With the rise of the internet in recent decades, getting an education online has become more and more popular. Today, there are many different universities that allow you to get certain degrees fully online. This can be a great option for you if you don’t want to have to move somewhere else to get to college, but still go to a school you want.
When it comes to political science, there are several different universities in the U.S that offer you the opportunity to get your degree in political science remotely. You can take your classes virtually and meet all of the requirements to receive a degree from that university.
The 7 Best Political Science Degrees Online are:
- University of Central Florida
- Texas Tech University
- Penn State
- Oregon State University
- University of Arizona
- Rutgers University
- Liberty University
If you are interested in hearing more information about how online degrees work, and what the best political science degrees available online are, then you should continue reading the information below.
Can I Study BA Political Science Online?
As it was mentioned earlier, many universities offer some degrees online, but not all of the degrees they offer on campus are also available online. This has led many people to wonder if political science is one degree that you can earn while studying online.
Luckily, the answer is yes. There are many universities throughout the U.S that offer political science as an online option for people interested in earning online degrees. You will need to check with the school you want to attend since not all schools offer the same online degrees.
If you are interested in studying political science remotely you will be glad to hear that this is one degree that is commonly offered online. Out of the hundreds of degrees offered by universities only a handful of them are currently available online. Most of the degree and certificate options that you will find at many universities are graduate programs and certificates.
Luckily for you political science is offered online as a Bachelor’s degree at many schools throughout the country.
What Can I Do with a Degree in Political Science?
Another thing that many people wonder is what they can do with a degree in political science. There are many people that don’t know what careers you can pursue with a Bachelor’s in political science, and there are many people that think you can only pursue a career in politics with this degree.
In reality there are many career paths that you can take with a degree in political science aside from going into politics or government work. Many political science majors go on to law school and become lawyers or pursue different kinds of postgraduate education to help them in their future careers.
Here are some of the many paths in life you can pursue with a political science degree:
- Study Law
- Go on to get an MBA in Business
- Become a Social Advocacy worker
- Become a teacher
- Work as a Lobbyist
- Become a Public Relations Specialist
- Study Journalism
The skills that you will learn as a political science major can easily translate to many professional careers. As a political science major you will develop research, writing, and critical thinking skills which can be applied to very broad careers.
Many people that receive a Bachelor’s in political science later enroll in MBA programs, or Ph.D. programs in education and public administration. These are just a few examples of some graduate programs that many people opt in for after graduating with a degree in political science.
The 7 Best Political Science Degrees Online
If you decide to enroll in an online Bachelor’s program in political science you will need to decide which program to enroll in. This can be pretty hard because of all of the options that are now available.
Although there are tens of schools that offer online degrees in political science, here is a list of the 7 best political science degrees that you can receive online.
These programs are not ranked in any specific order. They are simply considered to be some of the best online programs for political science. You will be surprised with some of the universities that are on this list. You will find that there are some pretty well known universities on the list.
With that being said, here is the list of the best political science degrees you can study online.
1. University of Central Florida
You might have heard of the University of Central Florida before for many reasons such as their basketball program or because they are in Orlando, Florida which attracts many students onto their campus. However, you might not have known that they also offer several online degrees including one in political science.
Their online Bachelor’s degree in political science focuses on building up your critical thinking and analytical skills. This course can be taken fully online as there are no on-campus requirements.
If you decide to enroll in this program, you will have the opportunity to choose between 3 different concentrations. They are:
- American politics and policy
- International relations comparative politics
- Pre-law.
These options allow you to focus your studies in political science into fields that you are more interested in, since political science can be pretty broad at times. As with any other Bachelor’s degree, students will need to complete a total of 120 credits in order to receive their online Bachelor’s degree.
Some of the courses that you will take if you decide to enroll in this program include: politics of the European Union, contemporary democratic theory, and the American Presidency. This is just a small peak at some of the courses you will be taking at UCF if you choose to pursue an online degree in political science.
The cost of tuition at UCF is about $13,000 per year. This is the same amount that you would pay if you were attending classes on campus. The main difference in the price would be the money you would save by not having to pay for room and board fees while being enrolled at UCF.
2. Texas Tech University
Another university with a great online degree program in political science is Texas Tech University. You might have heard about TTU previously, but didn’t want to move to Texas. If that is the case, then you should consider their online degree options such as their program for online degrees in political science.
