A political science degree requires approximately 120 credit hours, with 36-45 credits in the major spanning four subfields: American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory. Core requirements include research methods, statistics, and either a senior thesis or capstone. The workload is reading-and-writing intensive, with analytical papers as the primary assessment. Math requirements are modest (usually one statistics course), but quantitative methods are increasingly important in the field.
The hidden question is whether political science is substantive or just arguing about opinions. At the introductory level, it can feel opinion-heavy. But upper-level courses require evidence-based analysis, statistical reasoning, and structured argumentation that is closer to social science research than cable news commentary. The difference between a strong political science education and a weak one is whether your program emphasizes methods and evidence or just content coverage.
The National Center for Education Statistics shows that political science and government is one of the larger social science degree categories1. The degree is the most common undergraduate path for lawyers, and graduates also work in government, campaigns, lobbying, policy analysis, nonprofit management, and journalism.
For career and salary analysis, see the political science degree overview. This page covers the specific requirements.
The political science students who have the strongest career outcomes are the ones who develop quantitative skills. Take statistics and research methods seriously, learn to work with data (R, Stata, or SPSS), and use your thesis to demonstrate analytical capability. Policy organizations, campaigns, and government agencies increasingly need people who can analyze data, not just write memos.
Core Coursework: What Every Political Science Major Takes
Foundational courses across four subfields:
- American Government/Politics — institutions (Congress, presidency, courts), elections, parties, and policy-making.
- Comparative Politics — political systems across countries. Democracies, authoritarian regimes, and political development.
- International Relations — relations between states, international organizations, conflict, and cooperation.
- Political Theory — the history of political thought. Plato, Machiavelli, Locke, Marx, Rawls, and contemporary theory.
Methods:
- Research Methods — qualitative and quantitative approaches. Case studies, surveys, experiments, and causal inference.
- Statistics for Political Science — regression analysis, hypothesis testing, and data interpretation.
Upper-level seminars in areas like: constitutional law, elections and voting behavior, public policy, environmental politics, race and politics, political economy, Congress, the presidency, political parties, and interest groups.
Senior thesis or capstone — original research paper (25-40 pages) using data and analytical methods to address a political science question.
BA vs BS
BA in Political Science — the standard format. Includes foreign language requirements and liberal arts breadth. BS in Political Science — offered at some schools with additional quantitative requirements. Better for students heading toward policy analysis or data-driven government roles.
Common Concentrations
Pre-law — constitutional law, legal theory, and analytical writing. The most popular political science track. Public policy — policy analysis, program evaluation, and evidence-based governance. International relations — sometimes offered as a concentration within poli sci, sometimes as a separate major. See international relations degree requirements. American politics — elections, Congress, the presidency, and domestic policy. Political theory — philosophical foundations of political systems and justice. Campaign management/political communication — practical campaign skills, polling, and strategic communication.
"Pre-law" is not a major — it is a career intention. Law schools do not require or prefer any specific undergraduate major. Political science is the most common pre-law major by tradition, but philosophy, history, English, and economics majors score as well or better on the LSAT. Choose political science because you are interested in political systems, not just because you plan to apply to law school.
Prerequisites and Admission Requirements
No competitive admission beyond university admission. American Government or Introduction to Political Science is prerequisite for most upper-level courses.
Skills You'll Build (and What Employers Actually Value)
Policy analysis — evaluating government programs, proposed legislation, and regulatory impacts. Analytical writing — constructing evidence-based arguments in clear prose. Research design — formulating questions, gathering evidence, and drawing supported conclusions. Data literacy — interpreting polling data, economic indicators, and research findings. Public speaking and debate — articulating positions and defending them against objections.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that political scientists earn a median annual salary of $132,350, but most of those positions require graduate degrees2. Bachelor's-level political science graduates typically enter government, campaigns, nonprofits, and business at lower starting salaries, with significant income growth tied to experience, graduate education, or transition to law or consulting.
What Nobody Tells You About Political Science Requirements
The introductory courses are the least representative. American Government and Intro to IR can feel like advanced civics. Upper-level seminars are fundamentally different — they require original analysis, engagement with academic literature, and the ability to construct and defend arguments with evidence.
Research methods and statistics are the most important courses in the major. They are also the courses students enjoy least. But they provide the analytical skills that distinguish political science graduates from people who just follow politics. Employers in policy, consulting, and government value methodological training above all else.
Washington internships are the career accelerator. For students interested in government, policy, or politics, an internship in Washington, DC (or your state capital) provides networking opportunities, practical experience, and credential-building that classroom work cannot replicate. Plan for this during your junior year.
Political science is more about systems than about your personal political views. Good political science programs teach you to analyze political systems objectively, not to advocate for a particular ideology. If your classes feel like partisan advocacy rather than analytical inquiry, that is a weakness of the program, not a feature of the discipline.
Law school admission is about LSAT scores and GPA, not your major. If you are choosing political science solely for law school, know that your LSAT score matters more than any other factor. Take courses that build analytical reasoning and writing — political theory, formal logic (from the philosophy department), and research methods.
FAQ
Is political science a good pre-law major?
It is the most popular pre-law major, and the analytical writing and argumentation skills are relevant. However, philosophy and history majors often score higher on the LSAT. The best pre-law preparation is any major that develops reading comprehension, logical reasoning, and analytical writing. See philosophy degree requirements for an alternative pre-law path.
How much math does political science require?
Usually one statistics course. The math is not advanced — basic probability, hypothesis testing, and regression analysis. However, quantitative skills are increasingly important for competitive careers in political science. Students who take additional statistics or data analysis courses stand out.
What jobs can I get with a political science degree?
Legislative aide, campaign manager, policy analyst, government affairs specialist, lobbyist, nonprofit manager, journalist, paralegal, and intelligence analyst. See the political science careers page for salary data.
Is political science a useless degree?
No, but it requires intentional career planning. The degree builds transferable analytical and communication skills, but it does not lead to a specific job title without additional effort (internships, networking, graduate education). Graduates who actively build practical experience have strong outcomes in government, law, and policy.
Should I major in political science or economics?
Political science is broader and less quantitative, covering institutions, law, and political behavior alongside policy analysis. Economics is more mathematically rigorous and more directly connected to finance and consulting careers. If you want to analyze political systems and policy, choose political science. If you want quantitative analytical training with broader career flexibility, choose economics.
Do I need graduate school for political science careers?
For academic careers and senior policy positions, yes. For entry-level government, campaign, nonprofit, and lobbying positions, a bachelor's degree is sufficient to get started. Graduate education (MPP, MPA, law school, PhD) accelerates advancement and increases salary significantly in most political science career paths.
- Political Science Degree Guide — Overview
- Is It Worth It?
- Career Paths
- Salary Data
- How Hard Is It?
- Internships
Footnotes
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National Center for Education Statistics. (2024). Digest of Education Statistics: Table 322.10 — Bachelor's degrees conferred by postsecondary institutions, by field of study. NCES. https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d23/tables/dt23_322.10.asp ↩
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U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2025). Occupational Outlook Handbook: Political Scientists. BLS. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/political-scientists.htm ↩
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U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2025). Occupational Outlook Handbook: Public Relations Specialists. BLS. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/public-relations-specialists.htm ↩