Overview

The Political Studies program at Bard College intends to inform responsible participation in American and global public affairs. It also prepares students for work and/or further study in political science, international affairs, public policy, law, cultural studies, and related fields.

Quick Facts:

Politics can be understood in many ways: as a struggle for power over other people, groups, and nations; as a social process that determines who has what kinds of authority and how this affects particular communities; as a series of conversations or disputations about what counts as a “public problem” and how to address public problems; or as an art or science of institutional design, especially the design of governments and international institutions.
However it is defined, politics matters. Political outcomes shape the choices we can make as individuals and the fates of communities, nations, and states.
At Bard, six broad clusters of political studies are identified: political theory, American politics, comparative politics, political economy, public law, and international relations. The clusters overlap with one another and other fields. Students are encouraged to combine courses in political studies with relevant courses in related disciplines, such as history, economics, and sociology.

Recent Senior Projects in Political Studies

“Donald Trump and the Spectacle of the Modern American Presidency”
“A Phenomenology of Homelessness: Hannah Arendt in Conversation with the Syrian Refugee Crisis”
“Securing a Seat at the Table des Grands: French Identity and the Application of Identity Management Strategies in Postwar France”
“The State and Domestic Violence: The Limitations of India’s Dowry Prohibition Laws”

Programme Structure

Courses included:

International Relations
Comparative Politics
Political Economy
Political Theory
American Politics
Engaged Citizenship: Civic Engagement, Locally, Nationally and Globally

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-09-01 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-03-01 00:00:00 , International
- Apply before 2027-01-15 00:00:00 , National

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

120

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TOEFL^® IBT

100

Schedule TOEFL®

IELTS

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Credits

128 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

New York City, United States

Disciplines

International Relations Public Policy Political Science View 664 other Bachelors in International Relations in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

120

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

100

Schedule TOEFL®

IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Apply using the Common Application.
High School transcript (Include mid-year senior grades if available at the time you apply.)
School Report (Form is generally completed by a high school counselor and includes a school profile.)
Teacher recommendations (Two are required: We prefer that one recommendation come from an English or humanities instructor and one from a math or science instructor.) In addition to the two letters of recommendation from teachers, a third letter of recommendation is required. This recommendation must come from a higher education counselor for students who have access to a college counseling office.
TOEFL exam or IELTS exam or Duolingo English Test are acceptable English proficiency tests. All international applicants for whom English is not their primary language must submit one of the accepted English proficiency tests.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

68850 USD / year

≈ 68850 USD / year
Out-of-State

68850 USD / year

≈ 68850 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

68850 USD / year

≈ 68850 USD / year

Living costs

New York City

United States

1819 - 3968 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Political Studies.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Quick Facts:

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

New York City

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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