Best Political Science Programs in New Mexico for 2027

UNM’s political science major is 36 hours. Twelve come from core courses, and you must take at least one from each of three groups, which means you sample the field before you specialize. Twenty-one more hours come from courses numbered 300 or above, and the last three can be at any level. Every political science course counted toward the major needs a grade of C or better, and only three hours of POLS 2996 count toward the major. The department has a faculty pre-law coordinator and an academic advisor for majors. With 65 degrees awarded in 2023–24, it is one of the larger options on its state page.

Core Courses

Twelve hours, with at least one course from each of three groups

Upper-Division Hours

Twenty-one hours at the 300 level or above

Grade Rule

C or better in every political science course counted

Program Sources: Major and Minor Requirements :: UNM Political Science | The University of New MexicoMajor and Minor Requirements :: UNM Political Science | The University of New Mexico

NMSU opens the major with an Introductory Seminar in Political Science and asks for a Political Research Skills course (or another social science research methods course), then a Senior Seminar in your final year. In between you take one upper-division course from four of six subfields: public administration and policy, American government and politics, international relations, comparative politics, political theory and public law. The major totals 33 credits, 20 of them upper-division, and the degree also requires a second language. Finish POLS 1120G American National Government and POLS 1110G Introduction to Political Science before you register for upper-division credits. The program awarded 22 degrees in 2023–24.

Methods Requirement

Political Research Skills or another social science research methods course

Subfield Breadth

One upper-division course from four of six subfields

Capstone

Senior Seminar in the final year

Program Sources: Political Science - Bachelor of Arts | New Mexico State University Academic CatalogPolitical Science - Bachelor of Arts | New Mexico State University Academic Catalog

Highlands asks you to pick one of two emphases when you declare the political science BA. The Law emphasis has nine required courses, including Introduction to the Law, Criminal Law, American Constitution, Legislative Process and a two-credit LSAT preparation class. The Liberal Arts emphasis requires four courses on American government, political parties, state and local government and comparative systems, then a choice between the Constitution and political theory. Either way the major totals 32 credit hours, and you also complete a 20-credit minor. The department puts a special focus on Southwest and minority political studies. It awarded 3 degrees in 2023–24.

Emphases

Liberal Arts or Law, each 32 credit hours in the major

Law Emphasis Courses

Introduction to the Law, Criminal Law, American Constitution, Legislative Process and LSAT preparation

Minor Requirement

A minor of at least 20 credit hours is required

Program Sources: NMHU Political Science ProgramsNMHU Political Science Programs

Western New Mexico’s political science BA is organized around four subfields: American politics, comparative politics, international relations and political theory. Your 21-hour core starts with Logic and Methods in the Social Sciences, Introduction to Political Analysis and Political Ideas, and ends with a Senior Seminar in the Social Sciences. You choose at least three more courses from a menu that includes comparative politics, public policy and state and local government, then take five upper-division electives such as American Foreign Relations, Minorities and Politics, Public Administration and Latin-American Politics. The BA also asks for upper-division Spanish. Only 1 degree was awarded in 2023–24, so expect a very small cohort.

Core Sequence

Methods course, political analysis, political theory and a senior seminar

Upper-Division Electives

Five courses, including American Foreign Relations, Public Administration and Latin-American Politics

Language Requirement

An upper-division Spanish course, or Spanish IV or its equivalent

Program Sources: Political Science, BA | Western New Mexico University CatalogPolitical Science, BA | Western New Mexico University Catalog

New Mexico State's 36-credit political science MA allows a thesis, special research, or an approved internship as its six-credit culminating component. Both routes require an oral examination, and the non-thesis route also includes a written exam. You choose research methods or qualitative methods and take seminars across three substantive fields. The program identifies Latin American and international affairs as possible emphases, with a Security Studies graduate minor available for a further specialty.

Culminating Component

Six credits of thesis, special research or an approved internship complete the degree plan

Examination Requirements

Both routes require a final oral examination. The non-thesis route also requires a written examination

Program Sources: Political Science - Master of Arts | New Mexico State University Academic Catalog

New Mexico’s political science Ph.D. takes 66 credit hours: 48 of coursework and 18 of dissertation. You pick a primary and a secondary concentration from American politics, comparative politics, international relations, public policy and methodology, and everyone completes a three-course methodology sequence at UNM. Instead of a single qualifying hurdle, each year ends with a portfolio defended before your Mentorship Committee: a research proposal, a research paper, a standalone literature review and finally a dissertation prospectus. The department describes a cohort of about 35 students, so mentoring is close. It awarded 3 doctorates in 2023–24.

Concentrations

American, comparative, international relations, public policy or methodology; primary and secondary required

Annual Portfolios

Research proposal, research paper, literature review and dissertation prospectus, each with an oral exam

Methods Sequence

POLS 581, 580 and 681, completed at UNM

Program Sources: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Requirements | UNM Political ScienceDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Requirements | UNM Political Science

CNM designs its Associate of Arts in Political Science as a transfer degree for New Mexico’s four-year schools. The college publishes course lists matched to the political science majors at New Mexico Highlands, New Mexico State, UNM and Western New Mexico, so you can choose your program-approved electives to line up with where you plan to finish. Introduction to Political Science and American National Government appear in nearly every pathway, with comparative politics, international relations, political theory and political analysis filling the elective slots. Everything on the lists can count toward the associate degree and the New Mexico general education requirements. With 11 degrees awarded in 2023–24, it is a mid-sized associate option on its state page.

Transfer Pathway

Course lists matched to NMHU, NMSU, UNM and WNMU political science majors

Common Courses

Introduction to Political Science and American National Government

Program-Approved Electives

Comparative politics, international relations, political theory, political analysis or state and local politics

Program Sources: Political Science Transfer Options | Central New Mexico Community College