Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

Learn diverse theoretical and methodological approaches to studying international affairs, politics and important current issues with the Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at Temple University’s College of Liberal Arts. 

Through the 123-credit undergraduate curriculum, you’ll investigate American politics at the local, state and federal levels, as well as international relations and classical and modern political thought. Debate political theory and how power and resources should be allocated in society. Learn to write effectively, build excellent research skills and critically evaluate U.S. democracy while studying the following four distinct subfields of political science. 

  • American politics, which explores American elections, political institutions, public opinion and the media.
  • Comparative politics, which emphasizes political systems outside of the U.S., as well as mass political behavior across a broad range of contexts.
  • International relations, which investigates the interaction and conflict between governments around the globe.
  • Political theory, which evaluates individual behavior within a political system and brings clarity to key concepts of equality, democracy, freedom and justice.

Students in the Political Science BA program become capable, engaged and intelligent citizens through active, real-world participation in our governmental systems. Students can intern in Washington, D.C., or spend a semester participating in state politics in Harrisburg, the Pennsylvania state capital. Graduates are prepared for careers in advocacy and community organizations, government agencies, social services or unions among many others. They are also prepared to pursue graduate degrees in international affairs or law.  

Temple’s Political Science faculty are nationally recognized in their fields, and offer classes related to their current research and writing specialties. Some of these topics include

  • childhood and multigenerational poverty;
  • political psychology;
  • prekindergarten finance policy;
  • public assistance programs;
  • race, ethnicity and politics;
  • the politics of development aid;
  • threat perception in U.S. foreign policy; and
  • urban politics.
A College of Liberal Arts student raises her hand to ask a question in class.

Classes & Curriculum

Students explore each subfield of political science in a general sequence of study. Introductory classes include

  • Foreign Government and Politics
  • International Politics,
  • Introduction to Political Philosophy, and 
  • The American Political System.

After introductory classes are completed, coursework begins focusing on research and critical thinking skills. Students take Evidence and Knowledge, two research preparation classes and three upper-level electives. Two of the three electives can be satisfied with the completion of an internship.

The BA culminates with the writing intensive Capstone Seminar course, bridging student knowledge and analysis with the development of an individual research project.

Learn more about Political Science Major courses.

Related Graduate Degrees

Political Economy Undergraduate Certificate

Expand your political science education with an Undergraduate Certificate in Political Economy. You'll study how government actions and economic conditions shape public policy and society as a whole. This certificate is an excellent primer for graduate programs in economics, law, political science and public policy.

4+1 Master of Public Policy

Earn a BA in Political Science and a Master of Public Policy in five years. Apply for the program during your third or fourth year of undergraduate study and begin taking graduate coursework.

Learn more about accelerated programs in the College of Liberal Arts.

Tuition & Fees

In keeping with Temple’s commitment to access and affordability, the Bachelor of Arts offers a competitive level of tuition with multiple opportunities for financial support.

Tuition rates are set annually by the university and are affected by multiple factors, including program degree level (undergraduate or graduate), course load (full- or part-time), in-state or out-of-state residency, and more. You can view the full Cost of Attendance breakdown on the Student Financial Services website.

These tuition costs apply to the 2024–2025 academic year.

Pennsylvania resident: $18,864.00 per year
Out-of-state: $33,912.00 per year

LA-POLS-BA