The Undergraduate Political Science Programme at Sciences Po in France

The Bachelor’s programme in Humanities and Social Sciences at Sciences Po, located in Paris, offers a degree in political science, one of the six core disciplines of this three-year Undergraduate programme.

Delivered across the institution’s seven campuses, this post-secondary programme takes a multidisciplinary approach, focusing on the analysis of political organisation, power dynamics, and the state from both national and international perspectives. The aim is to offer an in-depth exploration of political science alongside other areas such as:

• Economics
• Sociology
• History
• Political humanities
• Law

Over the course of the three-year Undergraduate studies, students build a strong foundation of knowledge across these varied fields. This programme is part of France’s higher education landscape, providing an academic framework to study contemporary political and social issues.

Political science: a core discipline at Undergraduate level at Sciences Po

The Bachelor's programme at Sciences Po in France offers a rigorous academic foundation in political science, beginning with a comprehensive course on political institutions in the first year. This course aims to provide students with essential knowledge about how political power is organised both in France and internationally. In the second semester, students take an introduction to political science, which covers the fields of comparative politics, international relations, and political theory. This course addresses key issues in the contemporary world, such as terrorism, globalisation, populism, digitalisation, and war.

By exploring various concepts and analytical models, students gain an informed perspective on political systems, political parties, and regimes, as well as power relations and coexistence from a comparative standpoint. They learn to connect theory with practice, cultivate critical thinking, and develop argumentative skills within the context of contemporary debates. Through both qualitative and quantitative methods, students become familiar with the tools necessary for in-depth analysis of political documents and conducting comparative research.

Here are some examples of political science courses offered in the core curriculum of the Bachelor’s degree:

• Political Institutions
• Introduction to Political Science
• History of Political Thought: From Socrates to Arendt
• Public Governance and International Economic Development
• Religion, Politics, Society
• Understanding the European Union: From Historical Foundations to Current Issues

Learn more about the core discipline of political science at the Undergraduate level at Sciences Po in France.

In-depth study of political science at Undergraduate level: majors in the Sciences Po Bachelor's programme in France

In the second year of the Bachelor's degree at Sciences Po, students deepen their knowledge of political science through different perspectives depending on the chosen major. The Political Science and Government major encourages students to explore the methods of public action and decision-making, the role of states and institutions, and the specifics of political life at local, national, European, regional, and international levels, through both historical and comparative approaches. Students who choose the Political Humanities major acquire a political culture rooted in the humanities, with a significant focus on political philosophy and history. Lastly, the Economics and Societies major emphasises the analysis of economic and social phenomena to better understand their political implications and the construction of public policy.

A wide variety of course formats enrich this learning at Undergraduate level, including lectures, seminars, methodological workshops, field research, simulations, mapping, quantitative methods, discourse analysis, writing, rhetoric, and more. These formats aim to enhance students' critical thinking, research skills, and analytical abilities.

Additionally, all second-year students take a course in international relations called “Global Space”, where major political issues are considered on a global scale. Topics such as war and security, global inequalities, and environmental challenges are explored in the context of international relations, global governance, and contemporary political developments.

Here are some examples of political science courses offered in this Undergraduate programme:

• Comparative Politics
• Political History of the 19th Century
• Politics and Techniques of NGOs
• Political Institutions
• Political Philosophy
• Democracy and Spatial Justice
• Public Security Policies in France: Actors, Missions, and Challenges
• Approaching Migrations through Fieldwork: Introduction to Action-Research in Migration Policies
• Political Geographies of the European Union
• Sociology of Political Mobilisations in Law
• History of Educational Policies since the French Revolution
• Introduction to Quantitative Methods
• Public Policy and Social Movements
• International Political Economy
• Political Campaigns and Electoral Systems
• Law and Politics

Learn more about the majors offered in the Bachelor's programme at Sciences Po.

Study of Political Science at Undergraduate Level in an International Context through Geographic Minors

In addition to studying political issues specific to France, the political institutions and mechanisms of the European Union are addressed across all campuses. Political science courses within the Undergraduate programme also allow students to study the political systems of other regions of the world from a comparative perspective and to understand the functioning of global governance institutions.

