Undergraduate
The department is home to two undergraduate majors—the B.A. in political science and the B.A. in international studies—as well as minors in these two programs and the minor in leadership studies.
When you study political science, you gain insight into the way government works and the influence of the law in all aspects of society. You’ll learn to think critically, encounter new opinions and communicate your ideas with a solid foundation of facts and analysis.
The Department of Political Science at USC offers general or intensive courses of study in political science, international studies, public administration and leadership. Specific programs, such as comparative politics, provide opportunities for deeper inquiry.
The department is home to two undergraduate majors—the B.A. in political science and the B.A. in international studies—as well as minors in these two programs and the minor in leadership studies.
The department offers three advanced degrees: a Ph.D. in political science, an M.A. in international studies (M.A.I.S.), and an M.A. in public administration (M.P.A.).
Students in both the graduate and undergraduate programs may conduct research with faculty members with extensive experience in numerous fields of inquiry.
Political science students explore government, public policy and political behavior through a variety of perspectives, building skills for careers in law, government, public service and more.
Our doctoral program is designed for students interested in obtaining faculty positions at research and teaching institutions. Our Ph.D. students have gained placements in leadership roles at institutions including the National Science Foundation and Arizona State University as well as faculty at schools such as Michigan State University, the University of North Texas, Georgia State University and Roanoke College.
The Master of Public Administration program trains students to work in various levels of government and non-profits along with public service positions in for-profit organizations. The Master in International Studies (M.A.I.S.) degree provides training in data analysis and research design in the fields of comparative politics and international relations.