Best Political Science Programs in New York for 2027

Binghamton pairs ten political science courses with four complementary courses spread across at least three other social science departments. Two advanced political science seminars must be taken at Binghamton, making sustained seminar work part of the degree rather than an optional honors add-on. Alongside the general BA, the university lists Legal Studies and Global and International Affairs tracks. Its department also maintains ties to New York legislative internships and the SUNY Brockport Washington Program.

Seminar Requirement

Two advanced political science seminars must be completed in residence

Supporting Courses

Four complementary courses span at least three other social science departments

Program Sources: Political Science BABinghamton Political Science Undergraduate Program

Columbia's political science major has you choose a primary subfield and a secondary one from American politics, comparative politics, international relations and political theory. You take two introductory courses, at least three courses in your primary subfield and two in the secondary, within a minimum of nine political science courses. Research methods is a separate requirement, with options such as Empirical Research Methods in Political Science and Experimental Research. Every major writes original research papers in two 3000-level seminars, small discussion classes that need instructor approval to join. For a longer project, seniors can apply to the full-year Honors Seminar, which replaces those seminars and produces a thesis of about 75 pages.

Subfield Structure

Three courses in a primary subfield and two in a secondary subfield

Research Seminars

Two 3000-level seminars, at least one in your primary subfield

Honors Seminar

Full-year senior seminar with a thesis of about 75 pages

Program Sources: Political Science < Columbia College | Columbia University

At Cornell, political science goes by the name Government, and you study it across four subfields: American politics, comparative politics, political theory and international relations. Two introductory courses are required, and you pick them to match your interests, such as American Politics for domestic questions or Introduction to International Relations for global ones. Past that, upper-level lectures and seminars cover world regions, race and ethnicity, law, public opinion and political economy. Options inside the major include Cornell in Washington, study abroad, independent study with a faculty member and an honors track that ends in a senior thesis. With 106 degrees awarded in 2023–24, it is one of the larger options on its state page.

Subfields

American politics, comparative politics, political theory and international relations

Entry Courses

Two introductory courses required to complete the major

Honors Thesis

Research design seminar in the fall of senior year, thesis due by mid-April

Program Sources: Undergraduate Program | Cornell Department of GovernmentUndergraduate Program | Cornell Department of Government

The political science major at Stony Brook totals 42 credits and starts with three courses you can take in any order: World Politics, American Government and Comparative Politics. A statistics course, Introduction to Statistical Methods in Political Science, is a requirement, and the department suggests finishing it by junior year. You then choose a program of study and take four 300-level courses in it: comparative politics and international relations, American government, law and public policy, or political behavior and political psychology. Two related-area courses from fields such as economics, history or sociology round out the major, and a 15-page writing portfolio meets the upper-division writing requirement. With 103 degrees awarded in 2023–24, it is one of the larger options on its state page.

Programs of Study

Comparative politics and international relations; American government, law and public policy; or political behavior and political psychology

Methods Requirement

POL 201 Introduction to Statistical Methods in Political Science, or an approved equivalent

Writing Requirement

15 pages of upper-division papers evaluated through a portfolio or by an instructor

Program Sources: Requirements for the Major and Minor in Political Science (POL) | Stony Brook UniversityRequirements for the Major and Minor in Political Science (POL) | Stony Brook University

At the CUNY Graduate Center, the political science MA culminates in a thesis supported by a dedicated tutorial. You concentrate in one of five subfields and take a course in a second, while completing at least two advanced 800-level courses. The research-tool requirement can be met through quantitative methods, qualitative methods, another approved method, or a foreign language. A substantially revised seminar paper can become the thesis, connecting your coursework directly to the final project.

Thesis Preparation

A dedicated thesis tutorial supports an original project or substantial revision of a prior seminar paper

Research Tools

Demonstrate proficiency through quantitative, qualitative or other approved methods, or a foreign language

Program Sources: Political Science MA

Columbia’s political science PhD requires breadth across subfields and a research-tool component that can combine quantitative, formal, or qualitative methods. Students produce research in graduate colloquia and seminars, then present a solo-authored paper at the department’s third-year student conference, known as Mini-APSA, with feedback from a faculty discussant. A teaching requirement forms part of progress toward the MPhil. The curriculum therefore builds in practice presenting independent work before students concentrate fully on dissertation research.

