in one of the following subfields: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory. In addition to courses and seminars in these subfields, students also must complete a research methods course. One thing that makes Columbia stand out from other programs is its practical, skill-based interdisciplinary majors: Economics-Political Science and Political Science-Statistics. Interested juniors may also apply for the B.A./M.A. Program for Columbia Undergraduates. Of course, Columbia’s location in New York City is another huge perk for political science majors who want to pursue professional internships alongside their degree.

Dartmouth: Dartmouth’s idyllic location in rural New Hampshire might not seem like a natural place for a political powerhouse, but Dartmouth’s Department of Government has produced an impressive number of distinguished alumni in the field, including U.S. Cabinet members, members of Congress, Governors, ambassadors, and diplomats. The Government major at Dartmouth is divided into four main subfields: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory/Public Law. The department also offers three Modified Government Majors: Government with Economics, Government with Philosophy, and Government, Philosophy, and Economics. A hallmark of Dartmouth’s Government major is its off-campus program offerings. The London program focuses on international relations and comparative politics and the Washington, D.C. program offers research opportunities and an internship in legislative and executive offices. The Russia program offers interdisciplinary courses in government and energy policy, in partnership with the Higher School of Economics in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia. During election years, Dartmouth is a frequent stop on the campaign trail and has hosted a number of presidential debates.

West Coast:

Stanford: Stanford’s political science program includes a Bachelor of Arts degree or the option to pursue a Bachelor of Arts with Honors (part of the Political Science Honors program). To complete this degree, students take introductory courses and then focus on two of five tracks: Data Science; Elections, Representation, and Governance; International Relations; Justice and Law; or Political Economy and Development. Students are encouraged to pursue research with Stanford professors through the Summer Research College where undergraduates spend ten weeks working with a faculty mentor and receive a $5,000 stipend.

UCLA: UCLA’s political science program includes lecture series, departmental workshops, faculty talks, and unique opportunities to study in Washington D.C. at the Center for American Politics and Public Policy (CAPPP) or at the University of California Center Sacramento. Upper division political science courses are organized into six fields: (1) political theory, (2) international relations, (3) American politics, (4) comparative politics, (5) methods and models, and (6) Race, Ethnicity and politics. Students may apply to the department honor program if they have fulfilled certain requirements and maintain a 3.5 GPA in upper division political science courses.

UC Berkeley: There are approximately 45 faculty, 1,000 undergraduate students and 125 PhD students in the Berkeley political science department. In addition to more traditional subfields, such as American politics or international relations, the department offers a more diverse array of courses in topics such as formal theory, public policy, political behavior, and public law. Junior year, political science majors attend faculty-led seminars to develop their research and writing skills. Student may also take advantage of the many complementary centers and institutes on campus, such as the Citrin Center for Public Opinion, Berkeley Roundtable on the International Economy, Institute of Governmental Studies, Institute of Industrial Relations, and the Center on the Politics of Development. According to the department website, “The Political Science major is concerned with exploring the exercise of power in its myriad forms and consequences. Students in the major are encouraged to explore such central issues as the ethical problems attendant to the exercise of power; the history of important political ideas, such as “liberty”, “justice”, “community”, and “morality”; the impact of historical, economic, and social forces on the operation of politics; the functioning and distinctive features of the US political system; the diversity of political systems found among national and the significance of these differences; the interaction among international actors and the causes of war and peace.”

Midwest:

Washington University of St. Louis: The WashU department of political science has a particular strength in political theory and environmentalism. Within the department, there are two majors offered: Political Science and Environmental Policy. Students may also select up to two subfield concentrations in American politics, comparative politics, international politics, political methodology, or political theory. Students may use AP credit to place out of an introductory course and eligible majors may choose to write a senior thesis, guided by a faculty advisor. The Department of Political Science offers several awards in recognition of special scholarly achievement by undergraduate students and many complete internships in political and community organizations. For students who are considering Law School after graduation, they may wish to pursue a minor in Legal Studies, an interdisciplinary academic program about law. High achieving political science majors can apply for research assistantships, support for honor theses, and conference travel through the Murray Weidenbaum Center Scholars Program. The department regularly hosts events such as political theory workshops and speaker series.

University of Michigan: The University of Michigan is the perfect choice for students who want to conduct high-level political science undergraduate research. Through supervised study, research fellowships, and honors theses, students have many chances to dive into a specific subfield of political science and prepare for graduate study. Students may also pursue internships and service learning to gain more hands-on skills to prepare for careers in law, journalism, policy development, business, or other governmental and non-governmental organizations. Classes are organized into five topical areas: American Politics, Comparative Politics, World Politics, Political Theory, and Research Methods.

University of Chicago: The University of Chicago has always been on the cutting edge of research in the field of political science and holds its students to a very high standard. The political science major requires twelve political science courses and a substantial research paper (either a BA Thesis or a Long Paper). All students must take three out of four introductory courses (Introduction to Political Theory, Introduction to American Politics, Introduction to Comparative Politics, Introduction to International Relations) as well as a research methods course. The political science department has designed workshops in American politics, comparative politics, East Asia, nations and nationalism, organizations and state building, political theory, Middle East politics, and international relations. Other workshops at the University of Chicago include American Politics, East Asia: Politics, Economy, and Society, Historical Capitalisms, and Political Economy. These workshops function as forums for discussion and debate and a place where students can meet classmates who share their interests.

