Political science is a relatively new university subject in Norway.
In 1958 the first doctoral degree was awarded to a political scientist, and 1969 saw the graduation of the first Cand. The Department of Political Science itself was established in 1957. Today the department holds approxiamtely 40 positions, of which 16 are permanent professorships. The rising number of students poses a great challenge for the department, both with regard to the expansion of fields of research and the department's academic expertise. The Department of Political Science is the largest department in the field in the country, and has developed considerable expertise in most areas of political science.