Best Political Science Programs in Connecticut for 2027

Yale’s political science major takes 12 course credits and lays them out in tiers: two introductory lectures, two core lectures, two seminars with one in senior year, a methods and formal theory course, four subfield courses spread over two of international relations, American politics, political philosophy and comparative politics, and at least one more elective. The Intensive Major raises that to 15 credits and adds a three-semester senior essay across PLSC 4900, 4901 and 4903. An interdisciplinary version requires at least seven of the 12 credits in your field of concentration. Yale awarded 114 degrees in 2023–24.

Methods Requirement

One methods and formal theory course

Seminars

Two 3000-level seminars, one in senior year

Intensive Major

Fifteen credits with a three-semester senior essay

Program Sources: Requirements | Department of Political ScienceRequirements | Department of Political Science

Trinity’s political science major takes 11 credits: four at the 200 level or below, including a research methods course such as POLS 242, six at the 300 level, and a senior capstone that is either a 400-level seminar or a two-semester senior thesis. You also need at least one course in each subfield: American politics, comparative politics, international relations and political theory. The Trinity College Legislative Internship places up to 14 students with legislators, part-time or full-time, alongside a seminar on state legislatures. Honors requires a GPA of 3.67 in the major and an A- or better on the thesis. The department awarded 76 degrees in 2023–24.

Methods Requirement

POLS 242, POLS 243 or an approved methods course in another department

Senior Capstone

A 400-level senior seminar or a two-semester senior thesis

Legislative Internship

Two credits part-time or four credits full-time with a state legislator

Program Sources: POLS Program | Trinity College CatalogPOLS Program | Trinity College Catalog

UConn’s political science BA comes as a standard major or the Campaigning and Governing in American Politics concentration. The standard plan draws on courses in seven categories, from theory and comparative politics to public administration, policy and law and methodology, and both versions require POLS 1301 and 1396 under the fall 2025 and later catalogs. The concentration takes two subdivision courses instead of four and adds Quantitative Analysis in Political Science (POLS 2972Q) and a Supervised Field Work internship (POLS 3991). Internship sites include the U.S. Congress, the Connecticut General Assembly and political campaigns. The 183 degrees awarded in 2023–24 make it one of the larger options on its state page.

Concentration

Campaigning and Governing in American Politics

Concentration Requirements

Quantitative Analysis in Political Science and a supervised field work internship

Course Categories

Seven, from theory and comparative politics to methodology

Program Sources: Major | Department of Political Science | College of Liberal Arts and Sciences | University of ConnecticutMajor | Department of Political Science | College of Liberal Arts and Sciences | University of Connecticut

Fairfield’s politics major is a 30-credit program with four foundational courses: Introduction to American Politics, Introduction to Comparative Politics, Political Ideas That Shape the World and International Relations. You then take one upper-level course in each of American politics, comparative politics, international relations and political theory, plus a 4000-level politics seminar. A professional development requirement lets you choose Public Administration, Research Methods, Humanitarian and Disaster Response Field Training, independent research or an internship, including a State Legislature Internship or a Washington Semester Internship. Only two courses from the Washington Internship Institute program can count toward the major. It awarded 15 degrees in 2023–24.

Subfield Breadth

One upper-level course each in American, comparative, international and theory

Seminar

One 4000-level politics course

Professional Development

Research methods, field training, independent research or an internship

Program Sources: Politics Major < Fairfield UniversityPolitics Major < Fairfield University

Wesleyan calls its political science major Government, and it takes nine government credits. You pick a concentration in American politics, comparative politics, international relations or political theory and take four courses there, then add an upper-level course in at least three of the four concentrations. Only one subfield introductory course counts toward the nine, and internships do not count toward the major. If you have fewer than four government courses by the end of junior year, you must drop the major, and admission to the major requires one government course with a grade of B- or better. The department also points non-majors to QAC201 for social science methodology.

