Program Structure
The Political Science program at NYU Abu Dhabi is structured to offer students significant latitude in customizing their academic journey according to their specific goals. Majors may select from three distinct pathways, ranging from a broad and flexible study of the field to specialized concentrations in international relations or analytical methods.
- General Political Science: This pathway prioritizes breadth and versatility, enabling students to explore a diverse array of topics across the discipline. It allows for a holistic understanding of political systems while permitting the alignment of electives with personal scholarly interests.
- International Affairs and Foreign Policy (IAFP): Designed for those focused on the global arena, this concentration centers on foreign policy, international relations, and the examination of pressing global issues.
- Data and Politics (DP): This concentration is for students seeking rigorous methodological training. Students gain expertise in the tools used by social scientists to systematically investigate political phenomena and evaluate data-driven evidence.
Each pathway provides access to substantive coursework on contemporary policy issues alongside explorations of classic texts that define the intellectual history of the social sciences. The major also fosters interdisciplinary growth through joint courses with Economics, Psychology, and Philosophy, and is designed for easy integration as a second major.
These varied options empower students to mold their studies around their unique academic curiosities and goals, whether they desire a wide-ranging education, a focus on global diplomacy, or methods training in political analysis.
Majors in Political Science take two required introductory courses, one methods course, four general electives, and a two-course capstone sequence. Those pursuing one of the two concentrations are required to take one additional course (and two additional courses if pursuing both concentrations).
During their final year, all majors engage in a two-course capstone sequence, which results in the completion of a senior thesis. The specific nature of this culminating project is determined by the student's chosen academic pathway. Those in the DP concentration are mandated to produce a traditional academic research piece. In the initial semester of the Senior Seminar, students formulate a research inquiry, establish a framework for investigation, and gather necessary data. The subsequent semester focuses on the execution of the research design, result analysis, and the formal drafting of the thesis. Students enrolled in the general major or the IAFP concentration may also explore alternative capstone formats, including the development of a detailed policy report or proposal.
Foundations of Social Science
Foundations of Social Science (FSS) has four components that focus on (1) intellectual traditions in the social sciences (Social, Political, and Economic Theory — SPET), (2) global development in historical perspective (Social, Political, and Economic History — SPEH), (3) quantitative reasoning and numeracy, and (4) gateway courses into the majors.
Students come to NYUAD with a great diversity of backgrounds in terms of their grasp of societal and economic development and globalization, with a vision that is often narrowed by regional foci of high school curricula. FSS is designed to broaden and amplify students’ understandings of the world and global processes. Required and elective courses in each of the majors will be able to build on this foundation, thereby fostering intellectual growth.
Beyond their role in the programs, Foundations of Social Science courses are open to all students and will deliver high value to any student curious about the development of societies and social thought; the substance and skills students learn in these courses will be applicable across the liberal arts spectrum. They are designed to foster informed world citizenship.
Social, Political, and Economic History (SPEH)
Every social science major is required to take ONE of the following courses in the SPEH portfolio.
SOCSC-UH 1011 Global Economic, Political, and Social Development
HIST-UH 2010 History and Globalization
CSTS-UH 1021EQ Boundaries
CSTS-UH 1043 The Great Divergence
CSTS-UH 1012 Wealth of Nations
CSTS-UH 1125X Law and Empire
ECON-UH 1112 Introduction to Macroeconomics
Social, Political, and Economic Theory (SPET)
Every social science major is required to take ONE of the following courses in the SPET portfolio.
SOCSC-UH 1310 Foundations of Modern Social Thought
SOCSC-UH 1311 Introduction to Political Theory
SOCSC-UH 1312 Modern Social Theory in Comparative Perspective
SOCSC-UH 1313 Perspectives on Democracy
SOCSC-UH 1314 Sociological Theory
PHIL-UH 2614 Political Philosophy
CSTS-UH 1097 Justice
CSTS-UH 1015 Legitimacy
Concentrations
Political Science majors have the opportunity to refine their expertise through two optional concentrations (which appear on the student’s diploma and transcript): International Affairs and Foreign Policy (IAFP) and Data and Politics (DP). Either concentration, which is officially recognized on a student’s transcript and diploma, requires only a single additional course beyond the standard curriculum of the major.
Students opting for the IAFP concentration must complete a minimum of four designated electives in the field. To maintain a well-rounded education, only three of these may apply toward the four-course elective requirement for the general major. The remaining elective must be a POLSC course, ensuring students are grounded in fundamental political science. Additionally, the mandatory 3000-level POLSC-UH course must carry an IAFP designation for students in this concentration.
The DP concentration is designed for those seeking rigorous technical training, requiring four methods-focused courses beyond the introductory statistics requirement. This includes mandatory coursework in Data Analysis and Research Design and Causality, which concurrently fulfills the general requirement for two POLSC electives. While focusing on quantitative tools, students must still complete at least one non-methods 3000-level POLSC course, with a maximum of two methods courses counting toward the general major electives.
The capstone experience allows students to produce either an original academic research thesis or a professional policy report. While general track and IAFP students may choose between these formats, DP concentration participants are required to execute a traditional academic research project. Dedicated seminar sections are provided to support these distinct pathways, ensuring students receive specialized guidance based on whether they are developing a scholarly thesis or a policy-oriented proposal.
Students may elect to pursue both concentrations simultaneously, which can often be achieved with as few as two additional courses. In this instance, a single IAFP-designated 3000-level course can satisfy requirements for both concentrations. To be awarded both distinctions, students must complete the academic research capstone required by the Data and Politics pathway.
Earn Credit Toward Your Master of
Public Administration
NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service offers a dual-degree program that enables NYUAD Social Science students to earn the Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Public Administration in less time than it would take to complete the programs separately.
NYUAD students who major in Political Science can accelerate progress on the master's degree during their undergraduate studies. How?
Earn course credits (typically five courses) toward the Wagner MPA.
Choose to get started on 280 hours of field experience required by Wagner.
Interested students usually apply to Wagner during their junior year at NYUAD, and must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be considered.