Mid-Atlantic:

George Washington University: Political science is one of GW’s most popular majors, with more than 800 students. Core focus areas include American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, public policy, and research methods. The undergraduate major focuses on writing-intensive coursework and opportunities to practice producing research papers, book reviews, thought papers, and political theory writing. Students are also encouraged to participate in the Politics and Values Program, attend conferences hosted by the Pi Sigma Alpha Honors Society, and engage with GW’s many centers and institutes (for instance the Institute of Public Policy, the Institute for International Economic Policy, and the Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communication). Many students take advantage of GW’s location in Washington, D.C. to intern for credit on Capitol Hill, at the White House and with local nongovernmental organizations, embassies, think tanks, and other agencies. Large classes and smaller seminars within the department focus on topics that include “The Internet and Politics,” “Supreme Court Decision-Making” and “Ethnic Politics in Eastern and Central Europe.”

Georgetown: Georgetown offers two majors within the department of Government: Government and Political Economy. As a major, you can take classes in four subfields: American Government; Comparative Government; International Relations; and Political Theory. Undergraduates also benefit from the jointly appointed faculty and shared programming with Georgetown’s other schools with strong ties to politics and policy: the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, the McCourt School of Public Policy, and the Georgetown Law Center. Due to Georgetown’s location in Washington, D.C., students often spend their free time engaging in political life and pursuing internships to gain real-world experience.

Naval Academy: Midshipmen who pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in political science can take courses in three sub-fields: American Politics, Comparative Politics, and International Relations. They are also taught quantitative methods for social sciences and have opportunities to specialize in a particular area of study, such as national security or violent conflict, through clusters of courses, a capstone seminar, and independent research projects. To complement their foreign language requirement, students often pursue summer internship programs sponsored by the department that allow them to work abroad or at agencies such as the State Department and Office of Naval Intelligence. Beyond their courses, students in the political science department can also take part in the annual Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conference, Navy Debate, Model United Nations, or Pi Sigma Alpha, the political science honor society.

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South:

Duke: The political science major at Duke fosters critical thinking, writing and communication skills, and a foundation in data analysis, including quantitative skills. Many students choose to double major with complementary programs, such as history, economics, or statistics. Within the department, students may pursue one of the two certificate programs: Politics, Philosophy, and Economics, and Decisions Sciences. Courses are organized into six fields of study: Political Economy (PE), Political Behavior and Identities (BI), Political Institutions (PI), Political Methodology (M), Political Theory (N), and Security, Peace and Conflict (SPC). Students also have access to Duke’s unique Focus Program, which provides clusters of courses designed around an interdisciplinary theme, such as the cognitive sciences, ethics and global citizenship, genomics, knowledge in the service of society, and global health. Approximately one third of political science majors and minors participate in global education.

UNC Chapel Hill: Political science is one of the most popular majors at UNC and one of the top 15 political science departments in the country. It is also one of the most adaptable programs and provides students the flexibility to craft their own area of expertise by the time they graduate. Within the department, students can engage in a variety of courses across four concentrations: American politics; international politics; law, ethics, and politics. It is also possible to “build-your-own” thematic concentration. The Department of Political Science also organizes social events to develop a community of students who share similar interests. Students can attend speaker series, film screenings, or events through Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society, open to students who meet certain academic criteria. For students who want to conduct political science research, UNC would be a great fit, and many undergraduate courses include a research component. Political science majors are also encouraged to pursue directed research with a faculty advisor or apply for the Honors Program, which culminates in a senior thesis.

Vanderbilt: Political science majors at Vanderbilt have opportunities to participate in independent studies, selected topics seminars, the honors program, and a wide range of internships. Since the average class size is close to thirty, students get to know their professors and often participate in the governance of the department through the Undergraduate Political Science Association. Vanderbilt also houses a number of research centers that complement the political science major, including the Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions and the Research on Individuals, Politics & Society Lab. Faculty research interests include political behavior in North and South America, race relations and public policy, American and comparative judicial institutions, the foundations of human rights, feminist and formal political theory, and international law.

TIME TO TAKE ACTION

Do any of these programs pique your interest? If so, now is the time to take action to become a more competitive applicant by the time you apply senior year. Colleges are looking for scholars and the more you can do to pursue your academic interests in high school, the easier it will be for an admissions committee to understand your potential contribution to their academic community. Need help with your essays? Work with one of our senior counselors for expert guidance as you craft a compelling narrative that reflects your academic journey. Or, for more comprehensive counseling, contact us today about Application Boot Camp or our exclusive College Admissions Private Counseling Program.

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Dr. Elizabeth Doe Stone

President at Top Tier Admissions

A veteran college admissions consultant, Liz has over a decade of experience working with Top Tier Admissions. As President, she is responsible for managing all content, recruiting, product development, and partnerships to maintain Top Tier’s standards of excellence. In her capacity as a Senior Private Counselor, she has helped hundreds of students successfully navigate the college admissions process to earn spots at Harvard, Princeton, Yale, and other selective schools. Liz pairs her extensive knowledge of the college admissions process with her experience as an educator to provide in-depth guidance with an empathetic approach.

Liz graduated Magna Cum Laude with high honors from Dartmouth College and earned her MA and PhD in Art History at the University of Virginia, where she taught undergraduate courses, earned the All-University Graduate Teaching Award, and received a Fulbright Research Grant.

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