Best Political Science Programs in Louisiana for 2027

LSU asks for 33 hours of political science, at least 18 of them at the 3000 level or above, built on American Government plus one course in each of the other traditional fields: comparative politics, international politics and political theory. Concentrations are optional. You can declare one or two, each made of four courses, in areas such as law and legal systems, public policy and political analysis, or race, ethnicity and gender. Undergraduate research runs through ASPIRE, and the HSS 3+3 pre-law option lets you earn the degree and a law degree in six years. LSU awarded 204 degrees in 2023–24, one of the larger options on its state page.

Field Spread

American Government plus one course in comparative politics, international politics and political theory

Optional Concentrations

One or two, of four courses each, including Law and Legal Systems and Public Policy and Political Analysis

Research and Pre-Law

ASPIRE undergraduate research and the HSS 3+3 law degree fast track

Program Sources: Requirements for Political Science Majors | LSUMajor in Political Science | LSU

Tulane runs political science as three separate degree tracks: the general political science major (POLS), the international relations major (PSIR) and the international development major (PSDV). International relations adds economics courses and one level of language study beyond minimum proficiency. International development requires introductory macroeconomics and international political economy, depth in one world area (Latin America, Africa, the Middle East or Asia), and electives in departments such as anthropology, public health and sociology. You can declare only one of the majors, and none of them combines with a political science minor. Tulane’s 87 degrees in 2023–24 make it one of the larger programs on its state page.

Degree Tracks

Political Science (POLS), International Relations (PSIR), International Development (PSDV)

Language and Economics

International relations and development majors add economics and one level beyond minimum language proficiency

World Areas

Latin America, Africa, Middle East or Asia for international development majors

Program Sources: Degrees/Programs | Tulane Department of Political Science

Louisiana Tech’s BA studies the practice of politics, political institutions and human behavior, with attention to how policies get researched and analyzed. The program calls itself a popular choice for students heading to law school and builds that in as a Pre-Law concentration, which pairs the political science major with a minor in either English or Journalism for extra reading, writing and analysis. Graduates head toward government agencies, nonprofits, lobbying groups and political campaigns, or on to graduate study in public administration, public policy or international relations. The program awarded 19 degrees in 2023–24.

Pre-Law Concentration

Political science major with a minor in English or Journalism

Study Focus

Political institutions, policy research and analysis, and human behavior in politics

Graduate Study

Public administration, public policy or international relations

Program Sources: Political Science (BA) | Louisiana Tech University

At Louisiana at Lafayette you choose among three curriculum options: general political science, a pre-law concentration or an international relations concentration. The general track is 37 credit hours of political science, including Introduction to Political Science, American national government, State and Local Government, World Politics and Introduction to Political Philosophy, plus one of Public Administration, Congress, The Presidency or Bureaucratic Identity and Social Roles. Electives fill 21 more hours, and a French, German or Spanish sequence completes the language requirement. You need a C or better in every critical and major course. Internships place students with legislators in the U.S. Capitol and the Louisiana Legislature.

Curriculum Options

General political science, pre-law concentration or international relations concentration

Critical Courses

POLS 101, American government, State and Local Government, World Politics and Political Philosophy

Internships

Legislators in the U.S. Capitol and the Louisiana Legislature

Program Sources: Critical Courses | Political Science, UL LafayettePolitical Science | UL Lafayette Department of Political Science

Nicholls puts every political science major through the four subfields of the discipline, American politics, international relations, comparative politics and political theory, then asks you to commit to a concentration in Legal Studies or International Politics with 18 hours of coursework at the 300 level or above. Internship credit can count for up to 6 hours, and a minor from another field is encouraged. Students interested in law school are pointed toward the Legal Studies concentration and the catalog advises taking the LSAT in the fall of senior year. A political science capstone examination stands between you and graduation. It awarded 11 degrees in 2023–24.

