Best Political Science Programs in West Virginia for 2027

WVU lets you fill the last 15 credits of the major with general political science electives or with an area of emphasis: American Politics and Policy, Elections and Campaigns, International Relations, Comparative Politics and National Security, or Pre-Law and Legal Studies. The 21-credit core adds Empirical Political Analysis and a policy economics course. For the capstone you choose among building a politics podcast, writing a senior paper, running a political simulation or taking a citizenship seminar. Qualified students can join a 3+3 program with WVU Law and earn both degrees in six years instead of seven. With 87 degrees in 2023–24, it is one of the larger options on its state page.

Areas of Emphasis

American Politics and Policy; Elections and Campaigns; International Relations, Comparative Politics, and National Security; Pre-Law and Legal Studies

Capstone Choices

Politics podcast, senior paper, political simulation or citizenship seminar

Law Pathway

3+3 program with WVU College of Law

Program Sources: Political Science, B.A. < West Virginia University

A 27-credit major core covers Political Theory, Comparative Political Systems, Ethics in Politics, Political Parties and Interest Groups, State, Local, and Community Politics, and Public Policy. You then choose a 15-credit concentration in American Government, International Relations or Political Theory. The American Government track adds Introduction to the Courts, Constitutional Law and the U.S. Intelligence Community, while the Political Theory track runs through Logic and ancient, modern and contemporary philosophy. Senior Seminar in Political Science closes out the degree. The program awarded 80 degrees in 2023–24, a large cohort.

Concentrations

American Government, International Relations or Political Theory, 15 credits each

Major Core

27 credits from Introduction to Political Science to Public Policy

Final Course

POLS497 Senior Seminar in Political Science

Program Sources: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science | American Public University (APU) | American Public University System

Marshall wants breadth inside the major: three courses in one of five political science subfields, plus at least one course in three of the other four. The required core is Fundamentals of Politics, American Government, Research in Political Science and a Capstone Experience. Electives run from Campaigns and Elections, The US Congress and Constitutional Law to the more unusual Politics of the Undead and War and Pop Culture. Marshall lists a separate BS in political science, so check which degree fits your plans. 19 students completed the BA in 2023–24.

Subfield Rule

18 credits: three courses in one of five subfields and one course in three others

Research Course

PSC 312 Research in Political Science

Capstone

PSC 499 Capstone Experience

Program Sources: Political Science, B.A. | Marshall University Catalog

Nineteen of the 40 required hours are fixed: American Political Institutions, Introduction to Political Theory, Introduction to Comparative Politics, International Relations, Research Design and Methods, and a four-credit Senior Research course. The other 21 hours come from 300- and 400-level political science electives, and most of those are offered only every other year, so you plan your schedule early. A Legal Studies concentration adds work on the Constitution, courts and legal process. Shepherdstown’s closeness to Washington, D.C., opens internship options in federal government, and the department awarded 11 degrees in 2023–24.

Required Courses

19 hours, from PSCI 200 through Senior Research (PSCI 497)

Methods Course

PSCI 496 Research Design and Methods

Concentrations

Legal Studies, with a Political Communications concentration also listed by the department

Program Sources: Program: Political Science, B.S. - Shepherd UniversityShepherd University | Political Science | Political Science Degree

Institute sits close to the state Capitol, and the department uses that: it manages three internship programs with the State of West Virginia, including the Judith A. Herndon Fellowship and the Frasure-Singleton Internship. You choose between a General Political Science major, a Pre-Law concentration and a Public Administration and Policy concentration. Every major takes statistics for the social sciences, economics, history and a modern foreign language alongside core courses numbered POSC 100 to 311, finishing with either POSC 400 or 497. The program awarded 5 degrees in 2023–24, so you would be in a very small cohort.

