The University of Minho was among the first in Portugal to recognize Political Science as an independent field of study by making it a mandatory course in the study programs of International Relations and Public Administration which are thirty and twenty five years old, respectively. Such a legacy allows the University of Minho to count with a qualified faculty, most of them with PhDs in Political Science which means a guarantee of scientific and pedagogical quality.
The plan of studies in Political Science intends to differentiate from the existing classical curricular models. The plan is based on the Bologna Model, with nuclear courses in Introduction to Political Science, Political Theory, Political Parties, Electoral Systems and Surveys and Public Opinion, and a structure of four subfields of study Political Science, Political Communication, International Relations and Public Administration. In addition, the plan offers many different elective courses.
The main objective is to provide a solid academic formation in the scientific area of Political Science with the possibility of acquiring different competencies from the elective courses that focus on specific domains. Besides allowing for a more enlightened participation in the political community, the program also allows graduates to occupy key positions in institutions and organisations, social communication media, universities, research units, business, etc.

Holders of a degree programme in Political Science awarded by the University of Minho, willing to deepen and further their studies, may access to a wide range of post-graduate courses. As na exemple of this, we highlight the Master Programme in Political Science of the School of Economics and Management at the University of Minho, whose first Edition starts in 2013-2014.

Holders of a degree programme in Political Science are able to perform highly qualified functions at the governance of the State level as well as in the Central, Regional and Local Administration organisations; European institutions; consulting companies; study centers of public opinion; Media; research centres/think tanks; university teaching, among others.
The master programme in political science focuses on the development of several soft and technical skills aiming at, among other functions, the correct use of quantitative and qualitative tools deemed essential for the analysis and evaluation of political phenomena; the performance of services of political couching, electoral and political marketing; analysis, implementation, evaluation and monitoring of public policies.
The course aims also at endowing students with a solid theoretical and methodological background for pursuing advanced studies in the field of Political Science.