Best Political Science Programs in New Jersey for 2027

Princeton asks politics majors to do their own research twice: a junior independent work requirement, then a year-long senior thesis that ends with a professional poster. Coursework runs across American politics, comparative politics, international relations and political theory, with a strong concentration of courses in quantitative analysis, political economy and strategy. To declare, sophomores normally need two politics courses done, ideally at the 200 level, and an analytical requirement is part of the major. Four optional tracks bridge the subfields, and finishing one earns an attestation from the department. With 58 degrees awarded in 2023–24, it is one of the larger options on its state page.

Independent Work

Junior independent work and a year-long senior thesis with a poster

Four Subfields

American, comparative, international relations and political theory

Optional Tracks

Four departmental tracks that bridge subfields

Program Sources: Undergraduate | Princeton PoliticsIndependent Work | Princeton Politics

Rutgers-New Brunswick sets the political science major at 13 courses, or 39 credits, spread across American institutions and politics, theoretical approaches to politics, and foreign and international politics. To declare, you finish two 100-level courses with at least a C average. To complete it, you add a third introductory course and one 300 or 400-level course each in research methods, political philosophy, American institutions and politics, and international or comparative politics. Juniors and seniors take a Political Science Seminar open only to majors. The Washington Internship Semester, study abroad and an accelerated BA/MA program give you routes beyond the classroom. With 202 degrees awarded in 2023–24, it is one of the larger options on its state page.

Major Size

13 courses, or 39 credits

Required Upper-Level Areas

Research methods, political philosophy, American institutions and international or comparative politics

Majors-Only Seminar

One Political Science Seminar for juniors and seniors

Program Sources: Major in Political ScienceMajor in Political Science

TCNJ puts research in the middle of its major. A three-course research core runs from Research Design in sophomore year to Quantitative Research in Political Science in junior year and a Senior Seminar. Around it you take four breadth courses (American Government, International Relations, Comparative Politics and a political theory course), three correlate courses in statistics, microeconomics and macroeconomics, and five political science electives. Foreign language is built into the four-year sequence unless you are exempt, and the department points to an extensive internship program where you can use those quantitative skills. The program awarded 36 degrees in 2023–24.

Research Core

Research Design, Quantitative Research and Senior Seminar

Correlate Courses

Statistics, Microeconomics and Macroeconomics

Electives

Five political science courses

Program Sources: Political Science Major Requirements | Department of Political SciencePolitical Science Major Requirements | Department of Political Science

Montclair’s political science major is 33 credits, and 15 are fixed: Introduction to Politics, American Government and Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations and Essentials of Political Thought. The other 18 credits are electives in American government, comparative politics, international relations, political thought and law, and you can count a four-credit non-paying internship in a local political office or in Washington, D.C. A combined BA in Political Science and MA in Law and Governance lets you take swing courses in your senior year and typically finish both degrees within five years. A social studies teacher certification route is also available. With 58 degrees awarded in 2023–24, it is one of the larger options on its state page.

Required Courses

Five courses from Introduction to Politics to Essentials of Political Thought

Internship

Four-credit internship in a local political office or Washington, D.C.

Combined Degree

BA in Political Science with MA in Law and Governance

Program Sources: Political Science (B.A.) | Montclair State University CatalogBA In Political Science (Major,Minor) - Academics - Montclair State University

Rowan’s political science BA is a 39-credit major inside a 120-credit degree, and every political science course needs a C- or better. The department says the major aims for both breadth across the discipline and in-depth study in the areas that interest you most, and the admissions page adds that you can choose from a variety of concentrations. A 21-credit minor is open to students in other majors. The department lists careers such as lawyer, policy analyst, intelligence officer, journalist and legislative aide. The program awarded 32 degrees in 2023–24.

Major Size

39 credits within a 120-credit degree

Concentrations

A variety of concentrations to choose from

Minor

21 credits, open to students in other majors

Program Sources: Political SciencePolitical Science (B.A.) | Admissions | Rowan University

Newark’s major is 36 credits built in three layers. A 15-credit core covers American National Government, America and the World, Introduction to Comparative Politics, a choice of Early or Modern Political Theory, and Research Methods. A 12-credit distribution requirement then puts 3 credits in each of four subfields: American politics and public policy, political theory and methodology, comparative politics, and global politics. The last 9 credits go to any one, two or three of those subfields, so you decide whether to specialize. Only courses with a grade of C or better count. The program awarded 31 degrees in 2023–24.

Required Core

15 credits ending with Research Methods

Distribution Requirement

3 credits in each of four subfields

Specialization Credits

9 credits in any one, two or three subfields

Program Sources: B.A. in Political Science | Rutgers SASN | Rutgers SAS-NewarkB.A. in Political Science | Rutgers SASN | Rutgers SAS-Newark

Seton Hall’s political science major is 36 credits with a fixed spine: United States Politics, Research Methods and a Political Science Senior Seminar are required for everyone. You then pick two of Western Political Thought, Comparative Politics and International Relations, and fill 21 credits with seven electives at any level. Up to six credits can come from internships or practicums. A statistics course for social science fulfills the core math requirement for majors. To declare after arriving, you need 6 credits of POLS courses at Seton Hall with a 3.0 average in them. In 2023–24 it awarded 67 degrees, one of the larger options on its state page.

Required Courses

United States Politics, Research Methods and Senior Seminar

Choose Two

Western Political Thought, Comparative Politics or International Relations

Internship Credit

Up to six credits toward the major

Program Sources: Political Science Major (B.A.) < Seton Hall University, New JerseyPolitical Science Major (B.A.) < Seton Hall University, New Jersey

Princeton’s politics PhD offers examination fields beyond the four conventional subfields, including public law, regional studies, and formal and quantitative analysis. Students can propose an approved substitute field that connects their research with another discipline. Research seminars require students in residence to participate each year and present their work. The program’s staged research papers are intended to develop article-length arguments and can become the basis for a later dissertation proposal.

Research Seminar Participation

Students in residence participate every year and present their work at least once

Field Flexibility

An approved substitute examination field can connect politics with another department or discipline

Program Sources: Politics PhD

Rutgers describes its PhD as methodologically pluralistic, with room for both quantitative and qualitative research, and classes are small. You pass comprehensive exams in a major field and a first minor field, given twice a year in November and April, then register for 24 research credits while you work with a dissertation chair. Within six months of the qualifying exams you present a formal prospectus to a four-person committee, normally three political scientists and one outside faculty member. A doctoral consortium lets you take courses at universities such as Columbia, NYU and Princeton. With 3 doctorates awarded in 2023–24, cohorts are small.

Exams

Comprehensive exams in a major field and a first minor field

Dissertation Steps

24 research credits, then a prospectus within six months of the qualifying exams

Committee

Four members, normally three political scientists and one outside faculty member

Program Sources: Degree RequirementsDegree Requirements

Salem’s Associate in Arts pairs history with political science, so you study both in the same plan. Introduction to Political Science and American Government sit beside World History I and II, a United States history course and a history elective, with statistics, economics, sociology, humanities and a foreign language filling out the plan. The college says the option prepares you for advanced study at a four-year institution, and it lists Neumann, Rowan, Rutgers, Stockton, Widener and Wilmington among the places students have successfully transferred. With 1 degree awarded in 2023–24, it is a very small program.

Political Science Courses

Introduction to Political Science and American Government

History Sequence

World History I and II, a United States history course and a history elective

Transfer Destinations

Neumann, Rowan, Rutgers, Stockton, Widener and Wilmington

Program Sources: History Political Science | Salem Community CollegeHistory Political Science | Salem Community College