Best Political Science Programs in Mississippi for 2027

Ole Miss lets you choose between a B.A. and a more quantitative B.S. in political science, and the B.A. requires a minor field of study. Either degree can carry an emphasis in campaigns and elections, law and courts, international conflict and cooperation, or politics of developing countries. Outside the classroom, the department points to internship credit, a mock trial course and study abroad. Strong students can apply for a 4+1 accelerated master’s or a six-year accelerated law program that starts law school in the senior year. With 81 degrees awarded in 2023–24, it is one of the larger programs on its state page.

Emphasis Areas

Campaigns and elections, law and courts, international conflict and cooperation, or politics of developing countries

Accelerated Paths

A 4+1 master’s program and a six-year bachelor’s and law degree with the UM School of Law

Experiential Options

Internship (POL 389), Mock Trial (POL 492) and political science study abroad

Program Sources: Undergraduate Programs | Ole MissUndergraduate Programs | Ole Miss

Mississippi State’s political science BA starts with PS 1113, then lets you choose three more entry-level courses from a list of five. PS 4464, a required course, comes in your junior or senior year. You also need at least seven upper-division political science electives, 21 credits in all, with courses spread across at least three of four subfields: American politics, international politics, political theory and comparative politics. With 45 degrees awarded in 2023–24, it sits second on its state page. Classes are often small, with most enrolling fewer than 30 students, and the department runs three honors courses a year. Teaching-certification paths pair the major with College of Education courses.

Core Sequence

PS 1113, three chosen introductory courses, and PS 4464

Upper-Division Electives

Seven courses totaling at least 21 credits, across three of four subfields

Teaching Path

Combine the major with College of Education courses for social studies certification

Program Sources: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science | Political Science and Public AdministrationBachelor of Arts in Political Science | Political Science and Public Administration

Southern Miss sets the political science BA at 120 hours, with an 18-hour minor requirement and a 2.0 GPA in major courses. The degree is a participant in the university’s Accelerated Law School Pathway, which lets high-ability students earn the bachelor’s and the J.D. in six years. In that route you finish 90 hours and the capstone class, PS 491, by the end of junior year, then count 12 hours of law school credit as major electives. With 21 degrees awarded in 2023–24, it ranks third on its state page.

Law Pathway

Accelerated Law School Pathway to earn the bachelor’s and J.D. in six years

Capstone

PS 491, taken in the second semester of junior year on the pathway

Degree Size

120 hours with a 2.0 GPA required in major courses

Program Sources: Program: Political Science BA - University of Southern MississippiProgram: Political Science BA - University of Southern Mississippi

Jackson State’s political science BA totals 45 hours and puts Political Statistics (PS 236) before a Scope and Methods course (PS 446) and a Senior Research Seminar (PS 447). Required courses lean toward the department’s strengths: American politics, comparative politics with a special emphasis on African politics, international relations and public law. African American Politics and African International Relations are both on the list. A Legal Studies concentration of 54 hours adds Legal Research and Writing, Constitutional Law and Introduction to Law for students aiming at law school. The department points to internships in Jackson’s state and local government, courts, law firms and campaigns.

Methods Sequence

Political Statistics, Scope and Methods, then Senior Research Seminar

Concentration

Legal Studies, 54 hours, with Constitutional Law and Legal Research and Writing

Internship Setting

State and local government, the court system, law firms and political campaigns in Jackson

Program Sources: Jackson State University Undergraduate Catalog: Department of Political ScienceJackson State University Undergraduate Catalog: Department of Political Science

At Mississippi College you pick a B.A. or a B.S. in political science. The B.A. adds 12 hours of a foreign language and is recommended if you plan graduate work in the field, while the B.S. drops that requirement. A pre-law version covers constitutional law and the foundations of justice, and students headed to the MC School of Law can use the 3+3 program to earn both degrees in six years instead of seven. Your coursework includes History of Political Theory and 15 hours of 300-400 level electives. Before you graduate, you sit a department-approved major field examination. Nine degrees were awarded in 2023–24.

