Best Political Science Programs in Alabama for 2027

Alabama’s political science BA is a 30-hour major that starts with Intro American Politics and two more gateway courses of your choosing from political science methods, comparative politics, international relations, political theory and public administration. You then spread 9 hours across three fields, such as American government, comparative politics, political theory or public policy, and finish with 12 hours of electives numbered 300 to 499. The department runs its own study abroad programs in Sweden, Guatemala, Israel, Belgium and Germany, gives internship credit in federal, state and local government, and offers an accelerated master’s. With 185 degrees awarded in 2023–24, it is one of the larger options on the Alabama page.

Gateway Courses

Intro American Politics plus two from methods, comparative politics, international relations, political theory and public administration

Field Requirement

Three hours in each of three fields, for 9 hours

Study Abroad

Department programs in Sweden, Guatemala, Israel, Belgium and Germany

Program Sources: Political Science, BA | University of AlabamaPolitical Science, BA | University of Alabama

Auburn’s major begins in a majors-only section of American Government in a Multicultural World, then adds POLI 3000, 3020 and 3250 and one of POLI 3090 or 3120 to complete the Major Core. After that, you choose a Specialty inside political science. Each Specialty has its own nine-hour core and a list of accepted electives, and two more POLI electives round out the senior year. The 120-hour plan also includes a two-credit Liberal Arts Careers Prep course from the College of Liberal Arts, and a C or better in American Government is the prerequisite for some higher-level courses. Auburn awarded 78 political science degrees in 2023–24, one of the larger programs on its state page.

Major Core

Majors-only American Government section, POLI 3000, 3020, 3250 and one of POLI 3090 or 3120

Specialties

Each Specialty carries a 9-hour core plus its own list of specialty electives

Career Course

LBAR 2010 Liberal Arts Careers Prep, 2 credits in the sophomore year

Program Sources: Political Science (POLI) | Auburn University Bulletin

Every UAB political science major shares a core in American Government plus the research skills the department treats as essential: statistical methods and research projects. From there you can build your own path or pursue a concentration in American Government and Political Theory, Global Politics and Policy, or Human Rights and Social Justice. Internships with practical work experience are available, and the department points to minors such as Legal Affairs, International Studies, Women’s Studies and Human Rights as natural add-ons. Public-sector work and law school are the popular routes afterward. The program awarded 33 degrees in 2023–24, one of the larger programs on its state page.

Core Curriculum

American Government, statistical methods and research projects, taken by all majors

Concentrations

American Government and Political Theory; Global Politics and Policy; Human Rights and Social Justice

Related Minors

Legal Affairs, International Studies, Women’s Studies or Human Rights

Program Sources: Political Science Major | CAS - Department of Political Science and Public Administration

Troy’s B.S. in Political Science puts American politics, international relations and public administration side by side. Course titles on the program page run from Women in Politics and Terrorism and Political Violence to Politics of the Developing World and Intercultural Relations, so you can lean toward comparative or security questions. The standout option is the accelerated law track. You spend three years at Troy on political science coursework, then move to law school for your final year of undergraduate study, which shortens the path to a law degree by a full year. Troy awarded 22 political science degrees in 2023–24.

Subject Areas

American politics, international relations and public administration

Sample Courses

Women in Politics, Terrorism and Political Violence, Politics of the Developing World

Accelerated Law

Three years at Troy, then law school for the final year of the bachelor’s

Program Sources: Political Science Degree | B.S. in Political Science | TROY

South Alabama’s 36-hour political science major sorts into a short list of required courses, then 21 hours of 300- and 400-level electives. You start with Introduction to U.S. Government, Comparative Politics and International Relations, take Research Methods and finish in a Capstone Seminar. The elective menu is wide, with Constitutional Law, Politics of the Middle East, Campaign and Election Communication, Armed Conflict, Public Policy and Aging, a study abroad course and an internship. A grade of C or better in Introduction to U.S. Government is required for most upper-level courses. The department sits alongside criminal justice, so many electives are cross-listed with it. Seventeen degrees were awarded in 2023–24.

