Best Political Science Programs in Kansas for 2027

KU majors start with Introduction to U.S. Politics, one more introduction in comparative or international politics, and Political Science Methods of Inquiry. At the junior and senior level you pick two Political Science Essentials courses, which include Introduction to Political Theory, and then take electives from at least two different subfields. Three upper-level electives add nine more hours. A three-credit capstone is required, and you can satisfy it with an internship capstone, an honors thesis or capstone research. Fieldwork options include a Washington semester and a Topeka semester, and up to six hours of internship and fieldwork courses can count toward the major. KU awarded 96 degrees in this field in 2023–24, a large program on the Kansas page.

Methods Course

POLS 206 Political Science Methods of Inquiry

Capstone

Internship capstone, honors thesis or capstone research, 3 credit hours

Fieldwork

Washington semester and Topeka semester field work courses

Program Sources: Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of General Studies in Political Science | The University of Kansas Academic Catalog

At K-State you can build your own path through the major or follow one of five tracks: Public Service, Global Politics and Security, Society and Environment, Politics of the Global South, and Law. Both the B.A. and the B.S. need 120 credit hours, with at least 36 hours of political science coursework, and the department posts a degree checklist for each. Entry courses include American government, comparative politics, world politics and introduction to political thought, which emphasizes reading classic texts. Professional internships let you try a career before you graduate. The department also offers an 18-credit minor.

Tracks

Public Service, Global Politics and Security, Society and Environment, Politics of the Global South, and Law

Degree Options

B.A. or B.S., each with at least 36 credit hours of major coursework

Internships

Professional internships available before graduation

Program Sources: Undergraduate | K-State | Kansas State University

Wichita State’s major pairs three foundation courses, American Politics, Introduction to International Relations and Comparative Politics, with Political Data Analysis and a Senior Thesis. Six more electives at the 300 level or above add 18 hours. The applied learning requirement can be met by the senior thesis, Model United Nations I or II, or an internship in government and politics. To graduate with departmental honors you need a 3.500 average in political science classes and an applied learning experience beyond the thesis, such as an internship, co-op, Model UN or research assistantship.

Data Course

POLS 365 Political Data Analysis

Senior Thesis

POLS 600, 3 credit hours

Applied Learning

Senior thesis, Model United Nations or a government and politics internship

Program Sources: BA in Political Science < Wichita State University Catalog

Fort Hays offers a B.A. and a B.S. that cover American politics, international relations and comparative politics, public law, political theory, and public administration and public policy. The core centers on political theories and methodologies, with a strong dose of data analysis, and an international politics course examines the nation-state system and global organizations. A field-work course sends you into practical politics, such as working for a campaign, interning at a law firm, staffing a legislative office or working for a government agency. Every undergraduate major completes at least one credit hour of internship, and the department points to concentrations such as Political Management and Pre-Law.

Degree Options

Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Political Science

Field Work Course

Practical work in a campaign, law firm, legislative office or government agency

Core Emphasis

Political theories, methodologies and data analysis

Program Sources: Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Political Science

Washburn sits in Topeka, so the department leans on the state capitol: internships, shadowing and a legislative internship program are part of the plan. Experiential courses range from the Iowa Caucus to the UK’s House of Lords, and you can study abroad with the department once, twice or even three times. If you want to do original research, faculty mentors help you present it at regional, national or international conferences. The coursework builds from critical thinking and analysis to research methods and strategies. The department reports that 45 percent of graduates in the last five years went directly on to graduate or professional school, often public administration or law.

Experiential Courses

Iowa Caucus and the UK’s House of Lords

Internships

Legislative internship program and state government placements

Undergraduate Research

Original research with faculty mentors, presented at conferences

Program Sources: Political Science | Washburn University

Emporia State houses its political science study inside the History and Government major rather than a stand-alone degree. Within the Politics and Law side, you choose one concentration: American Politics, International Politics, Politics and Philosophy, Legal Studies, or Political Science and Public Administration. The department points to hands-on learning that includes watching local, state and regional politics in action, interning with organizations you care about, shadowing professionals and studying abroad. If you want a political path that stays close to history, History and Politics sits on the other side of the major. Only 2 degrees were conferred in this field in 2023–24.

Politics and Law Concentrations

American Politics, International Politics, Politics and Philosophy, Legal Studies, Political Science and Public Administration

Hands-On Learning

Internships, shadowing professionals and study abroad

Related Concentration

History and Politics

Program Sources: Bachelor of Science, History + Government - Emporia State University

Benedictine calls the major Politics and Government, and the requirements total 36 hours. They begin with Fundamentals of Politics and an American government course, then Comparative Politics, a choice of The American Presidency or The American Congress, International Relations and a political philosophy elective such as American Political Thought. A constitutional course comes from American Constitutional Development, First Amendment freedoms or the 14th Amendment, and four more department electives follow. Seniors take a Capstone Senior Seminar and a senior comprehensive exam, and you need at least a C- in every major course. Seven students finished in 2023–24.

Constitutional Course

Constitutional Development, First Amendment or 14th Amendment civil rights

Senior Work

Capstone Senior Seminar and a senior comprehensive exam

Philosophy Elective

One political philosophy course such as American Political Thought

Program Sources: Politics and Government (BA) - Pre-Law Specialization

Saint Mary’s political science major comes with a semester-by-semester plan you can follow. First year pairs Intro to International Affairs with a course on debating national, state and local government. Sophomores take two terms of political thought plus Comparative Political Systems. Junior year adds Terrorism and Revolution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, and Parties, Media, and Interest Groups. Seniors finish with a Senior Seminar in Political Science, Federal Institutions, Theories of IR and Bureaucracies. Many majors double up with history, and internships run through Fort Leavenworth and city and state governments. With 2 degrees awarded in 2023–24, this is a very small cohort.

Senior Capstone

Senior Seminar in Political Science

Internship Sites

Fort Leavenworth and city and state governments

Common Pairing

Double major with history

Program Sources: Political Science

The Kansas doctorate has you choose one of three concentrations: American politics and public policy, comparative politics, or international relations. Everyone takes three methods courses, starting with research design, plus core courses in comparative politics and international relations. A written preliminary exam in your concentration and a research paper come before the comprehensive oral exam, and completing both written and oral exams also meets the requirements for an M.A. Within six months of the oral you defend a dissertation prospectus. The department’s Thompson Summer Scholarship Research Program pays a stipend for collaborative research with faculty. KU awarded 5 doctorates in 2023–24.

Concentrations

American Politics and Public Policy, Comparative Politics, or International Relations

Methods Sequence

Research Design plus Research Methods I and II

Milestones

Written preliminary exam, research paper, oral comprehensive exam, prospectus defense, dissertation defense

Program Sources: Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science

Barton’s political science associate is a transfer degree for students planning to finish a bachelor’s in political science or in secondary education for history, government and social studies at a four-year school. The department course list is short: Government of United States, a study of the Constitution and the national government, and Intro to Political Science, which covers political systems at all levels. The rest is general education plus electives that have to match what your destination college requires, so the catalog tells you to coordinate with a Barton advisor on transferability. Barton awarded 2 degrees here in 2023–24.

Transfer Focus

Bachelor’s in political science or secondary social studies education

Core Courses

Government of United States and Intro to Political Science

Electives

Chosen to meet your transfer college’s requirements

Program Sources: Barton Community College Course Catalog 2026-27, Political Science