What Is Political Science?

04/14/2026

Understanding Government, Power, and Public Policy

Governments make decisions that shape public policy, political parties influence national priorities, and international organizations affect global affairs. Political science examines how these processes work.

Political science is a social science focused on studying government, political systems, public policy, and political behavior. It explores how power is distributed, how political institutions function, and how political processes affect daily life. Whether examining American politics, international relations, or political theory, this field seeks to understand how societies organize authority and respond to critical issues.

Political Science Explained

In simple terms, political science is the study of politics and government. The term political science refers to the systematic examination of how power operates within and between countries.

Political scientists study:

• How governments function
• How laws and public policy are created
• How political parties and special interest groups influence decisions
• How public opinion shapes election results
• How countries interact at international levels

Political science examines political phenomena such as civil rights movements, political campaigns, economic development strategies, and international politics. It blends philosophical questions about justice and human nature with empirical research methods and data analysis.

Overall, political science helps individuals develop a broad understanding of political life at local, national, and global levels.

Political Science as a Social Science Discipline

Political science is the study of power, governance, and decision-making within societies. As a social science, it draws from economics, sociology, history, and law to analyze political dynamics.

The American Political Science Association, founded in 1903, helped formalize the discipline in the United States. Over time, political science evolved from political philosophy into a research-driven academic field that emphasizes both theory and empirical analysis.

Today, political science research uses a wide range of methods, including qualitative interviews, surveys, policy analysis, and statistical data analysis. Political scientists examine how political institutions function and how political movements shape societies across different regions of the world.

The Major Subfields of Political Science

Political science is typically organized into four major subfields, each examining a different dimension of political systems and power. Together, these areas provide a comprehensive framework for understanding governance at local, national, and global levels.

Political Theory

Political theory explores foundational ideas about justice, equality, authority, and freedom. Political theorists analyze historical texts and modern arguments to better understand how societies should organize power.

Normative theories focus on how politics ought to operate, while empirical approaches examine how political systems actually function.

American Politics

American politics examines the federal government, constitutional law, political behavior, election results, and public policy within the United States. This subfield explores political parties, special interest groups, and public opinion in shaping political processes.

Comparative Politics

Comparative politics studies and compares political systems across different countries. Scholars analyze how institutions, cultures, and economic conditions influence political outcomes.

Comparative politics and international relations are often studied together because understanding domestic political systems helps explain how countries interact globally.

International Relations

International relations focuses on interactions among countries, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations. Topics include diplomacy, security, international law, trade, and global governance.

Political scientists in this subfield study how global political systems operate and how regions of the world influence one another.

Why Study Political Science?

Those who choose to study political science often develop strong critical thinking, research abilities, and analytical reasoning.

A political science degree may help you:

• Analyze political behavior and political movements
• Evaluate public policy and political action
• Conduct policy analysis and research
• Understand economic development and political economy
• Interpret data from surveys and public opinion studies

Undergraduate political science programs typically explore theories of government, economic systems, and civil society’s relationship to contemporary political institutions. Coursework often emphasizes critical thinking, research, and communication skills and may culminate in the completion of an academic research project or portfolio.

At the graduate level, master’s programs in political science provide advanced study in areas such as comparative politics, international relations, public policy, and American government.

What Do Political Science Majors Do?

Political science majors explore a wide range of topics related to government and politics. Coursework in political science courses may include:

• Study government institutions
• Public administration
• Public health policy
• International politics
• Political economy
• Legislative behavior
• Comparative government

Learners may also analyze political campaigns, election results, and political dynamics across countries. Research assignments often involve collecting data, evaluating sources, and writing analytical papers.

Since political science bridges theory and practice, you may learn how to apply research to real-world questions involving public policy and governance.

Skills Developed with a Political Science Degree

A degree in political science emphasizes transferable skills that may support various career opportunities.

Common skills include:

• Critical thinking
• Data analysis
• Policy analysis
• Research design
• Written and oral communication
• Analytical skills
• Understanding political processes

Political science majors also gain experience interpreting complex information and evaluating competing perspectives. These abilities can be valuable in government, nonprofit organizations, journalism, market research, and the private sector.

Typical Career Opportunities in Political Science

Political science may prepare graduates for a range of professional paths across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Career outcomes vary based on education level, specialization, and individual interests.

Political science graduates may pursue careers in:

• Government agencies
• Public administration
• Law
• Journalism
• Market research
• Non-governmental organizations
• Advocacy groups
• International organizations

Some graduates pursue advanced study in political science or related disciplines, particularly if they are interested in research or teaching roles. Others apply their knowledge and analytical skills directly in professional settings across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Research and Analysis in Political Science

Research is central to political science. Political scientists study political phenomena through surveys, interviews, archival research, and quantitative analysis.

They may examine:

• Voting patterns
• Political campaigns
• Policy outcomes
• Public opinion trends
• International conflicts
• Legislative behavior

By analyzing data and historical patterns, political scientists contribute to informed discussions about governance and policy. Research in political science may contribute to discussions about governance and public policy.

Is Political Science Right for You?

If you’re curious about how government operates, how public policy shapes society, or how countries interact globally, studying political science may align with your interests.

This discipline encourages you to:

• Ask critical questions about power and authority
• Evaluate competing viewpoints
• Conduct independent research
• Understand political systems across the world

A political science degree does not guarantee a specific job title. However, it may prepare those with a broad understanding of political life and the research skills necessary to pursue careers in a variety of fields.

Explore a Future in Political Science

Political science is more than the study of politics. It is the systematic exploration of how governments operate, how public policy is formed, and how political behavior shapes societies at local, national, and international levels. As a social science, it provides tools for examining political institutions, political processes, and the distribution of power across different regions of the world.

Through major subfields such as political theory, comparative politics, international relations, and American politics, individuals may develop a broad understanding of how political systems function and how critical issues (such as civil rights, economic development, and global security) affect communities worldwide. Along the way, political science majors strengthen critical thinking, research skills, and analytical skills that can be applied in many professional settings.

If you are interested in studying government, analyzing public policy, or understanding international politics, a degree in political science may offer a structured and thoughtful way to explore these interests.