Best Online Bachelor's Degrees in Political Science

If you are a prospective undergraduate looking to study political science via online courses, we here at Study.com have made your search easier with our definitive ranking of the 27 best online bachelor's degrees in political science. In compiling this list, we poured through data attained from authoritative sources like the United States Department of Education, so you can rest assured that this list is up to date and accurate. When determining which schools made our list and where they ranked, we looked at important factors like a school's affordability, accessibility for online students, academic offerings, extracurricular activities, available resources, and several others. If you are an online student interested in a career in politics, government, or law, you can look through this list and take the first step towards getting your political science degree!

To get a more in-depth look at our school ranking methodology, please visit Study.com's ranking methodology page.

*Tuition information is based on published tuition and required fees, per data by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

Online Associate Degrees in Political Science

An online associate degree in political science provides students with an introduction to the field, and most programs are offered either in hybrid or fully online formats. These usually take around two to three years for completion. The total credit hours required varies for each program but is usually between 60 to 90 credits. Courses may include topics like an introduction to the American government, macroeconomics, international and comparative politics.

Online Bachelor's Degrees in Political Science

Online bachelor's degrees in political science are mostly bachelor of arts programs and can be found in fully online formats with classes lasting between 5 and 7 weeks. This level of education provides you a deeper understanding of the subject and is also a stepping stone towards many advanced career and academic opportunities. Most online bachelor's degrees in political science require around 120 credit hours in total, and credit hours will be divided between major courses and electives.

Online Master's Degrees in Political Science

Master's programs in political science can be either master of arts or master of science programs, and can be taken 100% online with asynchronous modes. These take around two years for completion. They often offer different concentration areas within the subject of political science, and also offer tracks for completing a thesis or a culminating project. Political science graduate degrees are also offered in specific fields, like the Master of Public Policy (MPP) and Master of Public Administration (MPA) programs.

Online Doctoral Degrees in Political Science

Online doctoral programs in political science are hard to find, but many universities offer an online Ph.D. in the related field of public administration. Most of the programs are 100% online and do not require any residency period or group works like face-to-face doctoral programs do. These programs can be completed in 2.5- 3.5 years, which can be much shorter than in-person programs. The programs can be either synchronous or asynchronous.

Online Certificates in Political Science

Some universities offer fully online graduate certificates in political science. Some of these concentrate on general political science while others might focus on specific areas like government and national security. These certificates can prepare you for careers in national security, policy analysis, and public services. These programs usually require a bachelor's degree for admissions. Most of these programs require around 18 credit hours for completion and can be completed in a few semesters.

The common concentrations found in bachelor's degrees in political science include American politics or law, public relations, public policy, comparative politics, and international politics. Some of these might be offered as an area of emphasis instead of specialization. Specialization gives an advanced and in-depth understanding of the subject of specialization and includes a set of courses. An emphasis also focuses on a specific area but unlike the specialization, it does not form an academic unit. Instead, it might reside within a concentration or the program and offers a less advanced understanding of the subject. Mostly courses in the political science emphasis areas or concentrations require 3 credits each.

Some colleges mandate a specific amount of credit hours in the section of upper-division courses to complete the program. A minimum 2.0 GPA might also be required by some programs for successful completion. Certain programs allow the transfer of credits from other coursework under the conditions set by the department or school. Common courses taught in a political science bachelor's degree include the following.

American Government

This type of course studies the structure of the American government on a national level and how it is organized. The course might focus on the role and power played by the government in creating and implementing national policies and the procedures followed for the same. It might also give a survey of the branches of the American government and their constitutional basis, and it could focus on concepts related to the government, like federalism.

Comparative Politics

A course on comparative politics compares governments, political systems, and institutions of foreign nations across the world. In this process, basic theories and concepts related to comparative politics are brought into the light. The course might look into the origin and evolution of these political systems and their strengths and challenges. An analysis of political ideologies and political cultures might be made. Globalization and economic development might become important topics in the course as well.

Political Science Methodology

A course on political science methodology gives you an advanced understanding of the methods and principles used to conduct political analysis. The scope of political analysis and research design are usually discussed in detail. These courses familiarize you with practices like measuring political events, designing a hypothesis and testing it, interpreting the analysis data, and exhibiting the data in the form of graphical representations and tables. You might gain a critical understanding of quantitative political research from the course.

Environment Policies

An environmental policies course focuses on the development of public policies and the significance in creating a sustainable environment. It might also talk about the negative impacts that policies made by the social, political, and cultural institutions have on the environment. The course might concentrate on the urban environment and deal with political and ecological scenarios. You should come away with an understanding of the importance of environmental conservation after studying this topic.

Global Political Issues

The challenges and issues faced by governments and political systems around the world are the primary focus of the course. It might give an understanding of the state of contemporary international politics. Advanced theories in global politics might be introduced and based on these, the current politics in different geographies will be evaluated. The course might delve into other related topics like gender issues, environmental issues, and economical issues.

