Best Political Science Programs in Minnesota for 2027

Minnesota’s BA takes 36 political science credits, 27 of them upper-division, and those must include at least one course from three of the four focus areas: political theory, American politics, comparative politics and international relations. No more than 9 lower-division credits count, and every course needs a C- or better. All majors complete the POL 4991 capstone. The BA also carries a second language requirement, and the department tells prospective transfer students to start it before they arrive. Students in the University Honors Program can declare the political science BA at the honors level. That was 148 degrees in 2023–24.

Focus Areas

Theory, American, comparative and international relations, with three of four covered

Capstone

POL 4991

Language Requirement

Second language required for the BA

Program Sources: BA in Political Science | Political Science | College of Liberal Arts

Duluth organizes its political science B.A. around four subfields: American government, comparative politics, international relations and public law. The department houses the pre-law program and the Mock Trial Team, which competes in American Mock Trial Association tournaments and works with an instructor who is a practicing attorney. The student Political Science Association hosts forums with local and state candidates. In class you generate original data with survey instruments, present results in poster sessions and write policy memos and briefs. Former diplomats visit courses for students interested in State Department or federal government work.

Subfields

American government, comparative politics, international relations and public law

Student Research

Survey instruments, poster sessions and policy briefs

Mock Trial

Team competes in American Mock Trial Association tournaments

Program Sources: Political Science B.A. | University of Minnesota Duluth

Macalester’s major needs at least nine courses, and the department strongly recommends going beyond the introductory level in at least two of four subfields: American politics, comparative politics, international relations and political theory. Foundations courses include Fundamentals of US Politics, Introduction to International Politics and Introduction to Political Theory. You also take a research methods course, which the department urges you to finish before junior year. The Chuck Green Civic Engagement Fellowship selects 12 students a year to co-create a spring seminar and complete a full-time summer project with a local community organization.

Course Minimum

At least nine courses

Methods Course

Research methods, recommended before junior year

Civic Engagement Fellowship

Chuck Green Fellowship with a spring seminar and summer project

Program Sources: Majors and Minors - Political Science - Macalester CollegePolitical Science - Macalester College

St. Olaf requires nine political science courses, with no more than three at level I, PSCI 220 Analyzing Politics and Policies as the research methods course, and at least two level III seminars. You also take one course in each of four subfields: American politics and public policy, comparative politics, international relations and political theory. Level III seminars require PSCI 220 plus a course in the relevant subfield and do not count toward subfield distribution. One of the nine can be a statistics and data science course or an extra semester of a world language, which the catalog suggests for anyone considering graduate study.

Research Methods

PSCI 220 Analyzing Politics and Policies

Subfield Distribution

One course in each of four subfields

Advanced Seminars

At least two level III seminars

Program Sources: Political Science < St. Olaf College

Gustavus lets you choose a major, a major with honors or a minor, and the catalog groups the curriculum around political theory, comparison of governments and political organizations, political behavior and institutions, and international relations. You can customize your courses toward law, international relations or local government, and pair the major with Environmental Studies; African/African Diaspora Studies; Peace, Justice, and Conflict Studies; or Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies. Sample courses include Women and Gender in US Politics and Politics of Japan and China. Internships can be local, national or international, and study away includes the Washington Internship Institute. Gustavus conferred 25 degrees in 2023–24.

Program Options

Major, major with honors or minor

Sample Courses

Women and Gender in US Politics; Politics of Japan and China

Experiential Options

Internships, research and Washington Internship Institute study away

Program Sources: Political Science | Gustavus Adolphus CollegeAC2.POLI1 Program | Gustavus Adolphus College Catalog

Minnesota State Mankato offers political science as both a B.S. and a B.A. The B.A. track is recommended if you plan a career in law, jobs related to international affairs or future graduate education, while the B.S. examines politics in the United States and other regions for careers in the public and private sectors. The discipline is divided into American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, public policy and public administration, and you can choose among three areas of concentration that draw on all of them. A pre-law pre-major runs alongside another academic major, and the department hosts the annual Kessel Lecture Series.

Degree Tracks

B.A. for law, international affairs and graduate study; B.S. for public and private sector careers

Concentrations

Three areas of concentration drawing on all subfields

Pre-Law

Pre-major completed alongside another academic major

Program Sources: Programs | Minnesota State University, Mankato

At St. Thomas you complete required courses in government, public policy, world politics, research methods and political theory, then choose the rest around your own interests, such as American or judicial politics. The department recommends planning your path with a faculty member. Students compete in Mock Trial tournaments, attend Model UN conferences and present research at regional and national conferences. Each academic year, two majors intern with the Citizens League, and others have worked with the Minnesota State Senate, law and judicial offices and political campaigns. Juniors can compete for the G.W.C. Ross Scholarship for their senior year.

Required Courses

Government, public policy, world politics, research methods and political theory

Student Activities

Mock Trial, Model UN and research conferences

Internships

Citizens League, Minnesota State Senate, courts and campaigns

Program Sources: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science | University of St. Thomas - MinnesotaPolitical Science | College of Arts and Sciences | University of St. Thomas

Winona State asks political science majors to pair the degree with a minor or a second major, and the work is built around the discipline’s four subfields. After Introduction to American Politics and Introduction to Political Analysis, you take at least one course in American politics, comparative politics, international relations and political theory. At least five courses must sit at the 300 or 400 level. The American politics list leans toward either public service or public law, which suits plans for law school or local government. You finish with a Political Research Seminar and three required internship credits.

Subfield Breadth

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

Research Seminar

POLS 410, Political Research Seminar, after POLS 280, Introduction to Political Analysis

Internship

Three required credits in POLS 416, Internship Program

Program Sources: Program: Political Science (POLA) - BA Major - Winona State UniversityProgram: Political Science (POLA) - BA Major - Winona State University

The political science major at CSB+SJU runs 41 to 44 credits and starts with U.S. politics and international relations. You then add one more foundation course, choosing among political theory, research methods, comparative politics, and courts, law and policy, and take 16 credits of 300-level electives. One elective has to carry an experiential designation or be an approved study abroad course. You finish in a research seminar in public affairs, law, political institutions, international relations and comparative politics, or political theory. The program awarded nine degrees in 2023–24.

Foundation Courses

Introduction to U.S. Politics and Introduction to International Relations, plus one more from theory, methods, comparative politics or courts

Capstone

One research seminar in public affairs, law, political institutions, international relations and comparative politics, or political theory

Experiential Requirement

One 300-level course with an EX designation or an approved study abroad course

Program Sources: Political Science Major | CSB+SJUPolitical Science Major | CSB+SJU

Minnesota admits students straight into a PhD and does not admit to a terminal master’s degree, though you can earn a master’s on the way. The degree takes 27 course credits and 24 thesis credits, with an average load of 9 to 12 credits a term. Coursework rotates through seminars in American politics, comparative politics, international politics, political theory and methodology. The program also participates in PoliSci U - Advanced Methodology, a cooperative effort among four Big 10 schools for training beyond the home curriculum. A graduate minor in political psychology is available. Nine doctorates in 2023–24 puts it first on the Minnesota page.

Credit Load

27 course credits and 24 thesis credits

Methods Training

PoliSci U - Advanced Methodology, shared among four Big 10 schools

Master’s Option

Master’s degree available on the way to the PhD, with no terminal master’s admission

Program Sources: Graduate Programs | Political Science | College of Liberal ArtsGraduate Programs | Political Science | College of Liberal Arts