What is Political Science?: Course Fees 2025, Subjects, Top Colleges, Admissions

Political science is one of the most adaptable social science degrees, with numerous employment options available to graduates. Political science studies assist students to develop vital abilities in writing, communication, and research.

A political science course teaches students about the inner workings of the government, both state and federal, as well as other agencies, and how to utilise this information for the benefit of the country. Most colleges, universities, and institutions require that applicants must have passed their 10+2 from a recognised board with at least 60% marks for undergraduate course.

Sure, here are some popular Political Science book options from well-known writers, you can consider reading:

• Arthashastra By Kautilya.
• Our Living Constitution: A Concise Introduction & Commentary by Shashi Tharoor.
• The Room on the Roof: An award-winning novel by Ruskin Bond.
• The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.
• The Constitution of India in Hindi | Bharat ka Samvidhan by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
• Savarkar: Echoes from a Forgotten Past by Vikram Sampath.
• THE NEW WORLD DISORDER AND THE INDIAN IMPERATIVE by Shashi Tharoor and Samir Saran.

A Political Science course will give you a deep perspective on how Indian and world politics work. You'll gain an understanding of government and political behavior from a different perspective. It'll help you explore their structures, processes, ideologies, and more.
Not only this, you'll also learn about international relations, public policy, liberalism, conservatism, socialism, and so much more.

In school, we study the Political Science subject at a basic level, understanding the working of the Indian government. However, in higher education, such as a BA or MA in Political Science, we also study Indian as well as world politics. Alongside, we also study subjects like,

• Political Theory, which explores the basic political ideas and philosophies.
• Comparative Politics, which determines different political systems and their functioning.
• International Relations, which are focused on the interactions between countries and global issues. 

Journalist, IAS/IPS/IRS Officer, Political Analyst, Legislative Assistant, Lawyer, etc., are some common Political Science jobs that students usually go for. After a Political Science course, they have options to explore work fields like civil services, Law, journalism, education, and the ministry.

Till Class 10, we studied every subject on the base level, but from Class 11, the streams are segregated and allotted to students to level up their education. If you opt for Humanities in Class 11, and you have a Political Science subject, there might be chances that you'll gain a deeper knowledge of the subject and explore new sub-topics.
That's the reason why most students find Class 11 subjects relatively tougher.

Yes, you'll find Political science projects in the BA course. These projects are generally research-based or fieldwork. You'll be required to complete a dissertation on a specific topic, for example, conducting a poll survey. These projects are added in the final year's marking. All the best.

It depends on the course books your educational board considers. For example, the NCERT Political Science Class 12 book name is Contemporary World Politics, having chapters like,

• Chapter 1 - The Cold War Era
• Chapter 2 - The End of Bipolarity
• Chapter 3 - US Hegemony in World Politics
• Chapter 4 - Alternative Centres of Power
• Chapter 5 - Contemporary South Asia
• Chapter 6 - International Organisations
• Chapter 7 - Security in the Contemporary World
• Chapter 8 - Environment and Natural Resources
• Chapter 9 - Globalisation

The eligibility criteria for political Science courses vary depending on the level of the courses are as follows 

UG (Undergraduate)- Candidates must have passed 10+2 or an equivalent examination with a minimum of 50% marks. Some colleges may require a minimum of 60% marks.

PG (Postgraduate)- Candidates must have a bachelor's degree from a recognised university with a minimum of 50% marks.

PhD (Doctoral)-  Candidates must have a master's degree with a minimum of 50% marks.

Yes, why not you can study political Science without having a background in it, There are no specific eligibility criteria for the course but it depends on the type and the level of course you are pursuing. 

Political Scientist spends their time studying, interpreting, and developing hypotheses on pertinent topics. Political Science course is one of the most opted courses around the globe. The subject can be pursued from a number of government and private colleges at the below-mentioned fees:

Yes, you typically need to clear an entrance exam to pursue a political Science course, Some entrance exams for political Science courses include CUET, IPUCET, PUBDET, CUET PG, and UGC NET. Some institutions offer merit-based admissions to students to get into political Science courses. For more clarity, you should check out the respective websites of the institutions. 

If you have a genuine interest in politics and its works, political science will be highly interesting to study. The study of political science is not as hard as the basics are taught in school. In bachelor courses, candidates learn a wider version of what is taught in school. Political science can be challenging, but it can also be rewarding. The difficulty of studying political science is determined by a variety of factors, including your own interests, talents, and the exact programme in which you are enrolled. Read More: UGC NET Political Science Syllabus

There are several reasons why many candidates prefer to pursue Political Science courses:

• The study of political Science aids students in developing important research, writing, and communication skills.  
• You'll learn about the foundations of political theories, and how to put your opinions in front of people.
• Political Science degree develops skills like communication, research, organization, empathy, and leadership.
• Political Science Courses can prepare you for good institutions and law colleges as well.
• Political Science can be a good optional subject for government jobs (like UPSC, and UPPSC)

The Political Science course is available in various modes of education. Students can choose the mode based on their accessibility and preferences. Here are some types of Political Science courses classified based on their mode of education, along with a brief description:

Note: The information is taken from external sources and may vary.

Studying Political Science enables one to deepen his/her understanding of policies and laws of the land. Apart from the fact that a Political Science degree holder has a lot of opportunities in terms of employment, they can also pursue a bright career if they opt for higher studies. The study of the state, government, and politics is known as political science. It is a large and interdisciplinary field that includes themes such as political philosophy, public policy, international relations, and comparative governance.

