Best Political Science Programs in Missouri for 2027

WashU lets you add a subfield concentration to the political science major by taking three upper-level courses in one of five subfields: American politics, comparative politics, international politics, political methodology or political theory. You can earn concentrations in up to two subfields, and each appears on your transcript. Seniors can write a thesis in a fall and spring seminar, which the department calls a capstone, and the thesis feeds one of two Latin Honors tracks. Internships in political and community organizations can earn graded credit through POLSCI 2999 once you have declared the major. With 64 degrees awarded in 2023–24, this is one of the larger programs in Missouri.

Subfield Concentrations

Three upper-level courses in a subfield, up to two concentrations

Senior Thesis

Independent research with a faculty advisor and a fall and spring seminar

Internship Credit

POLSCI 2999, Internship in Political Science, for declared majors

Program Sources: Undergraduate | Department of Political ScienceUndergraduate | Department of Political Science

Mizzou’s political science BA begins with American Government and a research course, either The Science of Politics or a writing-intensive Introduction to Political Research. From there you spread out across comparative government, international affairs and American politics and public policy, and you need a 4000-level writing-intensive political science course. Major courses have to be passed with a C- or higher. The catalog also describes two 4+1 routes, one to a Master of Arts in Defense and Strategic Studies and one to a Master of Public Affairs, open once you have 90 credit hours and a 3.0 GPA. With 157 degrees awarded in 2023–24, it is one of the larger programs on the Missouri page.

Research Course

The Science of Politics or Introduction to Political Research (writing intensive)

Accelerated Master’s

4+1 with the Master of Arts in Defense and Strategic Studies or the Master of Public Affairs

Writing Requirement

A 4000-level writing-intensive political science course

Program Sources: BA in Political Science | University of Missouri Academic CatalogBA in Political Science | University of Missouri Academic Catalog

Truman’s BA is a statistics-and-writing major. A basic statistics course comes first, then Political Science Methodology and Comparative Politics, where you complete a large-n statistical analysis project. Advanced Public Policy has you trace a policy through government documents, and Senior Seminar ends in a research design. The major runs 38 credits, plus 18 credits of required support, such as a minor, and intermediate proficiency in one foreign language. Up to twelve credits of internship can count toward required support. Departmental Honors asks for conference research or an off-campus experience such as study abroad. Twenty degrees were awarded in 2023–24.

Methods Sequence

Basic statistics, then POL 300 Political Science Methodology and POL 310 Comparative Politics

Capstone

Senior Seminar research design

Required Support

18 credits, such as a minor, with up to 12 internship credits

Program Sources: Program: Political Science and International Relations (BA) - Truman State UniversityProgram: Political Science and International Relations (BA) - Truman State University

SLU requires 36 credits in the major, including a six-credit methods sequence that you take either as Foundations and Applications or as Qualitative and Quantitative Methods. You then choose twelve credits of electives, optionally within a concentration in international affairs, public law, public policy, or international relations at SLU-Madrid. Two 4000-level senior seminars must be completed at SLU, and one has to sit inside your concentration if you have one. Students with a 3.30 GPA can swap a seminar for an individual senior research project. An honors thesis runs a full year and makes the major 39 credits. Forty-one degrees were awarded in 2023–24.

Methods Sequence

Six credits, either Foundations and Applications or Qualitative and Quantitative Methods

Concentrations

International affairs, public law, public policy, or international relations in Madrid

Senior Work

Two 4000-level seminars, a senior research option, or a two-course honors thesis

Program Sources: Political Science, B.A. < Saint Louis University Academic CatalogPolitical Science, B.A. < Saint Louis University Academic Catalog

At Missouri State you study American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political philosophy, public law, public administration and methodology in a department shared with philosophy. Seniors take the Major Fields Test, and the department says its students repeatedly score above the national average. Many majors have interned in departments of the Missouri legislature, and faculty help you line up placements with government and public affairs groups. As a major you are eligible for accelerated master’s programs in international affairs and public administration, so graduate credit can start before you finish the bachelor’s. A path also exists to start law school early. Twenty-four degrees were awarded in 2023–24.