Required Courses

U.S. Government, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Research Methods and a Capstone Seminar

Upper-Level Electives

21 hours of 300/400-level courses, including Constitutional Law, Armed Conflict and Campaign and Election Communication

Experiential Options

Study Abroad, Directed Studies and an Internship among the electives

Program Sources: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science | Political Science and Criminal JusticeBachelor of Arts in Political Science | Political Science and Criminal Justice

Huntsville keeps its political science BA deliberately broad. The department calls it a liberal arts curriculum meant to be general rather than highly specialized, and you choose classes from six subfields: political philosophy, American government, constitutional law, public policy and methods, comparative politics and international relations. Constitutional law, for example, centers on judicial decision-making, civil rights and liberties, and how rulings reach federal, state and local practice. Public policy and methods looks at how policies are formed, implemented and evaluated. With 8 degrees awarded in 2023–24, it is a small program, and the UAH catalog lists the full set of courses.

Subfields

Political philosophy, American government, constitutional law, public policy and methods, comparative politics and international relations

Program Philosophy

A liberal arts curriculum that is general rather than highly specialized

Program Sources: Undergraduate Programs | Political Science | The University of Alabama in Huntsville

Jacksonville State organizes its political science BA around three fields. Of the 18 required hours in the major, at least 6 come from each of American Government, Global Studies, and Theory and Methodology, and at least one course from each field must be 300-level or above. Choices run from Constitutional Law and The Legislative Process to Civil Wars, International Human Rights and Politics and Film. The pre-professional courses include Introduction to Criminal Justice, Introduction to Public Administration and Introduction to Public Policy. If graduate school is in your plans, the catalog strongly recommends Political Science Methods. Twelve degrees were awarded in 2023–24.

Three Fields

At least 6 hours each in American Government, Global Studies, and Theory and Methodology

Pre-Professional Courses

Criminal Justice, American Government, State and Local Government, Public Administration and Public Policy

Graduate School Advice

Political Science Methods strongly recommended for majors considering graduate study

Program Sources: JSU Undergraduate Catalog 2026-2027JSU Undergraduate Catalog 2026-2027

The Samford major is built around a required professional internship, which every student completes in settings the department lists as political offices, legal settings, advocacy groups or public policy organizations. The program page names placements such as the White House, the State Department, law firms and legislative offices. Around that sit coursework from political theory and international relations to constitutional law and public policy, small seminars, Model UN and an annual Washington careers trip. Six degrees were awarded in 2023–24.

Internship

A professional internship is required of every student

Washington Careers Trip

Annual trip to explore career paths, alongside Model UN and advocacy groups

Course Range

Political theory, international relations, constitutional law and public policy

Program Sources: Political Science (BA) | Samford University

North Alabama’s political science major is 36 hours with six required courses: United States Government and Politics, Public Policy and Administration, Political Science Scope and Research, Comparative Politics, World Politics and Political Theory. The other 18 hours are electives at any level, and you can steer them toward American institutions, comparative politics, international relations, public policy and administration, or political theory. The degree can be a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts, and majors must add a minor, a second major or a second degree. Legal and public service internships are available for credit, and the department runs active Mock Trial and Model United Nations programs. UNA awarded 23 degrees in 2023–24.

Required Courses

Six courses, from U.S. Government and Politics to Political Theory, in a 36-hour major

Degree Options

Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts, with an additional minor, second major or second degree

Experiential Options

Legal and public service internships, Mock Trial and Model United Nations

Program Sources: Political Science

The PhD at Alabama asks you to master two fields from American politics, comparative politics, international relations, public policy and administration, and political theory. One becomes your major field, with five courses, and the other your minor, with three. Every student takes a methods block of Research Design and two quantitative methods courses, plus two short departmental seminars on professionalization. The 39 graduate hours are followed by dissertation research. The catalog calls the PhD primarily a research degree, and it adds classroom teaching experience for students headed toward faculty jobs. New applicants are considered for graduate teaching assistantships automatically. The program awarded 5 doctorates in 2023–24.

Field Structure

A major field of five courses and a minor field of three, both chosen from five subfields

Methods Sequence

Research Design, Quantitative Methods I and Quantitative Methods II

Credit Requirement

At least 39 graduate hours, plus dissertation research

Program Sources: Political Science, Ph.D. | University of AlabamaPolitical Science, Ph.D. | University of Alabama