Best Political Science Programs in South Carolina for 2027

Political science at South Carolina comes as a general major and a more demanding intensive major. The general major is 24 hours: Introduction to Politics, one course from a list that includes International Relations and Comparative Politics, and six electives at the 300 level or above. The intensive major adds six more hours, a B or better in every major course, intermediate proficiency in a foreign language and a senior thesis. A B.A. with Distinction goes further, with a research track, a 3.60 major GPA and a public presentation of the thesis. With 201 degrees awarded in 2023–24, it’s one of the larger programs on its state page.

Major Tracks

General major (24 hours) or intensive major (36 hours)

Senior Thesis

POLI 499, required for the intensive major and the B.A. with Distinction

Language Requirement

Intermediate proficiency in one foreign language for the intensive major

Program Sources: Political Science, B.A. < University of South Carolina

Clemson lets you choose between a BA and a BS in political science. The BA leans on arts and humanities: you pick a minor and take at least one upper-level course in each of five subfields, American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, and public policy or administration. The BS has you choose one of five concentrations, from American Politics and Global Politics to Political Economy, Public Policy and Public Administration, and it suits you if you like quantitative work. A study abroad trip to Belgrade and Model U.N. are on offer.

BS Concentrations

American Politics, Global Politics, Political Economy, Public Policy or Public Administration

BA Requirements

A minor plus an upper-level course in each core subfield

Study Abroad

A month in Serbia and Europe through the Belgrade program

Program Sources: Undergraduate Political Science Programs

Seventeen courses, or 51 credit hours, make up the political science major at The Citadel, with eight electives left to you. Six core courses come first, including International Politics, Comparative Politics, a political theory course, Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Principled Leadership in American Government and Society. By the fall of junior year you commit to one of three concentrations: American Government and Politics, International Politics and Military Affairs, or Pre-Law and Legal Studies. The major ends with a semester-long capstone, Research Methods in Political Science, where you complete a work of original research.

Concentrations

American Government and Politics; International Politics and Military Affairs; Pre-Law and Legal Studies

Capstone

PSCI 393, a semester-long original research project

Language Requirement

Up to nine hours of language instruction

Program Sources: Program: Political Science Major

College of Charleston asks you to cover the full range of the discipline before you specialize. After an American politics course, a world politics course, Introduction to Political Thought and Doing Research in Politics, you take at least three credit hours in each of three subfields: American Politics and Process, Global Politics and Spaces, and Politics of Ideas. At least fifteen credit hours must be at the 300 level or above, and the major wraps up with a Capstone Seminar. Two optional concentrations, Public Service and Politics, Philosophy, and Law, let you narrow the focus. The department lists academic-credit internships and faculty-led study abroad.

Core Courses

Introduction to Political Thought, Doing Research in Politics and a Capstone Seminar

Subfield Breadth

At least 3 credit hours each in three subfields

Concentrations

Public Service or Politics, Philosophy, and Law, both optional

Program Sources: Political Science, B.A. | College of Charleston Course Catalog

Furman calls its major Politics and International Affairs, and you start with four courses: American government, world politics, political thought and political analysis. From there you take an advanced course in two of four subfields (American politics, comparative politics, international relations and political thought) plus two more advanced courses. One engaged learning course, or two two-credit May Experience courses through the department, is required. Mock trial, the Justicia Project’s hands-on legal work and a student seminar at the Tocqueville Center sit alongside the classroom. The department says 95% of its majors complete at least one internship.

Introductory Courses

American Government, World Politics, Political Thought and Political Analysis

Engaged Learning

One engaged learning course or two May Experience courses

Legal Experience

The Justicia Project: criminal, family and immigration law

Program Sources: Politics and International Affairs, B.A. | Furman University CatalogProgram Overview | Politics & International Affairs | Furman University

At Wofford the major is called Government, and it totals 30 semester hours. You’ll finish Foundations of American Politics and Foundations of World Politics with a C or better before you declare. The major then requires one America in the World course, two American politics courses, two political theory courses, and nine hours of electives at the 300 and 400 level. If you want more focus, two optional five-course concentrations are available, American Politics and Political Theory, and the department encourages honors work.

Gateway Courses

GOV 202 Foundations of American Politics and INTL 203 Foundations of World Politics

Concentrations

American Politics or Political Theory, both optional five-course sets

Honors Work

Honors courses encouraged by the department

Program Sources: Government (GOV) & International Affairs (INTL) < Wofford College

Coastal Carolina has you choose a lane inside the political science BA: Domestic Politics or Global Politics. Either way, the 39-credit major starts with Introduction to Political Theory, The Scope of American Politics, International Relations and Comparative Politics, and ends with The Discipline of Political Science. You take five upper-division courses in your primary concentration and two in the other one. A cognate or minor of 12 to 18 credits rounds out the degree, along with foundation courses in world regional geography, world politics, political science and American government.

Concentrations

Domestic Politics or Global Politics, five upper-division courses in the primary one

Major Credits

39 credits, ending with POLI 497 The Discipline of Political Science

Cognate or Minor

12 to 18 credits chosen to complement the major

Program Sources: Political Science: Domestic Politics Concentration, B.A.

A BA in political science at Winthrop fits into 30 to 36 semester hours, or ten to twelve courses. The required core is short: Introduction to American Government (PLSC 201), Scope & Methods (PLSC 350) and a Senior Capstone (PLSC 490). Three credit hours of experiential learning are also required, and that can be an internship, an undergraduate research project or a hands-on course you’re already taking. You choose one course from each of four subfields: American government, comparative politics with international relations, public policy with public administration, and political theory. The remaining hours come from any of those fields.

Required Core

PLSC 201, PLSC 350 Scope & Methods and PLSC 490 Senior Capstone

Experiential Learning

Three credit hours: internship, undergraduate research or a hands-on course

Subfield Choices

One course in each of four subfields

Program Sources: Department of Political Science - The Major | Winthrop University

USC Upstate builds its political science BA around Research Methods in Political Science, International Politics, Comparative Politics and either The Legislative Process or The American President. A three-hour experience requirement can be met with an internship, study abroad, service-learning or supervised undergraduate research. Then you choose eighteen hours from either upper-level political science courses or a Law and Justice Studies group. Senior Seminar is the last step, and you need twelve hours of upper-level political science with a C or better to enroll. You also complete a cognate of 12 hours or a minor.

Methods Course

POLI U210 Research Methods in Political Science

Experience Requirement

Internship, study abroad, service-learning or supervised undergraduate research

Elective Groups

Upper-level political science courses or Law and Justice Studies

Program Sources: Political Science, Bachelor of Arts | USC Upstate

The doctorate in political science at South Carolina is 63 hours past the bachelor’s degree: 12 in core courses, 15 in your first field, 9 in a second field, 9 in electives and 18 for the dissertation. You choose fields from American politics, comparative politics, international relations, public administration and public policy, and public law. Political theory and research methodology count as second fields only. Each field starts with a Gateway Proseminar. If you arrive with a master’s degree in political science or a close relative, the minimum drops to 30 hours.

Field Structure

A first field and a second field, each opening with a Gateway Proseminar

Credit Breakdown

12 core, 15 first field, 9 second field, 9 electives, 18 dissertation

Post-Master’s Route

A minimum of 30 hours after a related master’s degree

Program Sources: Political Science, Ph.D. < University of South Carolina