Political science

The department offers an unusually broad curriculum covering the United States, Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America and topics such as international politics, domestic, and international political economy, executive and legislative politics, and constitutional law.

Opportunities. Students study with nationally visible faculty, have the opportunity to become involved in significant research projects, and are eligible for summer or term internships in Washington, D.C. The Supreme Court Seminar is a signature program at SMU where students conduct in-person research in the Library of Congress – the only undergraduate seminar in the country that offers this opportunity. Led by expert faculty, the six-week SMU-in-Japan summer program is a study abroad partnership between SMU and Kwansei Gakuin University, providing an immersive experience that focuses on Japanese domestic politics, East Asian international relations and economics. In addition, political science majors can take advantage of internships for credit.

Community and conversation. The Tower Center Student Forum is a community for students of any major and any year who care about politics, public policy and global affairs. Members meet regularly to discuss timely political issues in an open, respectful environment. You will also receive exclusive invitations to Tower Center events, opportunities to engage directly with guest speakers, and access to networking opportunities with students, faculty and professionals working in policy, government and international affairs.

Networking! The thriving Tower Center Alumni and Associates Board contributes toward current undergraduate student development through mentorship and funding to sustain and enhance the Tower Center’s primary mission: to promote the study of politics and international affairs and to stimulate an interest in ethical public service among undergraduates.

The political science curriculum addresses political ideas, institutions and processes in such regional settings as Asia, Europe, Latin America and the United States and in such problem settings as international relations, economic and social policies, and constitutional and public law. The department offers undergraduate courses in four subfields: American government and politics, comparative politics, political theory and international relations. In addition, the law and legal reasoning minor provides students with the knowledge of substantive law along with skills in legal analysis and reasoning, oral advocacy, research and writing.

Political organizations, lobbying firms and labor unions rely on political scientists’ knowledge to manage complex regulations. Political scientists are needed at research and policy institutes to focus on politics and political theory. Organizations that research or advocate for specific causes, such as healthcare or the environment, need political scientists to analyze policies relating to their field (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for political scientists was $139,380 in May 2024.

Yes, the Department of Political Science offers academic credit for internships in government, political parties, interest groups and related organizations, allowing political science majors to integrate practical work with academic study. Over the past 25 years, the Tower Center has awarded undergraduate students with over 120 awards of internship funding and research fellowships in support of their mission to promote the study of public policy and international affairs prepare future leaders to make a positive global impact.

When SMU students look for internships and jobs, they are doing so in a city that sets them up for success. The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex offers:

• 20-plus Fortune 500 companies in the region
• A city for tech professionals (CompTIA) 
• One of the Best Places to Start a Career (WalletHub 2025)
• 64,000-plus alumni in Dallas-Fort Worth

Many students go on to study law. The National Juris Best Law Schools for law firm employment ranks SMU Dedman Law No. 12 (tied with NYU, UC Berkeley, UCLA and the University of Chicago).

Studies in political science combine well with courses and majors in economics, journalism, business, foreign languages and many other areas.