Best Political Science Programs in Ohio for 2027

At Ohio State you take at least one course in each of political science’s four main subfields, then commit to an area of specialization with four or more courses. Besides American politics, comparative politics, international relations and political theory, the thematic options are democracy and law, political identities and allegiances, political economy and development, cooperation, conflict and violence, inequality and justice, political leadership and reform, and political analysis. The leadership track focuses on organizing campaigns and building coalitions, while political analysis trains you to evaluate contested empirical claims. With 278 degrees awarded in 2023–24, this is one of the larger options on its state page, and the specializations let you shape a major of that size to your own interests.

Subfield Breadth

At least one course in each of four subfields

Specializations

Seven thematic areas plus the four traditional subfields, four or more courses each

Political Analysis Track

Training in the analytical, conceptual and methodological skills to evaluate claims about politics

Program Sources: Political Science Bachelor of Arts | Ohio State UniversityPolitical Science Bachelor of Arts | Ohio State University

Miami’s political science B.A. draws on more than two dozen full-time faculty, and the course list shows the range: American Political System, Public Administration, World Politics, The International System and Conflict Management in a Divided World. A Capstone Seminar on the American Political System is part of the curriculum. The published learning outcomes are practical, asking you to build an argument from the right evidence, choose a suitable research design and weigh the ethics of research choices, then apply political science to current problems. Students also describe Miami’s Inside Washington program as a major experience. With 133 degrees awarded in 2023–24, it is one of the larger options on its state page.

Sample Courses

American Political System, Public Administration, World Politics and The International System

Capstone

Capstone Seminar on the American Political System

Learning Outcomes

Evidence-based argument, research design and ethics, and applying political science to current problems

Program Sources: Political Science, Bachelor of Arts | Miami UniversityPolitical Science, Bachelor of Arts | Miami University

Cincinnati lets you opt into a co-op track in sophomore year, and finishing it means at least two paid, career-focused co-op experiences that are noted on your transcript. The major itself starts with three introductory courses from a list that includes Democracy and Political Science, Introduction to Political Theory and Law, Politics and Society, then four upper-level courses at the 2000 level and above. Special programs include honors, independent study, congressional internships in Washington, D.C. and a 3+3 track that earns a bachelor’s and a UC law degree in six years. Student groups include Model United Nations, Mock Trial and the Pre-Law club. In 2023–24 the program awarded 82 degrees.

Co-op Track

Optional, with at least two co-op experiences noted on the transcript

Introductory Courses

Three of six options, from American politics to law, politics and society

Law Pathway

3+3 track to a bachelor’s and UC law degree in six years

Program Sources: BA Political Science | University of Cincinnati College of Arts and SciencesBA Political Science | University of Cincinnati College of Arts and Sciences

Ohio’s political science major is a 30-credit commitment in POLS courses: foundational and theory courses plus 18 hours of electives. Beyond the classroom, the department points to a pre-law advisor, mock law classes, Law School Day and a Mock Trial team, along with one-week study abroad courses in law, human rights and justice in Northern Ireland and South Africa. The Scripps Semester in D.C. puts you in an internship in the nation’s capital. Student stories on the page include a national security internship at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and an internship at the Appalachian Regional Commission that pointed one student toward public administration. In 2023–24 the program awarded 63 degrees.

Major Size

30 semester credit hours of POLS coursework, including 18 hours of electives

Law Preparation

Pre-law advisor, mock law classes, Law School Day and Mock Trial team

Washington Internship

Scripps Semester in D.C.

Program Sources: Political Science Major | Ohio University

Dayton gives its political science B.A. several routes beyond the standard four years. A Bachelor’s Plus Master’s track earns the B.A. in four years and a master of public administration in a fifth, and other accelerated options lead to a Juris Doctor. A dual B.A. and B.S.E. with the School of Education and Health Sciences adds teacher licensure. For hands-on work, Dayton2DC and Statehouse Civic Scholars connect you with professionals, and the department sponsors internship and career exploration support. The program frames the field as combining critical analysis with real-world experience, with careers in public law, public administration, international relations and public policy. In 2023–24 it awarded 34 degrees.

