Best Political Science Programs in Indiana for 2027

Purdue organizes the major around a 12-credit concentration recorded on your transcript. Choices include Environmental Politics and Policy, National and International Security, Law and Political Thought, and Politics of Groups, Organizations, and Representation. You can also conduct applied research with faculty and participate in departmental labs. The department supports internships at several levels of government and in other organizations, so your concentration can guide both elective choices and practical experience.

Concentration Choice

A 12-credit concentration appears on the transcript, with options in environmental policy, law and security

Research Opportunities

Applied research with faculty and participation in departmental labs complement optional internships

Program Sources: Plans of Study and Degree Paths - College of Liberal Arts - Purdue UniversityPolitical Science major – Purdue University

Notre Dame’s major requires at least 11 courses, or 31 credit hours, for the class of 2028 and beyond. You take one course each in American politics, international relations and political theory, plus a methods course in quantitative methods, qualitative methods or research design. Four intermediate courses can follow one of four optional tracks: American politics, international relations, world politics or political theory. The department also lists a senior thesis among its opportunities beyond the classroom. With 133 degrees awarded in 2023–24, it is among the larger political science programs in Indiana.

Course Requirement

At least 11 courses (31 credit hours) for the class of 2028 and beyond

Methods Course

Quantitative methods, qualitative methods, or research design and methods

Optional Tracks

American politics, international relations, world politics and political theory

Program Sources: Requirements | Undergraduate | Department of Political Science | University of Notre Dame

Bloomington’s major is at least 30 credit hours and starts with POLS-Y 205 Analyzing Politics. You then choose one course from each of three lists: American politics and public policy, comparative politics and international relations, and political theory. The theory list includes Ethics and Public Policy and Classical Political Thought. A Senior Seminar, or an Honors Thesis, finishes the major. Six credit hours of focus-area electives let you go deeper in one list, and three more hours come from any 200 to 499 level political science course. The department lists internships, study abroad, honors projects and faculty research grants as ways to learn firsthand.

Methods Course

POLS-Y 205 Analyzing Politics

Area Requirements

One course each in American politics, comparative politics and international relations, and political theory

Senior Work

Senior Seminar in Political Science or Honors Thesis

Program Sources: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science | College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Bulletin

DePauw’s major is seven courses. Three come from the four subfield introductions (American politics, comparative politics, political theory and international relations), and a fourth course comes from the remaining subfield at any level. You add a 200-level course and a 300-level course, then finish with the senior seminar POLS 450, which you must pass with a C or better. Writing in the major is handled through a portfolio built from papers you already wrote in at least two subfields, plus a short reflective essay. Eight students finished the degree in 2023–24.

Course Requirement

Seven courses, including three subfield introductions

Senior Requirement

POLS 450 with a grade of C or better

Writing Portfolio

Papers from at least two subfields plus a reflective essay

Program Sources: Political Science Major and Minor Requirements - DePauw University

Ball State has you pick one of three concentrations for your upper-level work: American government and politics, global politics and international affairs, or public and non-profit administration. Each concentration is 15 credits, sitting on top of a common core that includes an introductory course, one course in each subfield and Political Science Research Methods. The senior capstone is either an internship in government, politics or a non-profit, worth 3 to 12 credits in a semester, or a 3-credit senior thesis research paper. Twenty-one people finished the degree in 2023–24.

Concentrations

American government and politics, global politics and international affairs, or public and non-profit administration

Methods

POLS 210 Political Science Research Methods in the common core

Senior Capstone

Internship or a 3-credit senior thesis

Program Sources: Major in Political Science (BA/BS) | Ball State University Undergraduate Catalog

Butler’s 36-credit major begins with Research and Analysis (PO 201) and three more introductory courses spread across USA politics, politics beyond the USA and political theory. The upper level is seven courses above the 299 level, and you must earn credit in at least three of four areas, one of which is “making connections, practicing politics,” which includes internships and the student apprenticeship courses. PO 490W Topics Capstone closes the major, and every course needs at least a C- to count. Butler also lists combined majors with history, psychology and sociology.

Research Course

PO 201 Research and Analysis

Upper-Level Areas

Seven courses across USA politics, politics beyond the USA, theorizing politics, and making connections

Capstone

PO 490W Topics Capstone, 3 hours

Program Sources: Political Science Major/Minor Requirements | Butler University

Wabash asks for nine course credits in the major. The core is Intro to Political Theory, Political Inquiry and Analysis, and one introduction in American, comparative or international politics, all meant to be finished by the end of sophomore year. Five more credits are electives with at least one at the 300 level, and a Senior Seminar rounds out the credits. The real test is the senior comprehensive examination: six hours of written exams over two days, plus an oral component you also have to pass. The department adds immersion trips, funded public service internships and a Pre-Law Program with an annual moot court.

Core Courses

Intro to Political Theory, Political Inquiry and Analysis, and one introductory subfield course

Senior Comprehensive

Six hours of written exams over two days plus an oral component

Senior Seminar

PSC-497, one credit

Program Sources: Curriculum | Political Science | Wabash College

Notre Dame designs its doctorate to finish in five years, and students in good standing are guaranteed five years of funding. Your first year is 24 credits including the required Proseminar, with no teaching or research duties. At the end of year two you pass a comprehensive exam in your first field, and by the end of year three you defend your proposal. You also show reading knowledge of a second language and submit a journal article or major grant proposal before the proposal defense, then a second one before the dissertation defense.

First Year

24 credits including the required Proseminar, with no teaching or research duties

Milestones

Comprehensive exam after year two, proposal defense by the end of year three

Publication Requirement

A journal submission or major grant proposal before each of the two defenses

Program Sources: Program of Study | Graduate | Department of Political Science | University of Notre Dame

At Purdue you are admitted straight into the PhD and choose both a major and a minor field. The requirements are coursework, written field examinations, a major-field research paper, professional development and a defended dissertation. A practicum for new students introduces the field, and each doctoral student gets a chance to teach independently before finishing. Research training draws on the cross-college Methodology Center and the shared JMK Lab, which supports experiments, interviews and focus groups, with virtual reality headsets among its resources. If you enter without a master’s in political science, you can earn the MA along the way at no extra time.

Fields of Study

Major and minor field chosen from five fields, including American politics, comparative politics, international relations and public policy

Milestones

Written field exams, a major-field research paper and a dissertation defense

Research Lab

Joe and Maggie Kernan Experimental Social Science Lab, shared with Sociology

Program Sources: About the PhD Program | Political Science | Purdue University

Bloomington’s doctorate totals 90 credit hours, and Introduction to the Study of Politics (Y570) comes in the first year. You pick one primary and one secondary subfield from American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political methodology and political philosophy. The primary subfield brings an Approaches and Issues seminar, four or five substantive seminars and a qualifying exam. A second-year research project must be approved before the fifth semester. You also complete an outside minor, usually four courses in a related department, before the dissertation proposal and candidacy. Three people earned the degree in 2023–24.

Subfield Structure

One primary and one secondary subfield, including Approaches and Issues seminars

Second-Year Project

Original research paper evaluated by your advisory committee

Outside Minor

Typically four courses in a related department or program

Program Sources: Political Science | University Graduate School Bulletin | Indiana University