Best Political Science Programs in Arizona for 2027

ASU’s political science BA is built to link theory with current problems, and its learning outcomes spell out how: you apply social science research methods in research design, apply Classical Liberalism to a public policy, and write clearly about political topics. Coursework examines how governments at every level make policy, with elections, lobbying, terrorism and diplomacy as recurring topics. A second language is required. Strong students can pair the BA with an accelerated master’s in political psychology, international affairs and leadership, or other options and finish both in as little as five years. ASU awarded 352 political science bachelor’s degrees in 2023–24, one of the larger programs on its state page.

Learning Outcomes

Research design, applying Classical Liberalism to public policy, and clear political writing

Language Requirement

A second language is required

Accelerated Master’s

Bachelor’s and master’s in as little as five years, including political psychology and international affairs and leadership

Program Sources: Political Science, BAPolitical Science, BA

Arizona’s political science BA opens with survey courses in four directions: American political institutions, comparative politics, international relations and political theory. Upper-level work narrows into more specific institutions and policies, and you can concentrate in American Politics, International Affairs, Law and Public Policy, or General Political Science. Writing carries real weight here, since the department says most courses have a substantial writing component, though no technical background beyond general civics is assumed. Majors in the Fall 2024 catalog also complete 9 units of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences core series. With 146 degrees awarded in 2023–24, it is one of the larger options on the Arizona page.

Areas of Study

American Politics, International Affairs, Law and Public Policy, or General Political Science

Opening Courses

Surveys of American institutions, comparative politics, international relations and political theory

College Core

9 units of the SBS Core Series for Fall 2024 catalog majors

Program Sources: B.A. Political Science | School of Government and Public Policy

Northern Arizona frames its political science degree as a Bachelor of Science, which tells you where the weight falls: analytical methods and policy fields. The department says the program suits students headed for graduate school, the public sector or policy work, and it also appeals to anyone who has taken STEM coursework. Learning outcomes ask you to devise a research design, test hypotheses with basic empirical data and write the findings as a research report, then present your work in public settings. The plan totals 54 to 60 units of major requirements, which includes 18 to 24 units of minor requirements. The program awarded 56 degrees in 2023–24.

Research Outcomes

Devise a research design, test hypotheses with empirical data and write a research report

Major Size

54 to 60 units, including 18 to 24 units of minor requirements

Field Experience

Fieldwork or internship and research are optional

Program Sources: Political Science, Bachelor of Science | Politics & International Affairs

Arizona State's political science MA starts with Empirical Political Inquiry and a focus-area course. Most students also take Polimetrics I, while political theory students take another focus-area course instead. The 30-credit degree ends in a thesis with an oral defense or a written capstone paper. The department identifies research strengths in ethnoreligious dynamics, women and politics, political violence, human rights, and Latino politics, which can help you narrow the faculty expertise relevant to your project.

Research Preparation

Empirical Political Inquiry is required, with Polimetrics I replaced by a focus-area course for political theory students

Culminating Work

Choose a thesis with an oral defense or a capstone that requires a written paper

Program Sources: Political Science MA

ASU’s political science PhD runs 84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam in your major field, a prospectus and a dissertation with an oral defense. The only required core course is Empirical Political Inquiry. The remaining 69 credits are electives and research, and 12 are dissertation credits. You specialize within or across American politics, comparative politics, international relations and political theory, with faculty strengths in Latino and Latina politics, political violence, human rights and political psychology. If you arrive with a master’s degree, up to 30 credit hours can transfer with committee and Graduate College approval. The school hosts an experimental lab and the Center for Latina/os and American Politics Research.

