OK, bet you know where we’re going with this when we toss out the names John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Rutherford B. Hayes, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. Yes, all of these men graced the hallowed halls of Harvard for either undergraduate studies or to pursue a law or business degree.
Interestingly, Harvard does not possess a traditional political science department. Rather, such instruction falls under the Department of Government. Why set things up this way? (You know a school this prestigious must have a good reason.) According to the department’s FAQ page:
Government incorporates the combined knowledge and methodology of several disciplines – history, economics, philosophy, psychology, and sociology, among others – and applies them to the study of politics. The discipline has porous boundaries, and is therefore an extremely flexible concentration. It allows you to decide the direction of your studies according to your inclinations and interests: globalization, human rights, the U.S. Presidency, war and terrorism, area studies, political philosophy. Additionally, the study of Government will develop your writing and analytical abilities, and prepare you to be a cognizant and responsible citizen in our rapidly changing world.
Don’t worry, though. You’ll still leave well-versed on fundamentals such as American politics and political theory. But along the way, you may choose also to explore courses with intriguing titles such as “Is Democracy Possible Everywhere?” and “The Politics of Climate Change.”
Boston College offers 3 Political Science and Government, General degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2020, 179 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 172 Bachelor's degrees, 6 Master's degrees, and 1 Doctoral degree.
Tufts University offers 1 Political Science and Government, General degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2020, 82 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 82 Bachelor's degrees.
Northeastern University offers 3 Political Science and Government, General degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2020, 117 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 106 Bachelor's degrees, 9 Master's degrees, and 2 Doctoral degrees.
Boston University offers 3 Political Science and Government, General degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2020, 140 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 120 Bachelor's degrees, 16 Master's degrees, and 4 Doctoral degrees.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers 3 Political Science and Government, General degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2020, 24 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 14 Doctoral degrees, 7 Bachelor's degrees, and 3 Master's degrees.
Wellesley College offers 1 Political Science and Government, General degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2020, 48 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 48 Bachelor's degrees.
University of New Hampshire-Main Campus offers 2 Political Science and Government, General degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a small suburb. In 2020, 98 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 94 Bachelor's degrees, and 4 Master's degrees.
University of Massachusetts-Boston offers 1 Political Science and Government, General degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2020, 59 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 59 Bachelor's degrees.
Suffolk University offers 3 Political Science and Government, General degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2020, 82 Political Science and Government, General students graduated with students earning 73 Bachelor's degrees, and 9 Master's degrees.
School | Average Tuition | Student Teacher Ratio | Enrolled Students | |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
Harvard University Cambridge, MA | 17 : 1 | 30,391 | |
![]() |
Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA | 17 : 1 | 14,934 | |
![]() |
Tufts University Medford, MA | 15 : 1 | 12,219 | |
![]() |
Northeastern University Boston, MA | 16 : 1 | 22,905 | |
![]() |
Boston University Boston, MA | 18 : 1 | 32,718 |