Best Political Science Programs in North Carolina for 2027

UNC–Chapel Hill's nine-course political science major includes American politics, international relations, comparative politics, political theory and research methods. For the methods requirement, you can choose public-opinion analysis, experimental research, strategy, game theory or other approved courses. Its Data in Politics track adds a sequence in working with social science data and applied courses that use those skills in a paper or project. You'll also complete at least one advanced political science course at the 400 level, alongside electives in your chosen interests.

Methods Choices

Approved options include public-opinion analysis, experiments, data analysis, strategy and game theory

Data in Politics

An optional sequence pairs data-analysis foundations with applications in research papers or projects

Program Sources: Political Science Major, B.A. < University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

NC State's political science BA includes a senior seminar with a substantial research requirement and optional concentrations in American politics, international politics, law and justice, or public policy. The BS instead pairs political science with 15 credits of advanced science and technology coursework planned with an advisor. Its methods requirement allows research methodology or observational and experimental data analysis. If you're connecting politics with a technical subject, compare that supporting science plan with the BA's political science electives before choosing the degree.

BA Research

A senior seminar includes a substantial research requirement

BS Supporting Study

15 advanced science and technology credits are planned with a political science advisor

Program Sources: Political Science | School of Public and International AffairsPolitical Science (BA) < North Carolina State UniversityPolitical Science (BS) < North Carolina State University

Duke organizes its political science major around career concentrations: American political institutions and behavior, international relations, law and political theory, decision theory and data science, and political economy. Before you specialize, you take two foundation courses, one in data or statistics and one in political theory such as Introduction to Political Philosophy or Left, Right and Center. Outside the decision theory and data science concentration, you also take two courses beyond your chosen field. Majors with strong grades can pursue graduation with distinction, which ends in an original research paper of about 50 pages reviewed by an honors committee. Duke awarded 74 degrees here in 2023–24, which places it among the mid-sized programs on its state page.

Career Concentrations

Five options, from American institutions to decision theory and data science

Foundation Courses

One data or statistics course and one political theory course

Honors Thesis

Original journal-length paper of about 50 pages for graduation with distinction

Program Sources: Major Requirements | Duke Political ScienceMajor Requirements | Duke Political Science

Wake Forest calls its political science major Politics and International Affairs, and it totals 31 credit hours. You need at least three hours in each of four fields: American politics, comparative politics, political theory and international politics. Two methods courses are required, POL 280 on qualitative and quantitative methods and STA 111, and both come before the senior seminar. That seminar, POL 399, is a four-hour class run more like a graduate discussion, and it is where you write a research paper longer than most coursework asks for. You declare in the spring of sophomore year, and a 3.8 major GPA at graduation earns Honors. With 124 degrees awarded in 2023–24, it is one of the larger options on its state page.

Methods Requirement

POL 280 plus STA 111, finished before the senior seminar

Senior Seminar

POL 399, a four-hour discussion seminar with a longer research paper

Four Fields

American politics, comparative politics, political theory and international politics

Program Sources: Major in Politics and International Affairs | Wake Forest UniversityMajor in Politics and International Affairs | Wake Forest University

Elon’s political science A.B. totals 44 semester hours and begins with four introductory courses, each worth four hours: American Politics, Political Theory, International Relations and Comparative Politics. You then take a research methods course built for political science and public policy, and finish with a Senior Seminar. Another 20 hours of political science electives fill the middle, and 16 of them must be at the 3000 level or above. The catalog’s stated outcomes ask you to write research questions, apply methods to them and communicate complex ideas in writing. With 55 degrees awarded in 2023–24, it is a mid-sized program for its state.

Required Core

American Politics, Political Theory, International Relations, Comparative Politics, research methods and senior seminar

Advanced Electives

20 hours in POL, with at least 16 at the 3000 level or above

Capstone

Four-hour Senior Seminar in Political Science (POL 4970)

Program Sources: Political Science A.B. | Elon University Academic CatalogPolitical Science A.B. | Elon University Academic Catalog

Charlotte's online political science BA is a degree-completion route for students bringing previous college credit. Its major includes Political Science Methods and a Senior Seminar alongside introductions to American democracy, comparative politics and international politics. Online electives can include Healthcare Policy, Politics and Film, and Judicial Process, with offerings varying by year. The classes are asynchronous, and the college's language-proficiency requirement still applies. Applicants with fewer than 24 transferable credits begin through an on-campus program before requesting the online major after reaching that threshold.

Research Sequence

Political Science Methods and a Senior Seminar are part of the major

Online Completion

Asynchronous coursework; entry to the online route requires at least 24 transferable credits

Program Sources: Political Science, B.A. - Academics

Appalachian State offers a general political science BA and BS concentrations in American politics, international and comparative politics, legal studies, or public administration. Within public administration, the department lists public management and town, city and county administration routes. You'll work with an advisor to choose the degree and concentration that fit the public questions you want to study. Internship and study-away electives provide additional ways to connect those studies with practical experience. Compare the concentration requirements before choosing courses outside the major.

BS Concentrations

American politics, international and comparative politics, legal studies, or public administration

Public Administration Routes

Public management and town, city and county administration options

Program Sources: Undergraduate Programs | Department of Government and Justice Studies

East Carolina's political science BA builds Writing for Political Science and Research Design into its core, then leaves room for upper-level political science electives. The BA also requires foreign-language proficiency and a minor or second major. ECU offers a BS with an optional prelaw concentration, where courses include Constitutional Powers, Civil Liberties, American Judiciary and Legal Negotiation. Compare the language requirement and elective structure when choosing the BA or BS. A prelaw concentration supplies undergraduate coursework rather than a professional law credential.

BA Core

Writing for Political Science and Research Design accompany American, comparative and international politics

BS Prelaw Option

Courses include Constitutional Powers, Civil Liberties, American Judiciary and Legal Negotiation

Program Sources: Political Science | Degree Explorer | ECUPolitical Science Majors: BA & BS | Political Science | ECU

Duke's political science PhD asks you to establish competence in two fields and attend workshops connected to both. Its current department requirements emphasize scope and methods, regression and causal inference, with a separate approach for normative political theory students. A preparatory course supplies mathematical foundations and an R programming lab for students who need that background. The preliminary examination includes defending an article-length research paper. You'll then develop a dissertation prospectus, connecting early research and field training to an independent doctoral project.

Methods Preparation

Regression and causal inference training, with mathematical and R preparation and a normative-theory exception

Research Milestone

The preliminary examination centers on defending an article-length research paper

Program Sources: Ph.D. Requirements | Political SciencePolitical Science PhD (G-POLI-PHD) | 26-27 Graduate School Bulletin

UNC–Chapel Hill's political science PhD combines a major field, a minor field and training through participation in teaching. Students entering the doctoral program first complete master's requirements, including a thesis and oral examination, unless an approved prior thesis supports a bypass paper. At doctoral level, written preliminary examinations lead to an oral defense of the dissertation proposal. You'll eventually defend the completed dissertation as well. The sequence makes sustained writing and oral explanation part of the program before and during independent doctoral research.

Field Preparation

Major-field coursework and examination plus a minor field and teaching experience

Research Sequence

Master’s thesis or approved bypass paper, doctoral examinations, proposal defense and dissertation defense

Program Sources: Department of Political Science (GRAD) < University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill