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Political theory professor education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a political theory professor. Political theory professors usually study political science, history, or sociology. 56% of political theory professors hold a bachelor's degree, and 32% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 33 real political theory professor resumes to see exactly what political theory professor education sections show.

The most common colleges for political theory professors are the University of the Sciences and the University of the Sciences.

There are also many online political theory professor courses to help get the education required to be a political theory professor.

What education do you need to become a political theory professor?

What degree do you need to be a political theory professor?

The most common degree for political theory professors is bachelor's degree, with 56% of political theory professors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 32% and master's degree degree at 4%.
  • Bachelor's, 56%
  • Master's, 32%
  • High School Diploma, 4%
  • Doctorate, 4%
  • Other Degrees, 4%

What should I major in to become a political theory professor?

You should major in political science to become a political theory professor. 19% of political theory professors major in political science. Other common majors for a political theory professor include history and sociology.

Most common colleges for political theory professors

Political theory professors often get their degrees at University of the Sciences, Miami University, and Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico. Here are the most common colleges for political theory professors in the US based on their resumes.
Political theory professor common collegePercentages
University of the Sciences5.88%
Miami University5.88%
Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico5.88%
Washington University in St Louis5.88%
College of William and Mary5.88%

Best majors for political theory professors

RankMajorPercentages
1Political Science19.2%
2History15.4%
3Sociology7.7%
4Economics7.7%
5Special Education3.8%

Best colleges for political theory professors

The best colleges for political theory professors are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Columbia University in the City of New York.

A political theory professor with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for political theory professors. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become political theory professors.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

3. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

4. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

5. University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$14,184

Enrollment

30,845

6. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

7. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

8. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

9. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

In-state tuition

$17,653

Enrollment

16,405

10. University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$10,610

Enrollment

40,329

20 best online courses for political theory professors

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1. Understanding Korean Politics

coursera

This course will select six most outstanding issues in contemporary Korean politics and will engage in an in-depth, interactive inquiry of those issue. They include Korean politics in history, institutional setting of Korean politics, and dynamics of political culture in Korea, profiles of political leadership, myth and reality of the developmental state and the Korean economic miracle, and debates on Korean unification. The course will expose students to contending theories and empirical...

2. Chinese Politics Part 1 – China and Political Science

coursera

This course offers a conceptual framework for understanding China that highlights the intersection of politics and economics. It shows that rather than develop into a full blown market economy, state and party officials at all levels of the political system maintain significant influence in economic development. Such a “political” economy has had both positive and negative outcomes, which we will assess in detail. We also look at the origins, views, backgrounds and relations among leaders, and...

3. International Politics Mastery: Levels of Analysis

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4.7
(539)

Learn '3 Levels of Analysis' to speak confidently about international problems even without prior university education...

4. Navigating Office Politics: Get What You Want at Work

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4.4
(797)

Learn how to gain influence and get more done in your organization by understanding and navigating office politics...

5. Comparative Political Systems

coursera

Comparative politics covers a wide variety of topics and themes. The course starts with the definition of the comparative method giving special emphasis to concept formation and historical and institutional approaches. The bulk of the course is devoted to the theory of coalitions and the processes of government formation, functioning, termination. Through several in-depth analyses, the course will throw light on the way democratic regimes are governed. Electoral rules will receive special...

6. The Politics of Skepticism

coursera

This is a course about the history of Skepticism from the ancient Greeks to today, with special attention to the political ramifications of questioning man's ability to know the world and himself with any certainty. We will discuss the debates raging between Plato and the Sophists, the rise of Christianity in the Roman world, and the so-called 'Skeptical Crisis' of the Renaissance as well as Pierre Bayle's Skepticism and David Hume's. In addition the Natural Law tradition will be explored and...

7. Master Polite English

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4.5
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Learn the 3 Golden Rules and 6 Principles of Polite Speaking in English...

8. Data Science for Professionals

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4.2
(270)

It's time to leave spreadsheets behind.....

9. Welcome to Game Theory

coursera

This course provides a brief introduction to game theory. Our main goal is to understand the basic ideas behind the key concepts in game theory, such as equilibrium, rationality, and cooperation. The course uses very little mathematics, and it is ideal for those who are looking for a conceptual introduction to game theory. Business competition, political campaigns, the struggle for existence by animals and plants, and so on, can all be regarded as a kind of “game,” in which individuals try to...

10. Philosophy and the Sciences: Introduction to the Philosophy of Physical Sciences

coursera

What is the origin of our universe? What are dark matter and dark energy? This is the first part of the course 'Philosophy and the Sciences', dedicated to Philosophy of the Physical Sciences. Scientific research across the physical sciences has raised pressing questions for philosophers. The goal of this course is to introduce you to some of the main areas and topics at the key juncture between philosophy and the physical sciences. Each week we will introduce you to some of these important...

