Best Political Science Programs in Florida for 2027

Florida's political science major combines 30 credits in the department with a separate introductory statistics requirement. You choose three introductory courses from American government, comparative politics, international relations and political theory, then complete substantial upper-level work. At least half of the political science credits must be taken at UF. If you're considering graduate research, the department recommends further statistics, Research Methods and its honors program. Those recommendations give you a way to extend the required major toward more sustained analytical work.

Statistics Requirement

Introduction to Statistics is required separately from the 30-credit political science major

Advanced Preparation

Additional statistics, Research Methods and honors study are recommended for students considering graduate school

Program Sources: Graduation Requirements - Political Science

Florida State combines political science with a required minor or second major. Within the major, you'll study across subfields and take Research Methods in Political Science, which covers research design, collecting data and interpreting findings. The department recommends taking methods early so you can use those skills in advanced classes, papers and internships. Most major coursework must be upper level. Public administration cannot serve as the required minor because its courses already contribute to the political science major.

Research Preparation

Required research methods course covers study design, data collection and interpreting findings

Supporting Study

A minor or second major is required; public administration cannot fill that role

Program Sources: Undergraduate Requirements - Department of Political Science

USF's political science major examines American institutions, elections and constitutional law alongside political theory and international politics. Its optional internship program connects that coursework with public-policy experience and academic writing. You'll secure your own placement and obtain approval before starting, then enroll in Field Work in Political Science. The academic work includes a weekly reflective journal and a final research paper drawing on your experience. Participation requires a 3.0 political science major GPA, and an on-site supervisor evaluates the internship.

Internship Planning

Students secure their own politically relevant placement and obtain approval before starting

Academic Fieldwork

Weekly reflective journal and final research paper accompany the internship

Program Sources: Political Science | School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies | College of Arts and Sciences | University of South FloridaPolitical Science Internship

UCF's political science BA offers tracks in American politics and policy, prelaw, international relations and comparative politics, and intelligence and national security. You'll build the major around American National Government and Scope and Methods of Political Science before completing your track's requirements. The degree can be completed online, although elective and prerequisite availability differs by format. Internships require school approval before they can count toward the major, and limited placements include government offices, law offices and campaign headquarters. Plan your track and practical experience together.

Track Choices

American politics and policy, prelaw, international and comparative politics, or intelligence and national security

Internship Credit

School approval is required before internship credit can count toward the major

Program Sources: Bachelor's in Political Science | University of Central Florida

Florida State's MAAPP is a professional Master of Science focused on campaigns, lobbying, legislative affairs, fundraising and political communication. Its 36-credit non-thesis curriculum divides into 24 coursework credits and a 12-credit practicum. You'll cover political management, communications, campaigns and policy or research in the core. The practicum combines work with a paper and starts after your first semester. You can complete its credits in one semester or across two consecutive semesters, making the placement's schedule part of planning the degree.

Professional Core

Political management, communications, campaigns, and policy or research

Practicum Structure

12 credits combining professional work and a paper, taken after the first semester

Program Sources: Masters of Applied American Politics & Policy - Department of Political Science

Florida Atlantic admits political science MA students to the non-thesis route first. After completing between nine and fifteen graduate credits, you can apply to switch to a thesis with departmental approval. Both routes share Research Design and seminars in American government and comparative political processes. The 30-credit degree then uses either additional seminars or six thesis credits to complete the plan. You'll take Research Design in your first semester or its first offering after admission, putting that course early in your graduate research preparation.

Thesis Decision

Students enter the non-thesis route and may request a thesis after 9–15 graduate credits

Shared Core

Research Design, American National Government and Comparative Political Processes

Program Sources: Graduate Program Requirements | Florida Atlantic University

UCF's political science MA pairs Conduct of Political Inquiry with Quantitative Methods in Political Research, then adds seminars in at least two substantive fields. Both completion routes require a written comprehensive examination. For the thesis, you'll form a committee, defend a proposal and complete an oral defense. The non-thesis route adds coursework but still requires an article-length research paper and a presentation at a public academic forum. Your choice therefore changes the research format and supervision as well as the course schedule.

Methods Core

Conduct of Political Inquiry and Quantitative Methods in Political Research

Final Research

Thesis proposal and oral defense, or an article-length non-thesis paper presented at a public academic forum

Program Sources: Political Science (MA) Degree | UCF Orlando, FL

UF's political science PhD begins with theory and epistemology, political data analysis and the conduct of inquiry. Students entering in fall 2026 or later also complete three methods seminars. You'll choose major and minor fields from American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory and methodology. The major-field requirement can be met through examinations or, for eligible students, an original paper judged ready for journal submission. That paper option has its own academic eligibility and review process, so discuss the research route with your supervisory committee.

Current Methods Core

Fall 2026 entrants add three methods seminars to the theory, data analysis and inquiry core

Major-Field Assessment

Eligible students may submit an original research paper instead of the major-field comprehensive examination

Program Sources: Ph.D. Program - Political Science

Florida State builds early research projects into its political science PhD. In the first year, you'll develop a paper with faculty guidance and present it to the department. In the second, an advisor directs your Research Practicum, which is intended to produce work for a professional meeting and submission to a scholarly journal. The program combines theoretical, mathematical, statistical and research-design training. Teaching preparation includes the university's Program for Instructional Excellence before classroom instruction, linking research training with preparation to teach political science.

Early Research

First-year faculty presentation followed by an advisor-directed Research Practicum in the second year

Teaching Preparation

Program for Instructional Excellence training precedes classroom instruction

Program Sources: Doctoral Program - Department of Political ScienceProfessional Training - Department of Political Science

FIU's political science PhD asks you to develop two examination fields and a third regional or topical specialization. The common core covers American politics, comparative politics, international politics and political theory, while required methods courses support independent research. Teaching Political Science is also part of the required curriculum. Before comprehensive examinations, you'll demonstrate foreign-language competency or appropriate computer and methodological competency. After the exams, the work moves to a defended dissertation proposal and, ultimately, a public dissertation defense under faculty supervision.

Fields of Study

Two examination fields plus a third regional or topical specialization

Research and Teaching

Required methodology courses and Teaching Political Science precede dissertation research

Program Sources: Political Science Degrees | FIU Department of Politics & International Relations