Accelerated Master’s

International affairs or public administration, with graduate credit starting during the bachelor’s

Internships

Placements in the Missouri legislature and city, state and national government

Senior Assessment

Major Fields Test taken before graduation

Program Sources: Political Science Undergraduate ProgramPolitical Science Undergraduate Program

SEMO gives you a choice between a language-heavy BA and a statistics-heavy BS in political science, with the same core coursework in both. The BA adds two years of Spanish or the equivalent and requires a minor. Its 30 hours of major courses begin with Introduction to Political Science and end in a Senior Seminar. In between you take 3 hours in each of five subfields, including U.S. Political Systems and Comparative Political Systems, plus 6 hours of electives. Student organizations include a Political Science Club, a Political Theory Club and Pi Sigma Alpha, and you can join Model United Nations. Fifteen degrees were awarded in 2023–24.

Language Pathway

Two years of Spanish or the equivalent, with a minor required

Subfield Core

Three hours in each of five subfields, with 9 hours at the 300 level or above

Capstone

PS471 Senior Seminar in Political Science

Program Sources: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science | SEMOBachelor of Arts in Political Science | SEMO

UMKC asks for 30 hours of political science, at least 21 of them at the 300 to 400 level, and no credit for grades below C-. You take American Government and an introductory comparative politics course, then at least one course in three of four subfields. The American politics list includes Politics of Kansas City Metro, Campaigns and Elections and Administering American Elections. Fifteen more hours of electives can come from a pre-law track of three courses, Law and Politics, an internship or a tutorial. A writing-intensive course at the 300 level or above is also required. With 32 degrees awarded in 2023–24, it ranks seventh on its state page.

Subfield Breadth

At least one course in three of American politics, comparative politics, political theory and international relations

Local Focus

Politics of Kansas City Metro among the American politics electives

Pre-Law Courses

Pre-Law I, Pre-Law II and Logical Reasoning for Pre-Law Students

Program Sources: Bachelor of Arts: Political Science | UMKC CatalogBachelor of Arts: Political Science | UMKC Catalog

Expect methods early here. The department trains every doctoral student in political methodology (applied statistics) and formal theory (game theory and mathematical modeling), whatever your math background. Political science PhD students can also earn a tailored master’s in statistics, run by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. A professional development seminar covers the academic job market, and each student gets a peer mentor. The department admits around 10 to 12 students a year, and most finish the doctorate in five to six years. Incoming classes are fully funded. Research groups span American, comparative and international politics, theory, methodology and race and ethnic politics.

Methods Training

Applied statistics and formal theory for all students regardless of math background

Statistics Master’s

Tailored master’s in statistics for political science PhD students

Cohort Size

About 10 to 12 admitted each year, most finishing in five to six years

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

Mizzou’s doctorate needs at least 45 hours of graduate seminars. You pick a primary and a secondary field from American political institutions and behavior, comparative politics and government, international relations, and public policy and administration. Twelve seminar hours go in the primary field, nine in the secondary, and thirteen in a methodology or research tool field built around POL_SC 7000, 7010 and 9030. The first five semesters typically mix coursework with preparation for written and oral comprehensive exams, usually taken in spring of the third year. A dissertation proposal follows within months, and most students finish within five years.

Fields

A primary and a secondary field from four doctoral fields

Methodology Block

13 hours including POL_SC 7000, POL_SC 7010 and POL_SC 9030

Milestones

Written and oral comprehensive exams, dissertation proposal, then defense

Program Sources: PhD in Political Science | University of Missouri Academic CatalogPhD in Political Science | University of Missouri Academic Catalog

UMSL’s doctorate is built around public policy. You take 54 hours of coursework and 6 of dissertation, starting with an 18-hour core in research methods, policy processes and institutions that includes Introduction, Intermediate and Advanced Techniques in Policy Research. You add twelve hours surveying other subfields, then six courses in one subfield such as urban politics, political economy, public law or public administration. Written qualifying exams cover methodology, institutions and policy processes, and your subfield, followed by an oral exam. You then defend a dissertation proposal and write the dissertation, with all credits completed within eight years. Three doctorates were awarded in 2023–24.

Methods Core

PS 6401, 6402 and 6403 in policy research, inside an 18-hour core

Qualifying Exams

Written exams in methodology, institutions and policy processes, and subfield, plus a subfield oral exam

Subfields

Urban politics, public policy, political economy, public law and others, with six courses in your choice

Program Sources: Ph.D. in Political Science | UMSLPh.D. in Political Science | UMSL