Program Milestones

84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation

Subfields

American politics, comparative politics, international relations and political theory

Master’s Credit

Up to 30 credit hours from a previous master’s degree with approval

Program Sources: Political Science, PHDPolitical Science, PHD

Mesa’s political science AA is the first half of a bachelor’s degree, and the pathway map starts you with American National Government, which it flags as both the gateway course and a critical course for success. Next come International Relations or Comparative Government and Political Ideologies. You finish 60 to 64 credits with general education and electives, and the map recommends a Public Policy/Service Internship. The emphasis is written to line up with political science majors at ASU, NAU and the University of Arizona, plus Grand Canyon University government degrees, and a C or better is required in every program course. Mesa recorded 12 associate awards in 2023–24.

Gateway Course

American National Government, marked as a critical course

Political Science Sequence

International Relations or Comparative Government, then Political Ideologies

Transfer Pathway

Aligned with political science degrees at ASU, NAU, the University of Arizona and Grand Canyon University

Program Sources: Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Political ScienceAssociate in Arts, Emphasis in Political Science

Think of Glendale’s political science AA as years one and two of a four-year plan. The college says the emphasis gives you the first two years of a curriculum for students who want to specialize in political science, and it is written to match majors at ASU, Grand Canyon University, NAU and the University of Arizona. With a bachelor’s degree, the college points to roles such as social science research assistant, city and regional planning aide, public relations specialist, reporter and social and community service manager. A graduate degree opens the way to political scientist, professor and lawyer roles. Glendale awarded 9 associate degrees in political science in 2023–24.

Transfer Alignment

Matched to political science degrees at ASU, GCU, NAU and the University of Arizona

Bachelor’s-Level Careers

Research assistant, planning aide, public relations specialist, reporter and community service manager

Graduate-Level Careers

Political scientist, political science professor and lawyer

Program Sources: Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Political Science | Glendale Community College

The first outcome listed for Estrella Mountain’s political science AA is civic: develop a lifelong interest in local, national and global engagement through active citizenship. The rest of the list is practical, covering evidence-based arguments on public policy, communication for a diverse political world, and collaboration with institutions toward common goals. A Public Policy/Service Internship is recommended on the course map, which sits among general education and electives that bring the degree to 60 to 64 credits. Depending on your transfer university, you may also need an elementary or intermediate language course. The college reported 6 associate degrees in 2023–24.

Civic Outcome

Develop a lifelong interest in civic engagement through active citizenship

Recommended Internship

POS281AB Public Policy/Service Internship, 3 credits

Language Note

An elementary or intermediate language course may be required by the transfer university

Program Sources: Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Political ScienceAssociate in Arts, Emphasis in Political Science

Chandler-Gilbert’s political science AA is described by what you should be able to do at the end. You define, cite examples of, differentiate between and critique basic political concepts, systems and theories, then apply the tools of several political science subfields. You also learn to appraise a situation, build an argument from evidence about public policy and politics, and work ethically with diverse people on shared goals. The pathway map lays the 60 to 64 credits out term by term in four-term and eight-term versions, built on American National Government, International Relations or Comparative Government and Political Ideologies. Four associate degrees were awarded in 2023–24.

Learning Outcomes

Define and critique political concepts, systems and theories, and argue from evidence about public policy

Core Political Science Courses

American National Government, International Relations or Comparative Government, and Political Ideologies

Total Credits

60 to 64 credits, with a C or better required in program courses

Program Sources: Associate in Arts, Emphasis in Political Science | Chandler Gilbert Community College

Arizona Western’s political science AA is a transfer degree, so the work is meant to carry straight into upper-division courses at a university. The program lists four outcomes: explaining key political concepts and theories, weighing political arguments and ideologies in an unbiased way, explaining the causes and consequences of historically important political events, and writing a persuasive research paper that draws on multiple sources on a controversial topic. The college also calls the degree good preparation for pre-law. Many political science careers listed on the page call for further university study. Yuma’s program awarded 8 associate degrees in 2023–24.

Research Paper Outcome

A persuasive research paper on a controversial topic, synthesizing multiple sources

Political Thought Outcome

Evaluate political arguments and ideologies in an unbiased way

Transfer Purpose

First two years of study, with pre-law preparation noted

Program Sources: Political Science | Arizona Western CollegePolitical Science | Arizona Western College