Political science is a rich and particularly topical area of study which is closely linked to our everyday lives. Political decisions shape how we live together as a society, defining our freedom to act, our duties and our rights. Accordingly, to study political science is to investigate these concepts in depth, and ask questions such as: How do generally binding rules come into being, and how are they enforced? How do political systems and institutions operate? How can we explain political behavior? How are international relations shaped? Why does war and conflict occur, and how is it resolved?

This makes for a multifaceted and exciting study program. Students at the bachelor level will first develop a strong foundation in political science theories and methods, which are then built upon as they learn additional skills that equip them to analyze political structures and processes.

Political science at the University of Basel places a strong emphasis on international relations, as well as comparative studies between and within political systems. As students progress through the bachelor’s program, they also have the opportunity to specialize in one of these two areas. In combination with the module «Extension Political Science», the chosen specialization allows students to tailor their studies more individually and to develop clear thematic focuses. Other key areas of academic focus are democracy, political representation, inequality, climate policy, and peace and conflict studies.

The program’s specialized approach enables diverse teaching and research collaborations with other humanities and social sciences departments. The thematic focus complements and expands upon courses offered by other institutes and faculties. The geographical and cultural aspects of courses offered by the Center for African Studies, the Institute for European Global Studies and the departments of Middle Eastern Studies, Eastern European Studies and Literary Studies make them an ideal complement to the political science program.

The bachelor’s program offers a solid theoretical, methodological and thematic academic foundation. It comprises three core branches of political science: comparative politics, international relations, and political theory. Students will become familiar with different government systems and political actors, and will grapple with the factors that shape decision-making processes, as well as conflict and cooperation between political actors on the regional, national, and international level. The track modules – «Specialization in Comparative Politics» and «Specialization in International Relations» – as well as the module «Extension Political Science» allow students to tailor the course of their studies to suit their chosen specialty. In parallel, students acquire core academic skills, including scientific research techniques, the development of research designs, and the application of appropriate quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analysis. The interdisciplinary nature of the social sciences is also explicitly taken into account: through the module «Extension Social Sciences», the study of political science is complemented by related disciplines.

This program can only be started in the fall semester.