Best Political Science Programs in Tennessee for 2027

Foundation, breadth and depth are the three layers of Vanderbilt’s 30-credit political science major. Foundation is two 1000-level courses. Breadth requires a 2000-level or higher course in four of five subfields: American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory and research methods. Depth adds twelve hours across any of those subfields, and up to six hours can be individualized instruction. Twenty-four of the 30 credits must count only toward the major. A separate minor in political economy is offered jointly with the Economics department.

Foundation

Two 1000-level courses, 6 credit hours

Breadth

Four of five subfields, including research methods as an option

Depth

Twelve more hours at the 2000 level or above

Program Sources: Political Science Major and Minors | Political Science | Vanderbilt University

At Tennessee-Knoxville, the political science BA is 31 hours of courses numbered 200 or above, and at least 19 of them must be at the 300 level or higher. You begin with four of five foundation options, covering political philosophy, Tennessee government, public administration and policy, comparative politics and international relations. Another 18 hours of upper-division political science follow, and a one-credit capstone, POLS 480, comes last. Before the major begins, you complete United States Government and Politics and Introduction to Political Science. With 175 degrees awarded in 2023–24, it’s one of the larger programs in the state.

Foundations

Four courses from philosophy, Tennessee politics, public policy, comparative and international politics

Upper-Division Work

18 hours at the 300-400 level

Capstone

POLS 480, one credit hour

Program Sources: Program: Political Science Major, BA - Undergraduate Catalog

Rhodes houses political science inside a Department of Politics and Law, and the 44-credit major reflects that. You complete U.S. Politics, Research Methods and a Senior Seminar on campus, plus one theory course such as Philosophy of Law or Justice, Equality, and Liberty. International Relations or Comparative Politics completes the core. Twenty-four more credits come from Politics and Law, with eight at the 300 or 400 level. Up to eight credits can come from experiential learning: Trial Procedures, Mock Trial, a public affairs internship or a practicum on the Memphis court system.

Core Sequence

PLAW 151 U.S. Politics, PLAW 270 Research Methods and PLAW 485 Senior Seminar

Theory Requirement

One of four philosophy or political theory courses

Experiential Learning

Up to 8 credits, including Mock Trial and a Memphis courts practicum

Program Sources: Requirements for a Political Science Major | Rhodes Catalogue

Sewanee calls the major Politics, and it is 44 semester hours. You start with two 100-level foundations from American government, comparative politics, political theory and world politics, then take two courses at the 200 level or above in subfields you haven’t yet covered. Sixteen more hours at that level and a 400-level seminar follow. The seminar doubles as your comprehensive assessment, a final paper that must show research skills and tie in at least one other politics course. Honors candidates add an independent study and a two-semester-hour honors tutorial on a thesis.

Foundations

Two 100-level courses from four subfields

Comprehensive Assessment

A final paper in the 400-level seminar

Honors Thesis

POLS 444 independent study and POLS 450 Honors Tutorial

Program Sources: Politics < Sewanee | University of the South

UTC awards a Bachelor of Science in political science, and every major takes a career planning course. Alongside foundational courses, research methods and a senior capstone seminar, you either pick one of five concentrations or build your own. The concentrations are American Politics, International Relations and Comparative Politics, Public Law, Public Policy, and Public Administration and Nonprofit Management. The build-your-own option suits transfer students arriving with a mix of political science credits. Students within 30 hours of finishing with a 3.25 GPA can start the MPA through the PS/MPA JUMP option, taking up to nine graduate credits.

Concentrations

American Politics; International Relations and Comparative Politics; Public Law; Public Policy; Public Administration and Nonprofit Management

Required Core

Foundational courses, a career planning course, research methods and a senior capstone seminar

Graduate Head Start

PS/MPA JUMP option with up to 9 graduate credits

Program Sources: PSPS Undergraduate Studies | University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

MTSU’s department of political science has merged with global studies and human geography, and the degree is now Political and Global Affairs, available as a BA or a BS. You can follow a general focus or choose a concentration in Public Policy and Management, Pre-Law, or Teaching Licensure. Its location near the state capital matters here: the program points to paid internships with the Tennessee legislature, plus placements with law firms, campaigns and nonprofits and help finding internships in Washington, D.C. Mock Trial and Model United Nations teams give you competition experience.

Concentrations

Public Policy and Management, Pre-Law, or Teaching Licensure

Internships

Paid Tennessee legislature internships and Washington, D.C. placements

Competition Teams

Mock Trial and Model United Nations

Program Sources: Political and Global Affairs Degree at MTSU and Career Pathways

Memphis requires 36 hours of political science, including Politics and Law: An Introduction and Political Statistics. You then take at least six hours in each of four subfields: American government and politics, comparative politics, international relations and political theory. Internships, mock trial, research and study abroad can count toward the major, up to nine hours combined. A pre-law concentration is available, and political science majors can add a second major in International and Global Studies. The honors program carries 18 hours of honors work and an optional senior thesis.

Core Courses

POLS 1120 Politics and Law and POLS 4101 Political Statistics

Subfield Requirement

At least 6 hours in each of four subfields

Honors Option

18 hours of honors work and an optional senior thesis

Program Sources: Program: Political Science, (B.A.) - University of Memphis

Memphis requires political science MA students to study two subfields and complete a common sequence in research methods, Political Statistics, and Political Theory. A thesis leads to a 33-credit plan. The non-thesis plan requires 36 credits. Approved internships can account for up to six credits, but most coursework must be advanced graduate study. You'll need a B or better in the three required courses, making the methods and theory sequence a substantive progression requirement.

Required Core

Scope and Methods of Political Science Research, Political Statistics and Political Theory require grades of B or better

Internship Limit

Up to six internship credits can count toward either the thesis or non-thesis degree

Program Sources: Graduate Resources - Political Science

Vanderbilt concentrates its PhD training in American politics, comparative politics, and international relations. Faculty research crosses those fields through topics including bureaucracies, political violence, gender, and democracy in lower- and middle-income countries. The program’s sequence moves from substantive and methods coursework to a field examination, an original second-year paper, and a dissertation prospectus. Students submit and present that early paper in August, then complete all degree requirements except the dissertation before defending the prospectus.

Early Paper Presentation

Students submit and present their second-year paper in August

Research Themes

Faculty interests include bureaucracies, political violence, gender, and democracy in lower- and middle-income countries

Program Sources: PhD in Political ScienceVanderbilt PhD Timeline

Seventy-two hours beyond the bachelor’s degree are required for the political science doctorate at Tennessee, and 24 of them come from writing the dissertation. You’ll take at least three courses in each of two substantive fields, chosen from American government, comparative government, international relations and public administration, then pass a written comprehensive examination in both. Two Advanced Methods courses are required. At least 60 hours must be in political science courses numbered above 500, and six must be above 600. The last step is a final oral examination on your dissertation.

Credit Hours

72 beyond the bachelor’s degree, including 24 for the dissertation

Comprehensive Exams

Written examination in two substantive fields

Methods Training

Two Advanced Methods courses

Program Sources: Doctor of Philosophy - Political Science Department