Degree Options

B.A. with 12 hours of foreign language, or B.S. without it

Law Pathway

3+3 Law Program with MC School of Law, six years instead of seven

Exit Exam

Major field examination in the final semester before graduation

Program Sources: Political Science Degree | Mississippi Christian UniversityPolitical Science Degree | Mississippi Christian University

Southern Miss places graduate research in a setting where students present work at a weekly school colloquium. The political science MA studies the relationships among government, culture, and economics from domestic and international perspectives, with research-methods training throughout the field. The university also offers a joint route combining political science with library and information science. That option is worth examining if your interests connect political research with the organization and use of information.

Research Presentations

Graduate students present at a weekly school research colloquium

Joint Degree Option

A joint MA connects political science with library and information science

Program Sources: Political Science MA

Ole Miss describes its political science graduate programs as small by design, with training that is empirical and heavy on methods and statistics. You pick a major field from American politics, comparative politics or international relations. Doctoral students add a minor field or a minor in political methodology. The department says students can join faculty on collaborative research grants and projects while building their own research agendas. You can apply without a master’s degree, and GRE scores are not required. Two doctorates awarded in 2023–24 fits the personal scale the department describes.

Major Fields

American politics, comparative politics or international relations

Minor Requirement

Doctoral students choose a minor field or political methodology

Research Experience

Collaborative research grants and projects with faculty

Program Sources: Graduate Programs | Ole MissGraduate Programs | Ole Miss

Co-Lin lays out political science and pre-law as a four-semester academic map totaling 63 hours. The only political science course on the map is PSC 1113, American National Government, in the first semester of the sophomore year. Around it sit macroeconomics and microeconomics, introductory sociology, public speaking, philosophy and two semesters of Spanish. The map is a recommended guide, so you check the curriculum of the university you plan to transfer to before choosing electives. Community college work is capped at one-half of the total degree hours at the receiving school, which shapes how many credits you can bring along.

Government Course

PSC 1113, American National Government, in sophomore fall

Social Science Core

Macroeconomics, microeconomics and introductory sociology

Language Requirement

Spanish I and Spanish II in the freshman year

Program Sources: Academic Map: Political Science/Pre-LawAcademic Map: Political Science/Pre-Law

Itawamba houses political science in its School of Legal Studies, alongside criminal justice, criminology, paralegal and pre-law. The school describes its aim as workforce entry or transfer to a university-parallel program, with intensive preparation for taking an active role in your chosen field. The Associate of Arts requires at least 60 semester hours, a 2.0 GPA on those hours and the first-year College Life course. Within the 35-hour general education core, six hours come from social or behavioral science, and political science is one of the listed choices. Three degrees were awarded in 2023–24.

Program Home

School of Legal Studies, with pre-law, paralegal, criminology and criminal justice

Degree Structure

Associate of Arts, minimum 60 semester hours with a 35-hour general education core

First-Year Course

College Life (LLS 1152), taken within the first year

Program Sources: School of Legal StudiesSchool of Legal Studies

East Mississippi puts political science in its Social Science and Business Division, next to criminal justice, economics, geography, history and public administration. The route is an Associate of Arts built for transfer, and the college designs its basic course requirements so earned credits move readily to other accredited institutions. Because senior colleges set their own freshman and sophomore requirements, the college tells you to check the latest catalog of the school you plan to transfer to. Advisors will recommend classes once you know your major. Only one associate degree in the field was awarded in 2023–24.

Division

Social Science and Business, with criminal justice, economics, history and public administration

Transfer Planning

Course choices follow the catalog of the senior college you plan to attend

Advising

Advisors recommend classes for your intended major before transfer

Program Sources: Social Science & Business | East Mississippi Community CollegeSocial Science & Business | East Mississippi Community College