Concentration Depth

Four courses in American, comparative, international relations or political theory

Breadth Requirement

An upper-level course in three of the four concentrations

Pacing

At least four government courses by the end of junior year

Program Sources: Government Major < Wesleyan UniversityGovernment Major < Wesleyan University

Connecticut College’s government major takes ten or more semester courses, at least eight at the 200 level or above and at least two at the 300 level. You cover each of four subfields, comparative politics, international politics, political theory and US government, and finish with two 400-level seminars in your junior or senior year. Up to two 100-level introductory courses count. If you plan independent research or graduate school, the department recommends a research methods course such as GOV 275 in sophomore or junior year, and a two-semester honors thesis (GOV 497 and 498) brings the major to eleven courses. No more than three courses from outside the college count toward the major.

Seminars

Two 400-level seminars in the junior or senior year

Subfield Coverage

Comparative politics, international politics, political theory and US government

Honors Thesis

Two-semester thesis, GOV 497 and 498

Program Sources: Connecticut College - Government MajorConnecticut College - Government Major

Quinnipiac’s political science BA gives you a core of American government, International Relations, Thinking Politics, American Political Movements, Comparative Government, Political Inquiry and a Senior Seminar, then 15 credits in one of three tracks: politics, public policy and leadership, or global affairs. Every major also completes an experiential requirement for credit, such as an advanced internship of 3 or more credits, a course in the QU in DC program, a political science course abroad or a service-learning course, and no more than 6 credits of internship count toward the major. Every course needs at least a C. The program awarded 31 degrees in 2023–24.

Tracks

Politics, public policy and leadership, or global affairs

Experiential Requirement

Advanced internship, QU in DC, study abroad or service learning

Capstone

Senior Seminar (PO 408)

Program Sources: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science - Quinnipiac University Academic CatalogBachelor of Arts in Political Science - Quinnipiac University Academic Catalog

Yale treats methods as fields of study in their own right, including quantitative empirical methods, qualitative and archival methods, and formal theory. Doctoral students complete fourteen term courses and certify in two fields before developing a dissertation prospectus. Up to four courses outside political science can count without prior approval, leaving room to connect a political research question with another discipline. The prospectus requires approval from a director and two additional faculty members.

Methods as Fields

Field options include quantitative empirical methods, qualitative and archival methods, and formal theory

Cross-Department Courses

Up to four courses outside political science can count without prior approval from the director of graduate studies

Program Sources: PhD in Political Science

UConn’s political science PhD works in two stages. First you build expertise in two chosen subfields through coursework and pass Ph.D. exams in both, which makes you ABD. Then you form a committee, write a dissertation proposal and defend. Everyone takes Nature of Political Inquiry, Introduction to Quantitative Methods, Introduction to Qualitative Methods and an advanced methods elective, and enrolls in GRAD 6950 for four semesters, attending four scholarly presentations each time. The international relations exam is a sole-authored paper of 8,000 to 12,000 words aimed at a journal, while political theory pairs a research paper with an annotated syllabus for a 14-week graduate course. The program awarded 5 degrees in 2023–24.

Exam Fields

Ph.D. exams in two of the department’s subfields

Methods Core

Political inquiry, quantitative methods, qualitative methods and one advanced methods elective

Comprehensive Exam Format

Journal-style research paper in international relations; paper plus annotated syllabus in political theory

Program Sources: Ph.D. in Political Science | Department of Political Science | College of Liberal Arts and Sciences | University of ConnecticutPh.D. in Political Science | Department of Political Science | College of Liberal Arts and Sciences | University of Connecticut

Connecticut State’s political science AA is a CSCU Pathway Transfer degree, designed so you move to Central, Eastern, Southern or Western Connecticut State University, or Charter Oak State College, as a full junior without losing or repeating credits. Southern accepts it toward either a BA or a BS in political science. Within 61 to 64 credits you take American Government (POLS 1002) and two more POLS courses, plus Global Knowledge and Creativity pathway electives. The college suggests using your 15 unrestricted credits for a foreign language, which Central, Eastern and Western require, or to start a minor. The program awarded 28 degrees in 2023–24.

Transfer Pathway

Guaranteed junior status at Connecticut State universities and Charter Oak State College

Political Science Courses

American Government plus two additional POLS courses

Unrestricted Electives

Fifteen credits, suggested for a foreign language or a minor

Program Sources: Political Science Studies - CSCU Transfer Degree, AA | Connecticut State Community College Academic CatalogPolitical Science Studies - CSCU Transfer Degree, AA | Connecticut State Community College Academic Catalog