While enrolled in TTU’s online political science program you will take courses focusing on foreign and domestic policy, as well as in Texas politics. Some of the courses you will take include: comparative politics, introduction to political analysis, and environmental politics and policy.
A big advantage of taking this online program is that if you are an out-of-state student you will pay nearly the same tuition rate as in-state students normally do. This means that you would save money by avoiding room and board costs and also save money from out of state tuition.
3. Penn State
Penn State is probably one of the most prestigious universities that have an online degree program in political science. Penn State is a renowned university in Pennsylvania which offers a very flexible online degree program in political science.
This program focuses on developing: research, writing, critical thinking, and analytical skills. As part of your enrollment in the program you will receive access to their online library, career counseling, and 24/7 technical support.
Some of the required courses for a political science major at Penn State include:
- Introduction to American national government
- Contemporary political ideologies
- Introduction to political research
You will pay the same amount of money as on campus learners. The tuition per year at Penn State comes out to be around $21,000. Although it is a lot of money, at least you won’t have to pay extra for room and board while getting your education from a top university in the country.
4. Oregon State University
Oregon State University is another university that offers a great online degree program for those looking to major in political science. They offer perhaps the most flexible online degree program which allows students to begin their coursework at four different start dates.
Some of the courses required for this program include:
- Constitutional law
- Current issues in rural policies
- Global food politics and policy
These courses are different from those required at other schools on this list which might make it more appealing to you.
Online students that enroll in this program will pay the same price regardless of where they live. If you choose to enroll in this program you can expect to pay around $18,000 a year on tuition.
5. University of Arizona
Up next is University of Arizona’s online degree program in political science. They offer some interesting options that differ from those already on this list which might make it more appealing to you.
A main difference between this program and the other programs already on this list is that they give you the opportunity to pursue a Bachelor’s in Science or a Bachelor’s in Arts.
If you choose to pursue a Bachelor’s in science you will focus your coursework more on science and statistics. Meanwhile, those that choose to pursue a Bachelor’s in arts will focus their coursework more on foreign language and culture. This really gives you an opportunity to shape your coursework to fit what you want to pursue in your career.
Some examples of the courses you will take in this program include:
- Political ideologies
- Empirical political inquiry
- American government and politics
You can expect to pay around $14,000 per year on tuition if you decide to enroll in this program.
6. Rutgers University
The online degree program in political science offered by Rutgers University offers students an opportunity to explore different topics within political science and develop skills necessary for success in a future career.
This program focuses on covering several practical and philosophical concepts that relate to government and politics. It also develops students skills in critical thinking, communication, and problem solving which are a key part of their future success in their careers.
The curriculum of this program covers three broad areas which are:
- American politics and institutions
- International politics
- Theoretical approaches to politics
Courses that are required by the curriculum include:
- The nature of politics
- Introduction to international relations
- Comparative politics
If you are interested in enrolling in this program you can expect to pay around $16,000 per year regardless of where you live.
7. Liberty University
Liberty University’s online program on political science is interesting because it allows for full time learners to finish their degree in about 3.5 years as opposed to the traditional 4. This might be something that makes you want to enroll in this program over some of the other ones on this list.
The courses are given by instructors fully online and function in 8 week terms. Some of the classes you will need to take if you choose to enroll in this program include: American foreign policy and international relations. Through the taking of these classes you will be able to develop your skills in communication and critical thinking.
Students that choose to enroll in this program go on to pursue careers as political analysts, legislative assistants, or campaign managers after their graduation from the program. Students enrolling in this program can expect to pay around $21,000 for tuition every year since it is a private university.
Final thoughts on getting an Online Degree in Political Science
As times have changed, it has become more and more acceptable to participate in online degree programs. As you may realize, the universities on this list are known around the country as some of the best universities in the country. Although at this time you can’t get an online degree in political science from an ivy league school, there are some pretty good options listed above.
Any of the programs listed above are some great options. You will need to make some tough decisions to decide which program to enroll in if you do decide to pursue an online degree in political science. Each program has certain things to offer that make them great options for you. Regardless of which one of the programs above you choose to enroll in, you will be setting yourself up for future success by taking advantage of all of the resources these programs offer.
