Political Science, Minor
Are you intrigued by the political process? You can gain the background and context needed to understand where we have come from and how our system may evolve.
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Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Minor description
Political Science minor description
In the minor program in political science, you are introduced to foundational theories, practices and policies that shape local, national and international political systems. Coursework emphasizes research skills for analyzing complex sociopolitical issues across diverse contexts.
You explore topics in political theory, American institutions, and global affairs through a flexible, learner-centered curriculum. Faculty-guided projects connect political science to real-world policy concerns in areas such as urban politics, international relations and borderlands studies.
Why earn a political science minor at ASU?
Many other political science options focus mainly on government institutions and political theory. At ASU, this political science minor pairs those foundations with interdisciplinary study in human rights, social justice, migration, identity and borderlands issues.
You also complete coursework in research methods or statistics, so you build analytical skills alongside your understanding of political systems and public policy. You can shape focused study in areas such as social justice and inequality, law, citizenship and borders, or identity and place.
This program builds your research and analytical skills through methods and statistics coursework, preparing you to evaluate complex questions with confidence.
Courses
This undergraduate minor includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below:
2026-2027 Catalog Year
The minor requires 18 credit hours. A "C" minimum is required for all courses in the minor, although students must maintain a 3.00 GPA in the post-baccalaureate certificate program.
| Requirement | Minimum grade | Credit hours |
|---|---|---|
|
The minor in political science consists of 18 credit hours of coursework, of which 12 hours must be upper division. A minimum of six upper-division credit hours must be earned through courses offered by the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences. Credit hours may not be shared between major and minor requirements. All courses used to satisfy requirements for the minor must be completed with a grade of "C" (2.00 on a 4.00 scale) or better. |
||
|
6 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 6 |
|
SBS 302 Qualitative Methods
(SOBE)
or
SBS 303 Quantitative Methods
(QTRS)
or
SBS 304 Social Statistics I
(QTRS)
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
3 credit hours
Minimum
grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
Prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this minor.
|
Enrollment requirements
GPA Requirement: None
Incompatible Majors: BA or BS in political science
Other Enrollment Requirements: None
Current ASU undergraduate students may pursue a minor and have it recognized on their ASU transcript at graduation. Minor requirements appear on the degree audit once the minor is added. Certain major and minor combinations may be deemed inappropriate by the college or department of either the major program or the minor. Courses taken for the minor may not count toward both the major and minor.
Here are the admission and application details
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this political science minor prepares you for
Graduates have a strong foundation to pursue staff, manager or policy analyst positions in local, state and federal government. This minor is recognized as a qualification for many careers in business (for-profit and nonprofit) and industry. Work may include binational, cross-border positions linking U.S. and Mexican businesses, Arizona-Sonora local government, or local community groups on both sides of the border.
Many use the program as a gateway to law school or as a basis for graduate work in professional schools or in applied fields such as:
- community development
- political science
- public administration
- public policy
- social science disciplines
- urban affairs and urban and regional planning
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
|
FAB N101
sbsadvising@asu.edu
602-543-3000
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