Concentrations

Legal Studies or International Politics, 18 hours at the 300 level or above

Capstone

Political science capstone examination required to graduate

Internship Credit

Up to 6 hours toward the major

Program Sources: Political Science Program - 2026-2027 | Nicholls State University

The New Orleans BA in political science is organized around a 10-hour major core: POLI 2151, POLI 2900, POLI 4999, and either POLI 2600 or POLI 2700. With no concentration you take 18 hours of political science at the 3000 level or above plus 6 more at any level. The Pre-Law Concentration adds POLI 2200, three courses chosen from a department list, nine hours of 3000-level political science electives, one more elective at any level and a required English course. At least one 3000-level course must cover U.S. politics, and one must cover comparative politics or international relations. The degree also needs nine hours in one foreign language or six in two. It awarded 12 degrees in 2023–24.

Major Core

POLI 2151, 2900, 4999 and either 2600 or 2700, 10 hours in all

Pre-Law Concentration

Optional 27-hour path with POLI 2200 and three chosen upper-level courses

Subfield Rule

One 3000-level course in U.S. politics and one in comparative politics or international relations

Program Sources: Degree Requirements | Political Science

ULM’s BA in political science offers two concentrations, pre-law and public administration, and courses in American politics, law, comparative politics, international relations, public policy and nonprofit administration. The department houses the university’s Mock Trial team, which has qualified for the Opening Round Championship Series of the American Mock Trial Association’s national tournament every year since 2015. Students also intern in Washington, DC and elsewhere in the country, and many serve in Student Government, Model United Nations, Pi Sigma Alpha or the Pre-Law Association. The program belongs to NASPAA. Eighteen degrees were awarded in 2023–24.

Concentrations

Pre-law and public administration

Mock Trial

National tournament qualifier every year since 2015

Internships

Washington, DC and other places around the U.S.

Program Sources: Political Science | University of Louisiana MonroePolitical Science Program | University of Louisiana Monroe

Xavier’s Political Science BA is 42 major hours plus an 18-hour minor inside a 120-hour degree. The foundations are Introduction to Political Science, American Government, International Relations, Comparative Politics and Introduction to Political Thought. You also take Research Methods and Quantitative Analysis, along with Principles of Macro Economics and International Political Economy. Twelve hours of PSCI electives fit in before the PSCI 4999 Political Science Senior Capstone Experience. The department lists an accelerated pre-law BA as well. Xavier’s count for 2023–24 was 21 degrees.

Quantitative Courses

PSCI 2010 Research Methods and PSCI 2511 Quantitative Analysis

Capstone

PSCI 4999 Political Science Senior Capstone Experience

Pre-Law Version

Political Science Accelerated Pre-Law, B.A.

Program Sources: Program: Political Science, B.A. | Xavier University of LouisianaDepartment of Political Science | Xavier University of Louisiana

Loyola’s Political Science BA is 36 credit hours, and most of it is a fixed sequence: Intro to American Government, two semesters each of Comparative Government, History of Political Thought and Constitutional Law, International Relations, and 12 hours of electives chosen with an advisor. Majors sit the comprehensive ETS exam in their senior year, ideally in the first semester. Students in the University Honors Program use the political science capstone project as their Honors Thesis. A 2.0 GPA in the major is required, and all major courses must be taken in the department unless the chair allows an exception. Loyola’s 2023–24 total was 26 degrees.

Required Sequence

Comparative Government I and II, Political Thought I and II, Constitutional Law I and II

Senior Exam

ETS Major Field Test in senior year

Honors Capstone

University Honors students use the capstone project as their Honors Thesis

Program Sources: Political Science | Loyola University New Orleans Bulletin

LSU’s doctorate requires 64 to 70 graduate hours, 55 of them coursework and 9 to 18 dissertation. You pick a principal field of at least 15 hours from American politics, international relations, comparative politics or political theory, add a second field of at least 12 hours, and may add a third. A research skills sequence of POLI 7961, 7962 and 7963 is required, and political methodology can serve as a second or third field but not as a principal one. You can apply straight to the PhD without a master’s and earn the MA on the way, and funding mostly goes to PhD applicants. Four doctorates were awarded in 2023–24.

Field Structure

Principal field of 15 hours, second field of 12 hours and an optional third field

Research Skills

POLI 7961, 7962 and 7963 sequence

Credit Hours

64 to 70 total, with 55 hours of coursework

Program Sources: Graduate Program Regulations | LSU Department of Political ScienceGraduate Program | LSU Department of Political Science