Studies & Degrees in Political Science
Political Science Study Programs
Political science is one of the social sciences. The Pennsylvania State University describes it as the study of systems of governance and governmental institutions, political activity, political thought and political behaviour. It borrows from many neighbouring disciplines, among them economics, law, sociology, history and philosophy.
Degrees are organised around a small number of fields. Penn State names five: political theory, methodology, national politics and public administration, comparative politics and international relations. Binghamton University lists the same core for its students: national politics, political theory, comparative politics and international relations. Research methods are a real part of the course. At the University of the Fraser Valley the first two years cover the history and theory of political science, statistical analysis and research methodology, and special topics such as international relations follow in years three and four.
Qualifications and levels
- Bachelor's degrees. In the United States political science is a major within a Bachelor of Arts. Penn State requires a minimum of 120 credits for a bachelor's degree. At Saint Louis University the major itself takes at least 36 of the 120 credits, and the rest are core courses and electives. In Canada, the University of the Fraser Valley offers political science as a major, an extended minor or a minor within its Bachelor of Arts. In the United Kingdom the subject is usually called politics: the University of Westminster, for example, lists Politics BA Honours and Politics and International Relations BA Honours.
- Spain. An official bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits. The degree normally combines political science with public administration. The Grado en Ciencias Políticas y de la Administración of the Universidad de Granada has 240 credits, 60 of them optional, and its first year includes foundations of political science, public administration, sociology, political economy and Spanish constitutional law.
- Master's degrees. Official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. A related example is the Máster en Políticas Sociales y Acción Comunitaria of the Escola de l'IGOP, an official degree of 60 ECTS credits awarded by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. In the United States, the Master of Arts in political science at Binghamton University has two tracks, one with a thesis and one with a comprehensive exam. The University of Westminster lists master's degrees such as Diplomacy and Global Politics MA.
- Doctorate. A PhD is the route to university teaching and research. Binghamton University states that the main aim of its PhD programme is to educate scholars who will contribute to the field through teaching and research.
In Europe a bachelor's degree has either 180 or 240 ECTS credits, depending on the country, so the length of the first degree varies.
Where to study political science
SpainExchange lists 420 active schools for political science. The United States has 184, the United Kingdom 39, Spain 30 and Canada 19. Germany has 10, Argentina eight, Italy and Australia six each, France five, and Chile, Mexico and Belgium four each.
In the United States the list includes The Pennsylvania State University, Binghamton University, The Ohio State University, the University of Michigan and the University of Southern California. In the United Kingdom it includes the University of Westminster, the University of Aberdeen and London Metropolitan University; in Canada, the University of the Fraser Valley; in Belgium, Ghent University. In Spain it includes the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, the Escola de l'IGOP of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and the Madrid campus of Saint Louis University, which teaches the American degree and offers an international relations concentration of its own.
The language of instruction follows the country and the institution: English in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, Spanish at most Spanish and Latin American universities. The Escola de l'IGOP teaches its master's programme in Spanish and Catalan.
Careers
Most graduates do not become political scientists in the strict sense. Saint Louis University says its political science students go into government, international organisations, non-profit organisations, education, law, journalism, diplomacy and survey research. Internships matter: Binghamton University, for example, has formal ties with three internship programmes in Washington and in the New York State legislature.
The research occupation itself is small. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), political scientists study the origin, development and operation of political systems, and collect and analyse data from public opinion surveys and other sources. They held about 6,100 jobs in the United States in 2025, 68 percent of them in the federal government. The BLS projects employment to decline 2 percent from 2025 to 2035, with about 400 openings a year, and notes that these jobs typically require a master's degree. Related job titles include government affairs specialist and political consultant.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a degree in political science take?
In Spain the bachelor's degree has 240 ECTS credits, which is four academic years. In the United States a bachelor's degree requires at least 120 credits at universities such as Penn State and Saint Louis University. Elsewhere in Europe a bachelor's degree has 180 or 240 ECTS credits.
Can I study political science in English in Spain?
Saint Louis University lists its Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at its Madrid campus, with an international relations concentration specific to Madrid, and asks international applicants to demonstrate English language proficiency. Confirm with the school how much of the degree can be completed in Madrid.
Do I need a master's degree to work as a political scientist?
For research posts, usually yes. According to the BLS, political scientists typically need a master's degree, although employers may consider candidates with a bachelor's degree for some entry-level positions, such as with political campaigns or in government.