Political Science has many branches and sub-branches; majorly it includes topics like state politics, political economy, comparative politics, political philosophy and international relations. As political science is such a large and interdisciplinary study, it covers a wide range of issues. However, some of the major issues covered by political science are as follows:

• Political theory is the study of the fundamental principles of politics, such as power, authority, and legitimacy. It also investigates other forms of government, such as democracy, monarchy, and republic.
• Public policy is the study of the process of developing and executing government policies. It also investigates the various forces that influence public policy, including public opinion, interest organisations, and the media.

Political Theory is the comprehensive study of concepts, politics and historical views of political thought. It has historical, contemporary and philosophical facets. Therefore, it is also known as Political Philosophy. It assesses the ideas and values of groups, states, power and individuals. It also studies the relationship between them all. Plato is regarded as the father of political theory.

You can go through the following Political Science books which are highly rated in the nation:

The best college for each individual may vary depending on their interests, preferences and convenience of location. However, I can suggest a few goog colleges based on ranking trends of previous years.Followings are the top colleges that offer degree courses in Political Science:

Political Scientist spends their time studying, interpreting, and developing hypotheses on pertinent topics. Political Science course is one of the most opted courses around the globe. Please note that the fees may vary depending on the college policies. The subject can be pursued from a number of government and private colleges at the below-mentioned fees:

 Following are the top colleges that offer degree courses in political science:

The demand for Political Science experts is high in multiple fields. They can go on to pursue careers in journalism, education, law, communications, government, business, politics, etc. Political science is a broad discipline that can lead to a wide range of jobs. Political science graduates are well-suited for government positions. They have a thorough awareness of how government works and can think critically about political matters.

Political Science graduates can find work in different government offices and in private sector organisations as well. Civil services, legal, marketing, journalism, academia, strategy, analysis, and other fields place a premium on political Science careers. Students can also pursue higher studies as it brightens their chances of getting jobs.

Demand for Political Science experts is high in multiple fields. They can go on to pursue careers in journalism,  education,  law,  communications, government, business, politics, etc.

• Political Science is a broad discipline that can lead to a wide range of jobs. Here are some of the most prevalent occupations for Political Science graduates:
• Political Science graduates are well-suited for government positions. They have a thorough awareness of how government works and can think critically about political matters.

Political Science is a discipline under Humanities and Social Sciences. It is not a natural science subject like Physics, Chemistry and Biology. But Political Science is considered to be scientific because of its approach and scope.

The similarities between Science and Political Science are as follows:

•       Both these subjects are concerned with the environment of human beings.
•       Both involve testing, analysis and research.
•       Political Science is more tilted towards a scientific approach than a humanistic approach.
•       Both require reasoning, explanation and interpretation.

Political science is one of the most adaptable social science degrees, with numerous employment options available to graduates. Political science studies assist students to develop vital abilities in writing, communication, and research.

A political science course teaches students about the inner workings of the government, both state and federal, as well as other agencies, and how to utilise this information for the benefit of the country. Most colleges, universities, and institutions require that applicants must have passed their 10+2 from a recognised board with at least 60% marks for undergraduate course.

India has the world’s largest democracy according to the UN. There are countless numbers of political parties, be it national or state-wise. Other than political parties, government services and various agencies require many hands on deck. There are various job opportunities for people who have pursued a course in political science or even have a master’s degree as well. The career opportunities are endless in the field of political science.

. You can go through the following books which are highly rated in the nation:

A Political Science degree holds immense value. Some advantages of pursuing a Political Science degree are:

1. Political Science courses at the undergraduate level train students in social-scientific methodologies and analytical skills development. 

2. A Political Science degree helps students develop skills like communication, research, organization, empathy, and leadership.

3. PhD Political Science students have the opportunity and ability to evaluate political documents, carry out original research on topics of interest, and even publish their findings.

4. Political parties require political Science graduates because of their deep knowledge of the field.

5. Political Science courses can help students who wish to enroll in law colleges. Students of Political Science can also choose to work in Government institutions.

6. Political Science can be a good optional subject for government job examinations like UPSC, SSC, and SPSC. 

There are many reasons why you may choose to pursue Political Science courses. Some skills that you will develop with Political Science courses have been listed below: 

1. A Political Science course gives you a chance to understand the world, how the world operates, and how citizens interact with their governments.

2. The study of political Science aids students in developing important research, writing, and communication skills. 

3. A political Science course educates students about the basic laws and citizen rights in our country. You will learn about your rights as a citizen of India.

4. You'll learn about the foundations of political theories and how to put forth your arguments and opinions in front of people in a well-structured and comprehensive manner.

A Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Political Science can lead to a variety of employment options. Some of the most prevalent employment paths for political science graduates are as follows: After pursuing your Bachelor’s in Political Science, you can either continue your studies and go in for your Master’s and specialize in a course, or you can apply for jobs around. However, in the field of political science, having a master’s degree is more rewarding than being with just a Bachelor’s degree. Read More: Bachelor of Arts Course Details

Political Science is a discipline under the Humanities and Social Sciences. It is not a natural Science subject like Physics, Chemistry and Biology. But Political Science is considered to be scientific because of its approach and scope.

The similarities between Science and Political Science are as follows:

•       Both these subjects are concerned with the environment of human beings.
•       Both involve testing, analysis and research.
•       Political Science is more tilted towards a scientific approach than a humanistic approach.
•       Both require reasoning, explanation and interpretation.