Best Political Science Programs in Rhode Island for 2027

Brown’s political science concentration is ten courses, all taken from the department. Two are introductions chosen from American politics, political thought, comparative politics and international politics. You also take one theory course, a methods course such as Foundations of Political Analysis or Political Research Methods, a senior capstone, and five more electives. The structure lets you specialize in one or two subfields or spread out, and the department suggests thematic pathways, for example Black political thought. The honors route is a year-long senior thesis written closely with a faculty member. Forty-four degrees were awarded in 2023–24.

Course Count

Ten political science courses, including a methods course and a senior capstone

Methods

Foundations of Political Analysis or Political Research Methods

Honors

Year-long senior thesis

Program Sources: Concentration Requirements | Political Science | Brown UniversityConcentration Requirements | Political Science | Brown University

At Providence College, political science majors take 33 credit hours, normally eleven courses. PSC 101 Politics comes first, then one course in each of four fields: comparative government, international relations, political theory and American politics. PSC 302 Research Methods and four electives follow, and a Research Seminar in senior year caps the degree. The department sends students to Washington through its Washington Semester Program and to Rhode Island state government through the state internship program, and some majors publish articles co-authored with faculty. With 47 degrees awarded in 2023–24, it’s a mid-sized option on its state page.

Field Requirement

One course each in comparative, international, theory and American politics

Senior Seminar

PSC 488 or PSC 489, Research Seminar in Political Science

Internships

Washington Semester Program and the Rhode Island State Government Internship Program

Program Sources: Political Science | Providence College Undergraduate CatalogPolitical Science at Providence College

Rhode Island’s major has two tracks, International Relations and American Politics, and about half of majors choose each. Everyone takes Introduction to American Politics and Introduction to International Politics, then either American Politics: Theories and Applications or World Politics: Theories and Applications. At the 300 level you complete Introduction to Political Science Research plus one more course, and the 400 level requires two seminars. Electives range from Politics in Rhode Island and Challenge of Nuclear Arms to Political Corruption and Russian Foreign Policy. At 48 degrees awarded in 2023–24, it’s among the larger programs on its state page.

Tracks

International Relations or American Politics

Research Course

PSC 310 Introduction to Political Science Research

Seminars

Two 400-level seminars

Program Sources: B.A. Curriculum – Department of Political ScienceB.A. Curriculum – Department of Political Science

Bryant studies politics together with law. The 30-credit Politics and Law major requires Introduction to International Politics, Introduction to U.S. Politics, Introduction to the U.S. Legal System, Global Legal Traditions and a Seminar in Politics and Law. Five electives from political science and legal studies follow, at least one at the 400 level. A partnership with Villanova’s law school lets eligible students earn a bachelor’s and a J.D. on a fast track, and a separate political science minor is available. Ten degrees were awarded in 2023–24.

Required Courses

International politics, U.S. politics, the U.S. legal system, global legal traditions and a senior seminar

Electives

Five from political science and legal studies, one at the 400 level

Law Partnership

Fast-track bachelor’s and J.D. with Villanova Law

Program Sources: Politics and Law Programs | Bryant University Academic CatalogPolitics and Law | Bryant University

Roger Williams starts you with three foundation courses: American Government and Politics, The United States in World Affairs and Comparative Politics. After that you take nine advanced courses, with at least four in American national politics and political theory and four in international relations and comparative politics, and finish with a two-course research sequence. Electives include Campaigns and Elections, Judicial Politics, Politics and the Media and Film and Politics. Internships are encouraged, locally or through the Washington Internship and Washington Public Policy Seminar. Twenty degrees were awarded in 2023–24.

Foundation Courses

American Government and Politics, The United States in World Affairs and Comparative Politics

Advanced Distribution

Nine advanced courses split between American politics and theory and international relations and comparative politics

Research Sequence

Two-course research sequence in political science

Program Sources: Political Science, B.A. - Roger Williams UniversityPolitical Science, B.A. - Roger Williams University

Internships carry a lot of weight in Rhode Island College’s political science BA. Required courses are American Government, Global Politics, Introduction to Political Thought, Methodology in Political Science, and Research and Writing in Political Science, followed by six more courses, four of them at the 300 level or above, for 41 to 44 credits. The department runs a twelve-week internship every term and a spring placement with Rhode Island legislative, executive or judicial offices. Washington Week sends students to a Rhode Island congressional office in D.C. Twenty-one degrees were awarded in 2023–24.

Methods and Writing

POL 300 Methodology and POL 308W Research and Writing in Political Science

Internships

Twelve-week agency internship and a spring Rhode Island State Internship Program

Washington Week

One week interning in a Rhode Island congressional office in Washington

Program Sources: Political Science Bachelor's Degree | Rhode Island CollegePolitical Science B.A. | Rhode Island College Catalog

Thirty-seven of the 120 credits in Salve Regina’s political science BA belong to the major. You’ll take three 100-level introductions, a political theory foundation in either classical or modern philosophy, and an American government course built on classic and contemporary readings. Research follows in Seminar in Research and Methodology, then a capstone you pick: guided research or a multimedia research application. Five electives at the 200 level or above finish the major, with at least two at the 300 level. Six degrees were awarded in 2023–24, one of the smaller cohorts on the Rhode Island page.

Research Sequence

Seminar in Research and Methodology, then a guided research or multimedia research capstone

Theory Foundation

Classical Political Philosophy or Modern Political Philosophy

Electives

Five courses at the 200 level or above, at least two at the 300 level or above

Program Sources: Political Science (B.A.) < Salve Regina University

Fourteen graduate courses passed with a B or better, twelve of them inside the department, form the coursework in Brown’s political science PhD. Methods come early, with a research methods course and Quantitative Research Methods I. You then choose two field proseminars from American, comparative, theory and international relations, and add two electives in each field. Written and oral preliminary examinations in your primary subfield come next, followed by a prospectus-writing sequence, a dissertation proposal and the dissertation itself. You’ll also spend at least two semesters as a teaching assistant. Seven doctorates were awarded in 2023–24 at this Research 1 university.

Coursework

Fourteen graduate courses with a B or better, twelve within Political Science

Qualifying Exams

Written and oral preliminary examination in the primary subfield

Teaching

A minimum of two semesters as a teaching assistant

Program Sources: Ph.D. Program Requirements | Political Science | Brown University