Many institutions also offer free courses in political science.

It might take around four years to get an online bachelor's degree in political science. Each course might take around five to eight weeks for completion, but this can vary depending on the program. Internships or practicums are not usually a part of the degree, but some programs may offer these as options for interested students. So the total period of the programs is mostly taken up by coursework only. A few colleges might also offer introductory courses in addition to core courses and electives.

While there are no specific agencies that accredit political science programs, most schools with these programs are regionally accredited. A body that commonly accredits schools offering online political science degrees is the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The SACSCOC is a regional institution that grants accreditation for higher education schools offering degree programs in the southern states.

Choosing an accredited program and school matters because accreditation ensures the school meets high standards of academic quality. It is also beneficial because accredited programs qualify students to receive financial aid and scholarships which helps cut educational costs. But you must ensure that the accreditation agency is also valid and recognized.

The primary thing to ensure before choosing any program is that it is accredited by a recognized agency. Also, try to make sure that your career goals align with the program you choose. For example, if you want to enter into a career in public administration, an MPA degree would benefit you more than a general political science degree. You can also look for programs that offer concentrations in the fields that interest you. It is important to look into features of the online program like synchronous or asynchronous modes of learning to determine whether the program fits into your schedule and learning needs.

If you want to use your political science degree to become a political science teacher, you need to get educator certification from the department of education in the state you want to work. To become eligible for this certification, completion of a bachelor's degree and an educator preparation program as well as the passing of subject-specific tests approved by the respective state are mandatory.

Certification is not required to become a paralegal, but many employers may prefer this. Several agencies like the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA), the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), and the American Alliance of Paralegals (AAPI) offer certification. These certifications require passing an exam.

There are many careers for those with a degree in political science. Some of these options include the following:

• Political scientist
• Educator
• Law enforcement officer
• Lobbyist
• Paralegal
• Political analyst
• Political campaign manager

There are also a number of careers for those with a master's degrees in political science.

Salary Information for Careers in Political Science

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), political scientists earned an average of $120,260 in 2019. Those in other careers in political science earned the following average salaries in the same year: $102,290 (post-secondary political science teachers), $55,020 (paralegals and legal assistants), $62,740 (law enforcement workers). According to PayScale.com in 2020, a lobbyist made an average of $76,108 per year, and a campaign manager made $59,380 the same year.

How to Become a Political Analyst

A political analyst is a type of political scientist, and as such, they conduct an analysis of political issues related to the government like policies, election results, military influence, foreign relations, and national security. As a part of the job, they collect and analyze data, maintain reports, and conduct briefings and seminars related to various issues. A bachelor's degree in fields related to political science is necessary to become a political analyst. That being said, a master's degree in the same fields will give you an edge over other candidates.

How to Become a Political Campaign Manager

Political campaign managers are responsible for managing advertisements and campaigns set up by political organizations or the government. This includes identifying the goals of campaigns, planning for them, and monitoring their efficacy. Effective communication, planning, and collaboration skills are necessary for this role. To become a political campaign manager, a bachelor's degree and some internship experience will be required.

Online students can find financial aid through loans, scholarships, and grants by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, just like in-person students. Applying is completely free, and it automatically makes you eligible for financial aid programs at the national, state, and college levels. To apply, you need to submit your security ID number, driver's license, bank statements, information about your parents, tax returns, and W-2 forms. Applications are usually available in the fall semester, and you need to reapply for financial aid every year.

In addition to financial aid, schools also offer scholarships, and many are available in the political science field. The scholarship amounts and their requirements vary for each school. The following schools offer these scholarships for political science majors:

• The University of Central Florida - Greater Orlando Builders Association Foundation
• Arizona State University - Calvin M. Holman Political Science Scholarship
• Arizona State University - Herman R. Frazier Political Science Scholarship

The American Political Science Association (APSA) is an organization that connects political scientists, scholars, and teachers who want to learn more about democracy and governance. The organization has more than 11000 members from around 100 nations. The association is involved in the publication of research findings and other materials in political science, mediating discourses between members, and the spread of information and knowledge. The association offers separate memberships for individuals, political science departments, and institutions. Undergraduate and graduate students can earn an individual membership for $52 a year or $140 for three years.

The American Association of Political Consultants is the largest association of professionals from the fields of political science and public affairs. It has more than 1600 members from all over the world. The association offers membership to professionals working as professors, campaign managers, lobbyists, public affairs officers, and political consultants to name a few. Membership in the organization offers benefits like free webinars webinar archives, discounts for AAPC event registrations, and affinity programs. The association offers different levels of memberships; student memberships for undergraduate and graduate students cost $60. Memberships are valid for one year.