Political Science Major: What It Includes, Classes and Careers

A Political Science major studies government, politics, public policy and international relations. Political science majors study American government, comparative politics, international relations, political theory and public policy.

A Political Science major includes coursework in american government, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, and public policy and more. You build skills such as research and writing, argument and debate, policy analysis, and data analysis. Typical degrees: bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees.

Typical courses include american government, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, public policy, and research methods. Exact course names and requirements vary by college, and most degrees also include general education courses.

It depends on the level. Political Science is offered as certificate, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral awards at U.S. colleges; certificates take from a few months to about two years, an associate degree usually takes about two years of full-time study, a bachelor’s degree usually takes about four years of full-time study, a master’s degree usually takes one to two years after a bachelor’s, and a doctoral or professional degree takes several more years beyond that. Part-time study takes longer.

Bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. In the latest federal data, 41 colleges reported certificate awards, 163 colleges reported associate awards, 1,027 colleges reported bachelor’s awards, 189 colleges reported master’s awards, and 114 colleges reported doctoral awards.

Career paths connected to political science include paralegal, lawyer, urban planner, survey researcher, judicial law clerk, fundraiser, and compliance officer. Some roles need additional training, experience, certification or a license.

Examples include paralegal (typical training: 6 months to 2 years), lawyer (typical training: 7 years after high school), urban planner (typical training: 6 years (bachelor’s + master’s)), survey researcher (typical training: 2 years after a bachelor’s), judicial law clerk (typical training: 7 years after high school), and fundraiser (typical training: 4 years).

Political Science majors build skills such as research and writing, argument and debate, policy analysis, data analysis, and public speaking.

Good pairings include Legal Studies (prepares you for law school and legal work), Economics (strengthens policy analysis), and Communications (fits campaigns and public affairs).

It can be a good fit if you are interested in the work it leads to, such as paralegal, lawyer, and urban planner, and enjoy subjects like american government and comparative politics. No major guarantees a job, so compare the coursework, the careers and the education each career requires before deciding.

How hard it feels depends on your strengths. Core coursework includes american government, comparative politics, and international relations; if those subjects interest you, the major is likely to feel more manageable. Reviewing a college’s course list and talking to current students helps you judge.

1,196 U.S. colleges reported awarding degrees or certificates in this field in the latest federal (IPEDS) data. Programs can have different names at different schools.

California (172), New York (79), Pennsylvania (78), Texas (70), and Ohio (45), based on the colleges that reported awards in this field.

986 of the colleges that offer political science also report offering at least one program entirely online, though not necessarily this one. Use the college search with this major and “Offers fully online programs”, then confirm with the school.

Political Science studies government, politics, public policy and international relations. Psychology studies how people think, feel, learn and behave. Political Science leads to careers such as paralegal and lawyer, while Psychology leads to careers such as psychiatric technician and human services assistant.

Political Science studies government, politics, public policy and international relations. Social Work prepares you to help individuals, families and communities facing challenges. Political Science leads to careers such as paralegal and lawyer, while Social Work leads to careers such as social worker and healthcare social worker.

Yes. Short online career training can help you understand a specific job and build practical knowledge alongside your classes. It does not replace your degree or any required license.

No. Career Education Institute is not a college and does not award degrees. It offers short, non-credit online trainings about jobs connected to political science, such as Paralegal Training.