At regional campuses, Undergraduate students acquire specialisation in a specific geographic area through courses offered in the geographic minors of the bachelor’s degree programme.

These courses may cover topics such as political institutions, geopolitics, diplomacy, as well as the economic and social policies specific to the regions being studied within the Undergraduate studies framework.

The geographic minors are determined by the campus selected by the student in the bachelor's programme:

• Dijon Campus: Central and Eastern Europe
• Le Havre Campus: Asia-Pacific
• Menton Campus: Mediterranean and Middle East
• Nancy Campus: Franco-German partnership
• Poitiers Campus: Latin America and the Caribbean
• Reims Campus: North America and Africa

Here are some examples of political science courses related to the geographic minors of the campuses within the Undergraduate programme:

• Asia in International Relations in the 20th Century
• Empire, Borders, and Nations in Russian and Soviet History
• European Defence: Myth or Reality?
• Latin American Politics
• Africa in Current International Reconfigurations
• The Role of the Supreme Court in American Politics

Learn more about regional minors in the Sciences Po Bachelor’s programme in Paris and across its campuses in France.

International exchange programmes in political science from France

There are numerous opportunities for international exchange programmes in the field of political science. In the third year of the Bachelor’s degree programme, all students participate in an international exchange, choosing between a full academic year at a partner university of Sciences Po or a mixed programme, which includes one semester of study and one semester of internship.

These exchange programmes allow students in the Undergraduate programme at Sciences Po in France to deepen their understanding of political theories and systems by broadening their perspective. Through this, they gain an international outlook on contemporary political issues and develop intercultural skills.

Sciences Po, based in Paris and across its campuses in France, has established partnerships with several prestigious universities and institutions specialising in political science around the world. Students can choose from a variety of political science faculties during their Undergraduate exchange, including institutions such as Harvard, the London School of Economics, Columbia, Princeton University, Bocconi, Georgetown University, and the National University of Singapore.

For those students wishing to undertake an internship abroad, numerous opportunities are available within international organisations, NGOs, or diplomatic networks, providing students with a practical immersion in public affairs as part of their bachelor’s studies.

Learn more about the third year abroad at Sciences Po.

Civic learning programme of the Sciences Po Bachelor: implementing political science knowledge

The civic learning programme is an essential component of the Undergraduate programme at Sciences Po, offering students an opportunity to put into practice the knowledge they have gained, particularly in political science. This pathway encourages active involvement in projects of public interest that aim to address social, political, or environmental issues, while fostering a sense of civic responsibility.

The civic learning programme provides Undergraduate students with a concrete opportunity to understand political, social, and economic dynamics through hands-on involvement in field projects. A student interested in public policy might, for instance, take part in community-based initiatives addressing local social issues, such as poverty or access to education, while applying their knowledge of policy formulation and evaluation.

Furthermore, the civic learning programme encourages students to engage in social mobilisation and awareness-raising activities, where they can apply their skills in negotiation and persuasion to promote political and social change. This might involve participating in initiatives aimed at combating discrimination and promoting equality.

Below are some examples of public organisations or those linked to political institutions where students have contributed as part of their civic learning programme. These experiences allowed them to confront their political science knowledge with real-world practice:

• Médecins du Monde (access to healthcare for the homeless)
• Amnesty International (education on human rights)
• "Femmes pour le Dire, Femmes pour Agir" (promoting the role of disabled women in society)
• Maison de l’Estuaire de la Seine (protecting a fragile ecosystem)
• Secours Catholique (solidarity for the most vulnerable)
• CHRU de Nancy (support for the elderly)

Learn more about the civic learning programme required for Undergraduate degree completion in France and how it integrates with political science studies.

Graduate studies in political science at Sciences Po in Paris: developing specific expertise for a professional career in public affairs

Upon completing their Bachelor’s degree at Sciences Po, many students choose to pursue master’s programmes specialising in various areas of political science. From the School of Public Affairs to the School of International Affairs, a range of master's degrees are offered to students seeking to prepare for careers in public institutions and international organisations based in Paris, France.