Best Political Science Programs in Idaho for 2027

After a core drawn from American Political Institutions and Behavior, Comparative Politics and International Relations, Boise State majors choose four courses in one area of emphasis: American Government and Public Policy, International Relations, or Public Law and Political Philosophy. Six or nine more upper-division courses finish the major depending on catalog year, and no more than three credits of internship can count. The department leans on its setting in the capital, near the state law library, state archives and government offices. A secondary education option and a minor are also offered. With 52 degrees awarded in 2023–24, it is one of the larger cohorts in Idaho.

Emphasis Areas

American Government and Public Policy, International Relations, or Public Law and Political Philosophy

Core Courses

American Political Institutions and Behavior, Comparative Politics and International Relations

Internship Credit

No more than three credits of POLS 493 count toward upper-division requirements

Program Sources: General Requirements - Political ScienceGeneral Requirements - Political Science

The B.A. here follows the traditional liberal arts model, which includes a 16-credit foreign language requirement. Political science majors take at least 36 credits in the subject, 18 of them upper-division. The core covers American National Government, Political Research Methods and Approaches, and a Senior Experience course open once you have senior standing or 24 political science credits. Upper-division choices span areas such as political institutions and behavior, public administration and policy, international and comparative politics, public law and political philosophy. Related-field coursework outside political science rounds out the degree. Idaho awarded 33 degrees in 2023–24.

Language Requirement

16 credits of foreign language

Methods Course

POLS 2350 Political Research Methods and Approaches

Capstone

Senior Experience, open at senior standing or 24 political science credits

Program Sources: Political Science (B.A.) | University of Idaho CatalogPolitical Science (B.A.) | University of Idaho Catalog

BYU-Idaho’s political science BA puts research and practice into the core. You’ll take Research Methods alongside American government, comparative politics and international politics, then finish with a senior seminar and a required political science internship worth one to six credits. You also choose one theory course, ancient or modern, and a skills module in GIS, statistics or two 200-level courses in one foreign language. Most of your upper-level work comes from a 27-credit emphasis, and the department lists emphases in American government and foreign affairs, among others. Major courses need a C- or higher.

Required Internship

Political Science Internship (POLSC 498R) for one to six credits

Skills Module

GIS, statistics or two 200-level courses in one language

Emphasis

27 credits in an area such as American government or foreign affairs

Program Sources: Political Science (Major: Bachelor-Level) | BYU-Idaho Academic CatalogPolitical Science: American Government | BYU-Idaho Majors

Idaho State’s political science degree comes as a B.A. or a B.S. and starts with seven core courses: American National Government, Introduction to Politics Critical Thinking and Analysis, political theory, international relations, comparative politics, a research design course and a Senior Seminar. Eighteen upper-division credits follow, and they must include one course each in American politics, international politics and political theory, plus three more of your choosing. Options include The Presidency, Constitutional Law, Terrorism and Political Violence and Jurisprudence. The catalog also mentions a pre-law emphasis. Thirteen degrees were awarded in 2023–24.

Methods Course

POLS 3319 Political Science Research Design

Capstone

POLS 4460 Senior Seminar

Upper-Division Electives

18 credits including American politics, international politics and political theory

Program Sources: B.A. or B.S in Political Science | Idaho State University Academic CatalogB.A. or B.S in Political Science | Idaho State University Academic Catalog

The College of Idaho teaches this field as political economy: how government shapes the allocation of scarce resources through public policy, and how the economic system shapes the policies government creates. The major asks you to build critical reasoning while weighing economic, political and philosophical principles and how Western and non-Western societies interact. Graduates featured on the page pair it with second majors or minors such as history, accounting, business administration, theatre and philosophy, including a pre-law specialization. Idaho awarded 8 degrees in the field in 2023–24.

Focus

How government and the economic system shape each other’s policies and resource allocation

Pairings

Combined with history, accounting, business, theatre, philosophy and a pre-law specialization

Program Sources: Academics – Major – Political Economy | The College of Idaho

This doctorate is a Doctor of Arts, aimed at people who want to teach political science anywhere from community colleges to universities. American politics is required, and you add two more fields from public administration, comparative and international politics, public law and political theory. Coursework can draw on one or two cognate social science disciplines. Graduates get extensive pedagogy training and craft a distinct teaching philosophy, and they present research at professional conferences or submit it for publication review. Two degrees were awarded in 2023–24.

Required Field

American politics, plus two chosen fields

Chosen Fields

Public administration, comparative and international politics, public law or political theory

Teaching Training

Pedagogy coursework and a personal teaching philosophy

Program Sources: Doctor of Arts in Political Science at ISU | Idaho State UniversityDoctor of Arts in Political Science at ISU | Idaho State University

North Idaho College’s Associate of Science in Political Science and Pre-Law covers the equivalent of the first two years of a Bachelor of Science in political science. The program requirements are short: American National Government, International Politics and Problems, and one more political science course of your choosing. Sixteen to 18 credits of electives let you tailor the rest toward the school you plan to transfer to. NIC says it also serves as a foundation for pre-law, business and secondary teaching with a social science emphasis. The college awarded 7 associate degrees in 2023–24.

Required Courses

POLS-101 American National Government and POLS-237 International Politics and Problems

Additional Course

One more political science course other than POLS-298

Transfer Pathway

Equivalent of the first two years of a Bachelor of Science in political science

Program Sources: POLS.AS Program | North Idaho College CatalogPolitical Science and Pre-Law - North Idaho College

CWI’s Political Science AA is an academic transfer degree of at least 60 credits, and the major courses are few and clear: Introduction to Political Science, then either Comparative Politics or International Relations, then either Political Philosophy or American Constitutional Foundations. Fourteen elective credits are left for you, and the catalog nudges you to pick the political science courses you skipped. Political Philosophy runs in spring and Constitutional Foundations in fall, so plan the semester. Program outcomes include weighing political claims by their assumptions, arguments and evidence. CWI awarded 10 degrees here in 2023–24.

Major Courses

Introduction to Political Science, plus a comparative politics or international relations course, plus political philosophy or constitutional foundations

Electives

14 credits, with the remaining political science courses encouraged

Program Type

Academic transfer degree, minimum 60 credits

Program Sources: College of Western Idaho Academic Catalog < Political Science - Associate of Arts Degree (AA)*

CSI’s Political Science program leads to an Associate of Arts degree that meets the general education requirements at all Idaho public universities, so the credits are built to move. The discipline is described as the theory and practice of politics along with the description and analysis of political systems and political behavior. You pick courses to match the requirements of the school you plan to transfer to, and the college points to later work in law, government, business, international and national organizations, diplomacy and education for people who finish a bachelor’s. The college awarded 2 associate degrees in 2023–24.

Degree Type

Associate of Arts

Transfer Pathway

Meets the general education requirements at all Idaho public universities

Course Planning

Course selection coordinated with your intended transfer institution

Program Sources: Political Science Program | CSI - College of Southern IdahoPolitical Science Program | CSI - College of Southern Idaho