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Political Science ,BS

Political Science, BS


Analyst, Campaigns, Civil Rights, Democracy, Elections, Foreign Policy, Human Rights, Immigration, Minorities, National Security, Public Policy, global policies, government, law, politics

Interested in politics and public issues in the United States and abroad? See yourself heading to law school, working on political campaigns or as a diplomat? Springboard your education in preparation for a wide variety of careers, both inside and outside of government.

Program description

The BS program in political science is useful for students who are looking for careers that require analytical thinking and quantitative skills. The program offers a variety of courses and opportunities to study politics and public policy at the local, national and global levels and learn how to analyze political statistics.

Students study how citizens interact with their governments and how governments at all levels formulate policies to serve, or not serve, their citizens. They explore innovative approaches to today's emerging local, national and global challenges, such as those seen in elections and lobbying, and the international issues of terrorism, diplomacy and empowerment.

In addition to the guidelines in the Concurrent Program Options section below, students interested in pursuing concurrent or second baccalaureate degrees in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are advised to visit The College's website for more information and requirements.

At a glance
  • Second language requirement: No
  • First required math course: MAT 142 - College Mathematics
  • Math intensity: Generalprogram math intensity general

Required courses (Major Map)
Concurrent program options
Students pursuing concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”) earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with their academic advisors, students can create their own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.
Accelerated program options
This program allows students to obtain both a bachelor's and master's degree in as little as five years. It is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:

Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.

Admission requirements

General university admission requirements:

All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
First-year | Transfer | International | Readmission

Tuition information
When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.
Change of Major requirements

A current ASU student has no additional requirements for changing majors.

Students should visit the Change of Major form for information about how to change a major to this program.

Attend online
ASU Online

ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program’s ASU Online page for program descriptions and to request more information.

ASU Local

It is now possible to earn an ASU degree with ASU Local, an integrated college experience in which students take advantage of in-person success coaching and programming experiences on site while completing one of 130+ undergraduate online degree programs, all of which come with online faculty interaction and tutoring support.

Transfer options

ASU is committed to helping students thrive by offering tools that allow personalization of the transfer path to ASU. Students may use MyPath2ASU® to outline a list of recommended courses to take prior to transfer.

ASU has transfer partnerships in Arizona and across the country to create a simplified transfer experience for students. These pathway programs include exclusive benefits, tools and resources, and they help students save time and money in their college journey.

Global opportunities
Global experience

Students can experience firsthand the diverse political and social powers governing communities around the globe. With more than 300 Global Education programs available, studying abroad allows students to tailor their experience to their specific interests and skill sets. Students majoring in political science can enhance their learning by gaining a global perspective on political theory and world affairs in countries with regimes like communism and monarchies.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences recommends these study abroad programs for students majoring in political science.

Career opportunities

Graduates have skills useful for careers in public policy and other analytical positions in or related to government and politics. Many graduates of this degree program have found positions in:

  • foreign service organizations
  • legislative or judicial staff organizations
  • lobbying and advocacy groups
  • local and national media organizations
  • local, national and global nonprofit organizations
  • multinational corporations
  • national, state and local government agencies
  • political consulting
  • research institutions
  • survey research

In addition, some graduates have gone on to other top-tier graduate and professional schools. These students have found a range of employment opportunities in the fields of:

  • communication
  • data science
  • education
  • foreign service
  • journalism
  • law
  • political science
  • public service

Example job titles and salaries listed below are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.


Career *Growth *Median salary
9.7%
$95,290
-1.7%
$48,880
-3.8%
$60,410
4.8%
$50,470
1.5%
$86,280
6.6%
$140,040
-3.3%
$55,960
6.6%
$128,020
3.4%
$48,090
3.3%
$128,620
* Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).

Bright OutlookBright Outlook

Contact information
What are accelerated programs?
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.

3 year programs

These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.

Accelerated master's

These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).

Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master’s during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
What are concurrent programs?
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
What are joint programs?
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.

What constitutes a new program?
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the “New Programs” option.
What are online programs?
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
What is the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)?
The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) is a program in which residents of western states (other than Arizona) may be eligible for reduced nonresident tuition. See more information and eligibility requirements on the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program.

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