Undergraduate Program
Political Science is the empirical study of government, politics, laws, rules, and values that affect the nature of political authority. It’s the scientific study of politics and political decisions. Political Science is a broad field and is often organized into subfields across the discipline. BGSU faculty have expertise these subfields and Political Science students have the opportunity to take courses depending on their interests and career goals.
Find Your Home in Political Science
Political science encompasses a variety of subfields. Click on the subfields to learn more.
The field of American politics makes use of a broad set of methodological approaches to student political institutions and behavior in the U.S. across the local, state, and federal level. If you’re interested in voter behavior, public opinion, city government, race, ethnicity, or gender, legislative behavior, media effects, or other aspects of American political life, courses in American Politics may be a good fit for you!
The field of Comparative Politics focuses on the study and comparison of governments and political processes in different countries and regions of the world using a variety of methodological approaches. If you’re interested in institutional design, democratic transitions, political economy, political and voting behavior outside of the U.S., or other aspects of political life across the globe, courses in Comparative Politics may be a good fit for you!
International relations is a broad subfield using a broad range of methodological approaches to answer questions about political organizations and how states interact. If you’re interested in war, conflict, international political economy, non-governmental organizations, globalization, and how states work together or apart to solve global policy problems, courses in International Relations may be a good fit for you!
The field of Public Administration uses a broad set of methodological approaches to study how government bureaucracies work to carry out laws and policies and how we can translate this information into practical action. If you’re interested in solving problems, evaluating government programs, or non-profit work, courses in Public Administration may be a good fit for you!
The field of Public Law uses a broad set of methodological approaches to study the law and courts, including the U.S. Constitution, legal system and relationship between society and the law. If you’re interested in questions about judicial legitimacy, decision-making, public opinion of the courts, or other areas around the U.S. legal system and the public, courses in Public Law may be a good fit for you!
The field of Political Theory is the study of the major theories and ideologies of politics and how we can pursue political thinking. If you’re interested in studies of the major political philosophers or questions about ethics, rights, or autonomy, courses in Political Theory may be a good fit for you!
The field of Political Science is grounded in robust empirical methods. While much of the contemporary research in Political Science is quantitative in nature, the field of Political Methodology focuses on the innovation and application of quantitative and qualitative methods to political questions. If you’re interested in public opinion, experiments, or data science, courses in Political Methodology may be a good fit for you!
Study Political Science at BGSU
A degree in Political Science provides students with empirical skills and a broad understanding of government, politics, and public and international affairs. Check our our What's Next? Page for information on post-graduation plans.
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The Political Science Major is 33 Credit Hours. Full details and links to course descriptions are available in the BGSU Catalog. Remember to check all the University requirements for coursework outside the major.
Preparatory Work: Complete during your first two years (12 credits)
Choose TWO of the following courses (3 credits each x 2 = 6 credits)
- POLS 1100 - American Government: Processes and Structure
- POLS 1710 - Introduction to Comparative Government
- POLS 1720 - Introduction to International Relations
- POLS 1250 - Introduction to Law, Courts, and the Legal Profession
Complete BOTH of the following (3 credits each x 2 = 6 credits)
- POLS 2100 - Exploring Political Problems (3 credits)
- POLS 2900 - Statistics and Research Methods (3 credits)
Subfield and Area Work (18 credits)
6 POLS courses at the 3000/4000 level (3 credits each x 6 = 18 credits total)
- 3 of these courses must be ONE of the following areas (Subfield Work)
- American Government
- International Relations and Comparative Government
- Political Theory
- Public Administration, Public Policy, and Nonprofit Administration
- Public Law
- The remaining 3 courses must be in 3 of the above areas (Area Work)
Signature Work: Complete during your final year (3 credits)
All POLS majors must complete ONE of the following (3 credits x 1 = 3 credits total)
- POLS 4900 - Analyzing Political Problems - Capstone Seminar in Political Science
- POLS 4910 - Solving Political Problems - Seminar for Interns
The Political Science Minor is 21 Credit Hours. Full details and links to course descriptions are available in the BGSU Catalog. Remember to check all the University requirements for coursework outside the minor.
Choose TWO of the following courses (3 credits each x 2 = 6 credits)
- POLS 1100 - American Government: Processes and Structure
- POLS 1710 - Introduction to Comparative Government
- POLS 1720 - Introduction to International Relations
- POLS 1250 - Introduction to Law, Courts, and the Legal Profession
Choose FIVE courses from any subfields at the 2000-4000 level (3 credits each x 5 = 15 credits)
By the end of their studies, Political Science students at BGSU will be able to:
- EVALUATE information and scholarship needed to place political problems in a broader historical, cross-national, and theoretical context.
- ASSESS different theoretical and conceptual approaches to the study of politics.
- APPLY theories and concepts to problems and issues in political science.
- INTEGRATE appropriate evidence and critical evaluation of multiple or opposing perspectives to make effective arguments about significant political processes or problems.
- DEMONSTRATE effective oral communication and presentation skills.
Updated: 07/09/2025 11:32AM