Best Political Science Programs in Nebraska for 2027

Nebraska’s 120-credit major lets you choose an area of focus: biology, psychology, and politics; government and public policy; human rights and security; or international relations. Courses range from Genetics, Brains, and Politics to Causes of War and Peace, Political Persuasion and Advocacy Strategy and International Human Rights. The department houses a minor in national security studies built for students aiming at federal intelligence-community jobs, plus a public policy analysis certificate. Internship examples on the program page include the Great Plains National Security Education Consortium, the U.S. Department of State and the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. With 80 degrees awarded in 2023–24, it is among the larger programs on its state page.

Areas of Focus

Biology, psychology, and politics; government and public policy; human rights and security; international relations

Minors and Certificate

National security studies, human rights and humanitarian affairs, and a public policy analysis certificate

Signature Courses

Genetics, Brains, and Politics (POLS 250) and Causes of War and Peace (POLS 263)

Program Sources: Political Science | Department of Political Science | NebraskaPolitical Science | Department of Political Science | Nebraska

Creighton splits the political science BA into four tracks: political science, public policy, legal studies, and research design and analysis. Whichever you pick, Political Science Research Methods 2 is required of all majors, a quantitative course covering research design, data collection and statistics. Electives reach from Politics of Africa and Politics of the Middle East to Law, Courts, and Politics and American Tribal Indian Government and Politics. Campaigns and Elections asks you to work at least 50 hours on a political campaign. The department also teaches a separate International Relations major and several minors. Nineteen degrees were awarded in 2023–24.

Tracks

Political science, public policy, legal studies, and research design and analysis

Required Methods

PLS 310, Political Science Research Methods 2, for all majors

Campaign Work

At least 50 hours on a political campaign in Campaigns and Elections

Program Sources: Political Science and International Relations | Creighton CatalogPolitical Science and International Relations | Creighton Catalog

The Omaha BA takes 36 hours in political science, at least 18 of them at the 3000 to 4000 level. Five required courses cover American national government, international relations, political thought and comparative politics, plus Introduction to Political Inquiry and Writing early on. A Senior Assessment in Political Science closes the degree. Seven elective courses follow, and you can organize them into optional concentrations: Government Affairs and Civic Engagement, Foreign and National Security Affairs, or Race, Ethnicity and Gender Politics. The college-breadth block lets you finish with a minor or certificate instead of extra general education. Twenty-nine degrees were awarded in 2023–24.

Writing and Inquiry

Introduction to Political Inquiry and Writing (PSCI 2000)

Capstone

Senior Assessment in Political Science (PSCI 4950)

Concentrations

Government affairs and civic engagement; foreign and national security affairs; race, ethnicity and gender politics

Program Sources: Political Science, Bachelor of Arts | University of Nebraska at Omaha CatalogPolitical Science, Bachelor of Arts | University of Nebraska at Omaha Catalog

Kearney builds the major on three required courses: Introduction to American Politics, Political Analysis and a Senior Seminar. Between them you take at least 3 credit hours from each of five subfields, with choices that include political thought, American government, mass political behavior and public law. The degree also asks for a minor or second major worth 24 credits and a 6-credit language requirement, so the political science work sits inside a wider plan. With 7 degrees awarded in 2023–24, this is a small department.

Required Core

Introduction to American Politics, Political Analysis and Senior Seminar

Subfield Breadth

At least 3 credit hours from each of five subfields

Minor Requirement

Minor or second major worth 24 credits, plus a language requirement

Program Sources: Political Science, Bachelor of Arts < University of Nebraska at Kearney

Nebraska Wesleyan lets you choose a B.A. or a B.S. in political science, 36 hours either way. Three core courses cover U.S. government, international politics and Analyzing Politics and Policy. Then you spread 20 hours of electives across two subfields, taking at least two courses in each, with options like Judicial Politics, Lobbying and Policy Advocacy, and Terrorism and Political Violence. A minor or second major is required alongside it. The finish is a four-hour Senior Seminar, or a senior research project tied to an internship. With 5 degrees awarded in 2023–24, it is a small program.

Degree Choice

B.A. or B.S., 36 hours in the major

Subfield Electives

Two courses each in U.S. politics and international politics, 20 elective hours in all

Capstone

Senior Seminar, or senior research through an internship project

Program Sources: Political Science (B.A., B.S.) | NWUPolitical Science (B.A., B.S.) | NWU

Wayne State houses political science inside a social sciences major, and you choose a 42-hour or 48-hour program. Twelve hours form a shared core that mixes geography, history, a political science elective and public policy. The rest is political science, including Seminar in Political Theory and Research and Statistical Analysis, with American politics electives such as the Presidency and Politics of the Supreme Court. Selected students can apply to the Rural Law Opportunities Program, a partnership with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln that leads to the Nebraska College of Law. With 1 degree awarded in 2023–24, expect a very small cohort.

Program Size

42 or 48 credit hours: a 12-hour social sciences core plus 30 to 36 hours of political science

Research Course

SSC 310 Research and Statistical Analysis

Pre-Law Partnership

Rural Law Opportunities Program with the Nebraska College of Law

Program Sources: Political Science Degree Program - Wayne State College NebraskaPolitical Science Degree Program - Wayne State College Nebraska

Nebraska–Lincoln distinguishes a 36-credit thesis MA from a 30-credit terminal, non-thesis option. Both require Scope and Methods and Research Methods, but the thesis route adds a broader set of core and research seminars. Political Psychology and Biopolitics is one of the named areas, alongside American politics, public policy, comparative politics, international relations, and theory. Choose the route according to the research project you want to complete, not simply the difference in total credits.

Shared Methods Core

Both options require Scope and Methods and Research Methods

Thesis Preparation

The thesis plan requires three core seminars and two research seminars alongside the thesis

Program Sources: Political Science MA

Nebraska Omaha's political science MS is available online and on campus. All students begin without a thesis, although you can petition for the thesis route after fifteen credits. The non-thesis exit assessment asks you to bring together at least three political science subfields in one written response. Research methods and core seminars form the base of the 30-credit degree, with further choices including constitutional law, leadership, foreign policy and national security.

Exit Assessment

The non-thesis written assessment combines at least three political science subfields in a response to one prompt

Thesis Petition

Students enter without a thesis and may petition for the thesis route after completing fifteen credits

Program Sources: Political Science MS

Nebraska’s doctorate is 90 credit hours, and you can apply with a bachelor’s degree. You choose two areas of specialization, with American politics, international relations and political psychology and biopolitics as the main fields. Required courses include Scope and Methods, Research Methods, a Dissertation Prospectus course, Professional Development and Teaching Political Science. Three more methods courses meet the research tool requirement, and comprehensive exams come before the dissertation. You can also add a cross-department specialization such as Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs. Students are typically funded as teaching or research assistants. With 2 doctorates awarded in 2023–24, cohorts are small.

Research Tool Requirement

Three additional methods courses, from political science or related departments

Milestones

Comprehensive exams, dissertation prospectus and dissertation

Teaching Training

Teaching Political Science course, with chances to teach independent courses

Program Sources: Graduate Degree Requirements | Department of Political Science | NebraskaPolitical Science (PhD) < University of Nebraska–Lincoln