Options

General Political Science, Pre-Law Concentration, or Public Administration and Policy Concentration

Internships

Herndon Fellowship, Frasure-Singleton Internship and a Higher Education Policy Commission internship

Cognates

Statistics for the Social Sciences, economics, history, English and six hours of a modern foreign language

Program Sources: Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science - College of Arts, Humanities, and Public Affairs

Fairmont State’s major mixes 27 credits of courses such as American Government, Introduction to Political Science, Principles of International Relations, Comparative Government, a research course in the social sciences, Terrorism and a Capstone Seminar in Political Science. Twelve more credits come from advanced political science or National Security and Intelligence courses, with titles like Insurgency and Counterinsurgency, Espionage, Counterintelligence and Strategic Deception, and Congress and the Legislative Process. The department says the program prepares students for law school, and eligible students can intern in Washington, D.C. through the Washington Center. It awarded 8 degrees in 2023–24.

Major Core

POLI 1100, 2200, 2210, 2220, a research course and POLI 4405 Terrorism

Advanced Electives

12 credits of political science or National Security and Intelligence courses

Capstone

POLI 4490 Capstone Seminar in Political Science

Program Sources: Program: Political Science, B.A. - Fairmont State UniversityPolitical Science

Three introductions start the 39-semester-hour major: American Government, Comparative Politics and International Relations. Social and Political Thought and Research Methods in the Social Sciences follow, and the senior seminar, POLS 499, doubles as the department’s writing course. You pick two courses from a list that includes State and Local Government, The Art of the Election, Race and Public Policy and The American Presidency, and add courses in comparative and global politics. The department wants you to put the learning to work through research, service learning, study abroad, civic engagement or internships. If law school is the goal, it recommends a legal studies minor. 5 degrees were awarded in 2023–24.

Required Courses

POLS 101, 222, 232, 342, 345 and 499

Methods Course

POLS 345 Research Methods in Social Sciences

Law Preparation

Legal studies minor recommended for students pursuing law school

Program Sources: Social Sciences – West Virginia Wesleyan CollegePolitical Science Major

Concord requires an internship in this major: POSC 450 is part of the 18-credit core, and the program page describes a 120-hour placement with a government or nonprofit office, political campaign or law office. The rest of the core covers Introduction to Political Science, American Federal Government, Constitutional Law, either International Relations or Comparative Government, and either Modern Political Ideologies or Political Theory, plus a statistics course. Then you pick a track: General, International Studies, or Public Administration. The department points future lawyers to the General track with a Legal Studies and Pre-Law minor. Only 1 degree was awarded in 2023–24, so expect a very small program.

Tracks

General, International Studies and Public Administration, 12 credit hours each

Internship

POSC 450 Internship, with a 120-hour placement described on the program page

Law Pathway

3 + 3 program listed, plus a Legal Studies and Pre-Law minor

Program Sources: Program: Political Science (BS) - Concord UniversityPolitical Science - Concord University

Charleston organizes the degree around three concentrations: Pre-Law, Public Policy and Criminal Justice. The campus sits across the river from the state capitol, and the program points to that location for internships with federal offices and interest groups. Coursework stresses critical thinking and logic, with a focus on the actors and institutions of government and on the relationships among people who try to influence the process. Graduates are prepared for law school and other graduate programs, and listed career paths include attorney, campaign manager, public administrator and teacher. The program awarded 11 degrees in 2023–24.

Concentrations

Pre-Law, Public Policy or Criminal Justice

Internship Setting

Across the river from the state capitol, with federal offices and interest groups nearby

Graduate Preparation

Built to prepare students for law school and other graduate programs

Program Sources: Political Science - University of Charleston

You complete two areas of emphasis from American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Politics and Public Policy, though Comparative and International cannot be paired. A methods core runs from Introduction to Political Research through Quantitative Political Analysis, Advanced Quantitative Methods and Advanced Quantitative Analysis, with a graduate seminar every semester you are in residence. The degree needs at least 68 graduate credit hours, 24 of them in research, and students are expected to be doing research throughout. Outcomes include defending a prospectus and dissertation and teaching post-secondary political science courses. 2 degrees were awarded in 2023–24.

Areas of Emphasis

Two of American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Politics and Public Policy

Methods Core

POLS 500, 501, 502 and 603, plus Graduate Seminar

Research Hours

At least 24 hours of POLS 797 Research within 68 total credits

Program Sources: Political Science, Ph.D. < West Virginia University