Political science is the study of governments, power, decision-making, public policy and political behavior in local, national and international politics. A political science degree combines skills in oral and written communication, history, culture, statistics and quantitative analysis, and research literacy. This combination of skills makes political science majors highly competitive in a constantly changing job market.
Why political science at OSU
Our majors gain real-world knowledge of American or global politics and in-depth training in the research and analysis techniques used in academic, government and legal fields. Our highly-flexible degree allows students to personalize their electives or combine political science with an additional major or minor to help customize their training to fit their career goals.
Career Paths
Political science majors pursue a variety of careers in local, national and global politics. Our degree also prepares you for attending law school or pursuing a graduate degree in political science or related fields such as public policy, public administration or data science. Popular career paths for political scientists include:
Campaign Manager
Diplomat/Foreign Service Officer
FBI Agent
Intelligence Officer
Journalist
Lawyer
Legal Assistant
Lobbyist
Non-Profit/Community Organizer
Political or Financial Consultant
Public Policy Analyst
Teacher/Professor
Highlights
Political science students mix and match courses in American politics, comparative politics (the study of domestic politics in other countries), international relations (the study of relations between countries) and political research methodology. A few additional benefits of this degree program includes:
Students majoring in political science are encouraged to engage in active, experience-based learning. You can fulfill major course requirements with study abroad experiences, internships and/or research assistant work.
Our faculty includes experts specializing in American politics as well as regional experts on Asia, Latin America, Africa, Europe and Russia. Their expertise ranges from campaigns and lobbying to terrorism and war to law and judicial politics. They offer a variety of courses, including very popular classes in Money, Media, and Politics; Courts and Judicial Processes; Terrorism and Counterterrorism; and Russian and Eurasian Politics.
We are a major full of campus and community leaders. Political science majors are active in the Student Government Association, the President鈥檚 Leadership Council, Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature (O.I.L.), and many more groups. Their engagement and talent earn them recognition beyond the department. Our majors are frequently honored as CAS scholarships and award winners, OSU Seniors of Significance, and some have been selected as national recipients of the Truman and Udall Scholarships.
*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please
January 2025
College of Arts and Sciences
213 Life Sciences East,
Oklahoma State University,
STILLWATER,
Oklahoma,
74078, United States
High School GPA 3.0+ (based on a 4.0 scale) and English-language proficiency exam scores (one of the following): iBT TOEFL Internet-Based Score 61+; IELTS Academic Score 5.5+; PTE Academic Score 46+; iTEP Academic Score 3.5+, Duolingo English Test Score 95+.
Note: OSU will only accept the Duolingo English Test (DET) results from students beginning Fall 2024.
Application deadline: For applicants currently living in the U.S. - Fall: July 1, Spring: December 1 and Summer: May 1; For applicants not living in the U.S. - Fall: June 1, Spring: November 1 and Summer: March 1.
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.
Oklahoma State University (OSU) is a top public university offering over 300 undergraduate majors and options.
