12 BEST ONLINE MASTER’S DEGREES IN POLITICAL SCIENCE

One of the most well-known institutions of higher learning in the world, Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university. The Harvard Extension School offers a Master of Liberal Arts in Extension Studies, Government degree online. The degree consists of 12 courses, and students can choose between a thesis or non-thesis option for their capstone experience. 

Courses in the program include International Conflict and Cooperation, Race, Film, and American Politics, and Saving Schools: History, Politics, and Policy in US Education. Admission does not require an application. Students take three courses, and if they pass the classes with a B or higher, then they are allowed to apply for official enrollment in the program. 

Located in Blacksburg, VA, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is a large public research university. Virginia Tech offers an online Master of Arts in Political Science boasting an incredible 1.7:1 faculty-to-student ratio. The impressive ratio enables online students to receive individualized study plans from some of the most widely known and respected scholars in the field. 

The program is broad-based and aims to ground students in the theories and research methods appropriate to the field. Classes in the program include Alternative Perspectives in Political Theory, Collaborative Governance and Civil Society, and Contemporary American Foreign Policy. Admission to Virginia Tech's MAPS requires a bachelor's degree with a 3.0 GPA and offers four different start dates throughout the year. 

A mid-sized public research university, the University of Nebraska at Omaha enrolls over 15,000 students annually. UNO offers a Master of Science in Political Science. The program is fully online and consists of 10 courses, and most classes are offered in an asynchronous format, which provides added flexibility. Online students take courses from the same professors who teach in the traditional program and have access to the same student services.

Classes in the program include Seminar in Constitutional Law, Seminar in Foreign Policy and National Security, and Seminar in American Government and Politics. While admission to the program does not require GRE scores, applicants must supply transcripts, two letters of recommendation, and a writing sample. In addition, all incoming international students must verify their proficiency in English. 

The University of Illinois at Springfield is a small public research university located in the state Capitol. UIS offers a Master of Arts in Political Science online. The university designed its MAPS program especially for working professionals, as its courses are provided entirely online and taught by the same tenure track faculty within the residential program. 

The program features four areas of emphasis, including Political Theory, American National and State Politics, Public Law, and Comparative Politics/International Relations. Students can choose between a thesis, a comprehensive exam, or a case study as their capstone experience. Overall, the degree consists of ten courses, and admission requires a bachelor's degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0. 

Located in Pensacola in the panhandle of Florida, the University of West Florida is a public university. The Ruben O'D. Askew Department of Government offers a Master of Arts in Political Science Online. While the MAPS consists of 11 courses, there are two areas of concentration available, which include a general concentration in Political Science or Security and Diplomacy. 

Courses are delivered synchronously, which means that students are required to attend live lectures online. Thesis and non-thesis options are available, as well. Core classes in the program include Seminar in Political Theory, The Study of Politics, and Seminar in American Politics. Admission requires a bachelor's degree with a 3.0 GPA or higher, a writing sample, as well as GRE scores. 

Located in Huntsville, TX, Sam Houston State University is a public university with an annual enrollment of over 21,000 students, and now offers a Master of Arts in Political Science online. The program is broadly designed for individuals who have just graduated or who are interested in gaining deeper knowledge in the field to further their career. The program offers a thesis and non-thesis option, and there are three different start dates. 

Courses in the program include American Politics, Comparative Politics, and International Relations. Students who opt for the thesis option take ten courses, while students who go the non-thesis route wind up taking 12 courses. Admission requires a bachelor's degree from an accredited school with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Students who have a lower GPA than the minimum can submit additional information like GRE scores, to be considered for admittance. 

Based in Charles Town, WV, American Public University is a for-profit, private institution. APU offers an online Master of Arts in Political Science covering key theoretical issues in comparative politics, governmental theory, and foreign and domestic policy. The degree consists of 36 credits and generally takes two years to complete. 

Classes are generally one month long in duration and include topics such as Diversity in American Politics, International Relations Theory, and the U.S. presidency, Congress, & Bureaucracy. There are five different concentrations available for students to choose from, including American Politics and Government, Public Policy, and Comparative Government and Development. 

A public university, Sul Ross State University is located in the small town of Alpine, in southwest Texas. The Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences offers a Master of Arts in Political Science. The program is designed to help interested individuals pursue either academic or professional careers. All MAPS courses in the program are delivered online, although interested individuals can attend campus lectures in the evening, as well. Individuals can choose between a thesis or a non-thesis option. Students can choose between a thesis and a non-thesis option.

Courses in the program include Local Government Administration, Scope and Methods in Social Science, and Public Budgeting and Finance. There is also a comprehensive examination requirement for all students Admissions requires a bachelor's degree with at least four classes in either political science or history. There is limited funding for graduate assistantships, and students are encouraged to be in contact with the Political Science Department regarding possible scholarship opportunities. 

Eastern Illinois University is a state university an annual enrollment of over 7,000 students. EIU offers a Master of Arts in Political Science, which includes an option in Public Administration and Public Policy. The program can be completed in two semesters, and one summer and students take a mixture of required courses and electives in Public Administration, Public Policy, and Political Science. 

Classes in the program include Ideologies of the Developing World, State Governments and Policy in the U.S. Federal System, and Contemporary Political Theory. The program also allows interested students to gain credit for internships and offers graduate assistantships to qualified students. Admission requires a bachelor's degree with at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA, a personal statement, and two letters of recommendation.

George Washington University is a private research institution residing within the United State's capital of Washington, D.C. GWU offers an Online Master's in Political Management through the Graduate School of Political Management. The program stresses a bipartisan approach to considering political issues and dynamics and seeks to cultivate students who can move the dialogue forward and unite cultural differences.

GWU's Political Management degree differs from others in political science because it stresses praxis over theory. The program's residence within the Capitol is also beneficial to students, as the program draws on active political practitioners with established faculty to provide quality education. Students take core classes like Applied Political Communications and Political Data and Analytics, as well as courses in areas like electoral politics, advocacy, and applied proficiencies. There is also a residency requirement during the last term.