11. Data Science & Machine Learning(Theory+Projects)A-Z 90 HOURS

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4.4
(489)

Data Science Python-Learn Statistics for Data Science, Machine Learning for Data Science, Deep Learning for Data Science...

12. Computer Science 101: Master the Theory Behind Programming

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4.6
(5,377)

Computer Science 101: Learn Computer Science to become a better Programmer and Software Engineer...

13. American Politics, Foreign Policy, and US-India Ties

coursera

This specialization is intended for people interested in politics and international affairs. You will learn about the United States and how its history, culture, politics, and foreign policy leave a significant impact on the world. You will also gain insights into US-India relations - which is the most important bilateral relationship among democracies of the world...

14. Philosophy, Science and Religion: Religion and Science

coursera

Philosophy, Science and Religion mark three of the most fundamental modes of thinking about the world and our place in it. Are these modes incompatible? Put another way: is the intellectually responsible thing to do to ‘pick sides’ and identify with one of these approaches at the exclusion of others? Or, are they complementary or mutually supportive? As is typical of questions of such magnitude, the devil is in the details. For example, it is important to work out what is really distinctive...

15. ART of the MOOC: Activism and Social Movements

coursera

This course is for activists, artists, and thinkers who wish to better understand and participate in social change. We will focus on the prolific and exciting overlap between socially engaged art and cultural practices generated by recent social movements around the world. Rather than assess the political efficacy of activities like mourning, listening, organizing, dancing, or partying, the lectures examine such cultural activities next to, and within, contemporary art practice. Included in the...

16. The Kennedy Half Century

coursera

When John F. Kennedy entered the presidential limousine at Love Field in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963, he began his ride into history. That journey continues even today and we call it the Kennedy legacy. This course will explore the Presidency, assassination, and lasting legacy of President John F. Kennedy. Students will learn how JFK’s life, administration, and tragic death have influenced the general public, the media, and each of the nine U.S. presidents who followed. Understanding the...

17. Ukraine: History, Culture and Identities

coursera

Explore the history, culture and society of the people of Ukraine from the Middle Ages to the present in this introductory course developed by the Ukrainian Institute, educational studio EdEra, and the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and offered on Coursera in cooperation with the University of Washington. The culture and identities of Ukrainian people have existed in this region for more than a thousand years. Like most Eastern European countries, Ukraine is a rather young country —...

18. Activism in Sports and Culture

coursera

Sports have become an ever-present reflection of American culture, and an important symbol of the divisions and alliances in our society. Sports and political change walk hand in hand in America. The way that athletes and institutions deal with questions of race, economic hardship, nationalism, and political ties have become central to the way that we understand ourselves and our society. And yet, there are those who would prefer their sports free of controversy and opinion. Dedicated athletes,...

19. Game Theory

coursera

Popularized by movies such as "A Beautiful Mind," game theory is the mathematical modeling of strategic interaction among rational (and irrational) agents. Beyond what we call `games' in common language, such as chess, poker, soccer, etc., it includes the modeling of conflict among nations, political campaigns, competition among firms, and trading behavior in markets such as the NYSE. How could you begin to model keyword auctions, and peer to peer file-sharing networks, without accounting for...

20. Digital Governance

coursera

Big data, artificial intelligence, machine learning, autonomous cars, chatbots, just a few terms that have become a part of our professional legal and political vocabulary. Emerging technologies and technological advancement have confronted us in our daily practice and will continue to do so in the future. Whether we’re buying something online, taking part in an election, or chatting with friends across the globe. Technology is here and it is here to stay. However, as convenience as these new...

Top 10 most affordable universities for political theory professors

The most affordable schools for political theory professors are University of Florida, baruch college of the city university of new york, and california state university - long beach.

If the best universities for political theory professors are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for political theory professors.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

2. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

3. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

4. California State University - Bakersfield

Bakersfield, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,309

Cost of attendance

16,714

5. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

6. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

7. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

8. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

9. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

10. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for political theory professors

The hardest universities for political theory professors to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Columbia University in the City of New York.

Some great schools for political theory professors are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for political theory professors based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

3. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

4. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

5. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

6. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

7. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

8. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

9. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,456

10. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for political theory professors

The easiest schools for political theory professors to get into are Mount Saint Mary's University, notre dame de namur university, and barry university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a political theory professor without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for political theory professors.

1. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

2. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

3. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

4. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

5. Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, CA • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,072

6. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

7. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

8. San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,054

9. Thomas More University

Crestview Hills, KY • Private

Admissions rate

90%

SAT average

1,099

10. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

Average political theory professor salary by education level

According to our data, political theory professors with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $117,032 annually. Political theory professors with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $85,583.
Political theory professor education levelPolitical theory professor salary
Master's Degree$85,583
Doctorate Degree$117,032

Political theory professor education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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