Mini-APSA Conference

A solo-authored paper receives feedback from a faculty discussant at the third-year student conference

Teaching Experience

At least one year of teaching at Columbia is required before the MPhil

Program Sources: Ph.D. Requirements | Political Science

NYU’s Politics PhD requires 72 credits, or 18 courses, with one core course in each of at least three subfields and at least three courses in each of two fields. Without an MA you write a second-year paper in journal-article format that two faculty readers grade. The qualifying exam comes by the fifth semester and has two parts: a publishable-quality third-year paper and an oral defense of an original annotated syllabus for a graduate introduction to a field. A dissertation proposal follows, then a defense before five faculty members. You also show proficiency in a language other than English. The department admits fewer than 10 students a year, and a dual JD with NYU Law is available.

Qualifying Exam

Third-year paper plus an oral defense of an annotated syllabus

Second-Year Paper

Article-format paper read by two faculty, required of students entering without an MA

Dual Degree

Politics PhD and Law JD with the NYU School of Law

Program Sources: Politics (PhD) | NYU Graduate BulletinPolitics (PhD) | NYU Graduate Bulletin

Cornell’s Government Ph.D. is built on four subfields: American politics, comparative politics, international relations and political theory. You sit a comprehensive written exam in your major subfield, then either take a second exam, do coursework in another subfield or design your own Course of Study linking several fields. Twelve graduate courses are required, including reading courses in three of the four subfields, and subfield exams are expected by the end of year three. You also show competence in a foreign language or in methods, and you serve as a teaching assistant for at least one semester. Cornell describes five years of full financial support under normal circumstances.

Subfield Exams

Comprehensive written exam in the major subfield, with a second exam, coursework or a self-designed Course of Study

Coursework

12 graduate courses, with reading courses in three of four subfields

Teaching and Competence

At least one semester as a teaching assistant, plus a foreign language or methods requirement

Program Sources: Graduate Program | Cornell Department of GovernmentGraduate Program | Cornell Department of Government

BMCC’s Political Science A.A. runs 60 credits: a 30-credit CUNY Common Core and 30 credits of curriculum. You begin with either American Government or Introduction to Politics, then take two more political science electives at the 100 or 200 level and two at the 200 level, plus six credits of social science electives and nine of liberal arts electives. The department points to local work, with a focus on the issues facing New York City, along with political research, policy analysis and spotting biased information. Graduates can move into Brooklyn College’s B.A. in Political Science without losing credits, and a two-year plan and a five-semester plan are published. In 2023–24, 10 students earned this degree.

Curriculum

60 credits, with 30 in the Common Core and 30 in political science, social science and liberal arts courses

Transfer Pathway

Seamless transfer into Brooklyn College’s B.A. in Political Science without loss of credits

Entry Course

American Government or Introduction to Politics

Program Sources: Political Science (A.A) | Borough of Manhattan Community College

Suffolk’s Political Science A.A. is written for students who plan to finish a bachelor’s elsewhere, and it follows the SUNY Transfer Path for Political Science. Over four semesters you take American National Politics and Government, World Politics and Comparative Politics, then choose between Political Theory and Thought or State and Local Politics and Government. Statistics I is part of the first semester, which gives you quantitative footing before upper-level work. Suffolk offers it on the Ammerman, Eastern and Michael J. Grant campuses. Completing the degree with grades of C or higher earns junior status at a related SUNY four-year program. With 13 degrees awarded in 2023–24, it is one of the larger associate options on its state page.

Political Science Courses

American National Politics, World Politics, Comparative Politics, and Political Theory or State and Local Politics

Transfer Pathway

SUNY Transfer Path for Political Science, with junior status at related SUNY programs

Quantitative Course

Statistics I in the first semester

Program Sources: Political Science A.A. Degree | Suffolk County Community CollegePolitical Science A.A. Degree | Suffolk County Community College