Political Science major

Political Science: courses, careers, and where to study

Political Science studies governments, political behavior, and policy, preparing graduates for law school, public service, journalism, and policy research.

A Political Science major covers American government, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, and political methodology. Programs typically require a research methods sequence (statistics, survey research, or formal modeling) and a senior thesis. Subfields include public policy, public law, political economy, and international security.

Political Science is a common pre-law major. Graduates also work in government, campaigns, journalism, advocacy, foundations, and think tanks. The major pairs naturally with Economics, History, or a foreign language.

Academic classification (CIP)

In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Political Science maps to CIP 45.1001, Political Science and Government, General, within the SOCIAL SCIENCES family. The official definition:

A general program that focuses on the systematic study of political institutions and behavior. Includes instruction in political philosophy, political theory, comparative government and politics, political parties and interest groups, public opinion, political research methods, studies of the government and politics of specific countries, and studies of specific political institutions and processes.

Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov

What you'll study

  • American politics and government
  • Comparative politics across countries and systems
  • International relations and foreign policy
  • Political theory (classical and contemporary)
  • Public policy analysis
  • Quantitative methods for political research
  • Constitutional law
  • Senior thesis

Typical careers

Typical salary range: $48,000–$72,000 early-career (varies widely by sector)Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.

Related occupations

Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Political Science. Linked titles open a CampusPin career page with BLS pay and outlook data; others are listed for reference.

Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Crosswalk: CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. A program of study does not guarantee any specific occupation.

Before you commit to a Political Science major

CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Political Science program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.

Ask the Political Science department

  • Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
  • What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
  • What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
  • Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?

Ask current students & check the curriculum

  • How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
  • What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
  • Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
  • How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Accreditation & licensure: Most Political Science programs are covered by their institution's regional accreditation; specialized programmatic accreditation is less common in this field. Confirm any field-specific accreditation or licensure that matters for your goals.
Degree level & graduate study: Many Political Sciencecareers are open with a bachelor's degree, but some, such as research, advanced-practice, or licensure-track roles, require a master's or doctorate. Check the typical entry-level education on each linked career page above before assuming a bachelor's is enough.

Find a Political Science program

CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges that offer Political Science programs. Filter by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.

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How this guide is sourced

This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.