B.A (H) Political Science

About The Course

Intrigued by world politics? Inspired by the work of political analysts? Our four-year Honours course in Political Science, which covers a range of topics from comparative politics and government to political sociology and international relations, gives you the tools for a career in diverse fields like public administration, rural development and international aid agencies to publishing and journalism.

Student Development Initiatives

BESC’s B.A (H) Political Science course focuses on overall student growth. Through mentoring, tutorials, site visits, workshops, parent-teacher interactions, and expert seminars, students gain guidance, exposure, and practical skills beyond the classroom.

Mentoring Programs
Tutorials & Remedial Classes
Student Presentations
Industry Visits
Well-Stocked Library
Expert Seminars

Innovative Teaching Methods

BESC’s B.A (H) Political Science course uses modern teaching approaches to engage students, foster critical thinking, and build a love for learning. Flipped classrooms, ICT-enabled lessons, workshops, seminars, and regular assignments make learning interactive and practical.

Flipped Classroom
ICT-Enabled Teaching
Peer Students' Lecture
Regular Assignments
Hands-On Workshops
Lectures by academic luminaries

Course Information

A candidate taking up an Honours Course in a subject must have obtained, at the previous qualifying examination, a minimum of:

55% marks in Political Science
OR,
45% marks in Political Science + 50% marks in BO4

Note:

If the candidate has not studied Political Science in class XII, he / she needs to achieve the above-mentioned marks in English to apply for Political Science (H).

Please also read General Eligibility Criteria, Under Admissions.

Course Code	Name of Course	Semester	Marks
CC-1	Understanding Political Theory: Concepts	1	100
CC-2	Understanding Political Theory: Approaches and Debates	1	100
GE-1	Introduction to Political Theory	1	100
AECC-1	Compulsory English / MIL	1	100
CC-3	Constitutional Government in India	2	100
CC-4	Politics in India: Structures and Processes	2	100
GE-2	Comparative Government and Politics	2	100
AECC-2	ENVS	2	100
CC-5	Indian Political Thought – I	3	100
CC-6	Comparative Government and Politics	3	100
CC-7	Perspectives on International Relations	3	100
SEC -A-1 or SEC -A-2	Democratic Awareness through Legal Literacy or Understanding the Legal System	3	100
GE-3	Government and Politics in India	3	100
CC-8	Indian Political Thought – II	4	100
CC-9	Global Politics since 1945	4	100
CC-10	Western Political Thought & Theory I	4	100
SEC-B-1 or SEC-B-2	Legislative Practices and Procedures or Elementary Aspects of Social Research	4	100
GE-4	International Relations	4	100
CC-11	Western Political Thought & Theory II	5	100
CC-12	Political Sociology	5	100
DSE-A-1 or DSE-A-2	Gender and Politics or Understanding South Asia	5	100
DSE-B-1 or DSE-B-2	Indian Foreign Policy in a Globalising World or Development Process and Social Movements in Contemporary India	5	100
CC-13	Public Administration: Concepts and Perspectives	6	100
CC-14	Administration and Public Policy in India	6	100
DSE-A-3 or DSE-A-4	Public Policy in India or Understanding Global Politics	6	100
DSE-B-3 or DSE-B-4	Citizenship in a Globalising World or Human Rights in a Comparative Perspective	6	100

Choose Any Two

Education or Film Studies / History / Sociology / Geography or Psychology or Journalism & Mass Communication / English / Economics / Bengali or Hindi

IDC 1

English, Sociology, History, Journalism & Mass Communication, Bengali, Hindi, Education, Psychology, Geography, Film Studies

IDC 2

English, Sociology, History, Journalism & Mass Communication, Bengali, Hindi, Education, Psychology, Geography, Film Studies, Statistics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, Mathematics

IDC 3

English, Sociology, History, Journalism & Mass Communication, Bengali, Hindi, Education, Psychology, Geography, Film Studies, Statistics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, Mathematics

PO CO PSO - 2018-2019

PO CO PSO - 2019-2020

PO CO PSO - 2020-2021

Career Prospects

Graduates can pursue postgraduate studies in English or related disciplines, teaching qualifications, or research degrees. Professionally, the programme builds strong communication and analytical skills valued across education, media, publishing, corporate communications, PR and the creative sector.

Civil Services & Diplomacy

Preparing for prestigious roles in the IAS, IPS, or the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) to represent the country and manage national administration.

Public Policy Analyst

Working with government bodies, international organizations, or think tanks (like NITI Aayog or ORF) to research, evaluate, and design effective public policies.

International Relations Specialist

Navigating global geopolitics for international NGOs, embassies, or trade organizations to manage cross-border relations and immigration policies.

Legal Profession (Litigation & Corporate Law)

Building a foundation for a 3-year LLB; Political Science graduates excel in law due to their training in constitutional frameworks and logical argumentation.

Political Consultancy & Campaign Management

Designing data-backed election strategies, managing candidate branding, and conducting voter sentiment analysis for political parties.

Legislative Assistant

Working directly with Members of Parliament (MPs) or MLAs to research issues, draft bills, and monitor legislative proceedings.

Corporate Affairs & Government Relations

Helping major corporations navigate regulatory environments, manage "Lobbying" efforts, and maintain healthy relationships with government entities.

Journalism & Political Commentary

Serving as a specialized Political Correspondent, News Editor, or Columnist, interpreting complex political events for the public.

Social Media & PR Manager

Crafting strategic digital identities for public figures or organizations and managing high-pressure communication during political or social crises.

Intelligence & Risk Analysis

Working with security agencies or private risk-consulting firms to analyze geopolitical threats and perform "Country Risk" assessments for global investors.

FAQs*

While a Political Science Honours degree does provide a strong foundation for careers in politics, government, and public administration, it is not limited to those fields. The skills and knowledge acquired through this degree are applicable in various sectors, including journalism, research, academia, law, international organizations, think tanks, and advocacy work.

Yes, a Political Science Honours degree can lead to corporate job opportunities. The analytical, research, and communication skills gained through this degree are valued in corporate settings, especially in areas such as corporate social responsibility (CSR), public affairs, market research, business development, communications, and risk analysis.

Political Science Honours graduates can consider competitive exams such as the Civil Services Examination (UPSC), State Public Service Commission (PSC) exams, Staff Selection Commission (SSC) exams, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) examinations, and the National Eligibility Test (NET) for Assistant Professorship and Junior Research Fellowship (JRF).

Yes, a Political Science Honours degree provides a versatile skill set that can facilitate career switches. With transferable skills in research, analysis, communication, and understanding of societal dynamics, Political Science graduates can transition to fields such as law, journalism, human resources (HR), international development, public relations (PR), and communications.

After completing a Political Science Honours degree, you can pursue specialized courses and higher education in fields such as international relations, comparative politics, public policy, political economy, constitutional law, gender and politics, environmental politics, conflict resolution, and peace studies, among others. These specializations can deepen your understanding and open specific career paths within the broader field of Political Science.

* Frequently Asked Questions

Beyond the Classroom

BESC’s B.A (H) Political Science course is designed to strike the perfect balance between academic learning and real-world exposure. Alongside a strong foundation in the classroom, students benefit from industry mentorship, site visits, hands-on workshops, expert seminars, and insightful guest lectures. These experiences enrich their understanding, bridge theory with practice, and prepare them to confidently navigate professional environments.