Accelerated Master’s

B.A. plus master of public administration in five years

Teacher Licensure

Dual-degree B.A. and B.S.E. with the Department of Teacher Education

Experiential Learning

Dayton2DC and Statehouse Civic Scholars

Program Sources: Political Science (B.A.) | University of DaytonPolitical Science (B.A.) | University of Dayton

Ohio University's 32-credit MA is designed for a full-time year of study. You finish with an article-length research paper or an Applied Politics Project, with a thesis reserved for exceptional cases. Faculty supervise each option. Courses span American government, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, and politics and law. Approved internships can count among electives. The applied project gives you a policy-oriented alternative to writing a conventional academic research paper.

Culminating Project

Choose an article-length Significant Research Paper or Applied Politics Project, with a thesis possible in exceptional cases

Elective Planning

Approved internships and courses in a specialization can count toward elective credits

Program Sources: Political Science MA

Ohio State asks doctoral students to choose two primary fields and a course-based minor, with the latter also available through a university graduate minor or interdisciplinary specialization. Departmental specializations offer another way to organize the work: options include political psychology, political economy, formal theory, and race, ethnicity, and gender. This structure lets a student combine broad field preparation with a more focused research theme that crosses conventional political science boundaries.

Minor Options

The course-based minor can be completed through a university graduate minor or interdisciplinary specialization

Thematic Specializations

Options include political psychology, political economy, formal theory, and race, ethnicity and gender

Program Sources: PhD in Political Science

Kent State’s political science Ph.D. has you select two concentrations from American politics and policy, conflict analysis and management, and transnational and comparative politics. The methods block is explicit: Scope and Epistemology, Quantitative Methods I and II, Qualitative Research Methods, College Teaching in Political Science and one advanced methods course. Dissertation credits come last, with a minimum of 90 credit hours after a bachelor’s or 67 after a master’s. The program centers on representation, equity, conflict, rights and conflict resolution, and funded students serve as graduate assistants in research or teaching. Support generally continues for four years and includes a stipend and a subsidized health insurance plan. In 2023–24 the program awarded 8 doctorates.

Concentrations

Two of three: American politics and policy, conflict analysis and management, transnational and comparative politics

Methods Sequence

Quantitative Methods I and II, Qualitative Research Methods and an advanced methods course

Credit Hours

Minimum of 90 after a bachelor’s or 67 after a master’s, ending in dissertation

Program Sources: Political Science - Ph.D. | Kent State UniversityPolitical Science - Ph.D. | Kent State University

Sinclair’s Associate of Arts in Political Science is 61 credit hours, with four political science courses at the center: US Federal Government and Civics, State and Local Government, Political Life, Systems and Issues, and International Relations. Around them you complete the Ohio Transfer 36, which is guaranteed to transfer to any public institution in Ohio, along with two English composition courses, a communication course and a multicultural elective. The stated outcomes ask you to analyze political structures, actors and processes in local, national and international settings and to work toward group goals. In 2023–24, 9 students completed the degree, which puts it among the larger associate options on its state page.

Political Science Courses

US Federal Government, State and Local Government, Political Life and Systems, International Relations

Transfer Pathway

Completes the Ohio Transfer 36 for transfer to Ohio public institutions

Program Length

61 credit hours

Program Sources: Political Science PLSE.S.AA | Sinclair Community CollegePolitical Science PLSE.S.AA | Sinclair Community College

Owens organizes this two-year degree semester by semester. You open with American government, composition and introductory statistics, add comparative politics and a social and behavioral science course in the second term, then take state and local government alongside foreign language study in the third. The fourth semester covers contemporary global issues and a second-level language course, with electives chosen for transfer. The degree runs 62 to 65 credit hours and sits in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences. It is built to move you into political science, pre-law or public administration at a four-year Ohio institution. Owens awarded 2 degrees here in 2023–24, so the cohort is small.

Semester Sequence

American government, comparative politics, state and local government, then contemporary global issues

Language Study

Foreign language in the third semester, continuing to a second-level course

Transfer Pathway

Political science, pre-law or public administration at four-year Ohio institutions

Program Sources: Political Science Transfer Pathway, AA | Owens Community CollegePolitical Science Transfer Pathway, AA | Owens Community College