The department houses two centers that help to implement the department's research, education, and outreach missions.

The Upper Midwest Center on Public Policy (UMCPP) is a research and educational unit dedicated to providing a better understanding of political and governmental processes in North Dakota, Minnesota, and beyond. UMCPP was established in December 2013. 

The Center for the Study of Digital Society (website coming soon) fosters the study of digital society, digital humanities, and social data science at NDSU, with a focus on harnessing the power of technological change to promote the common good and to develop a more inclusive, sustainable, intellectually vibrant, and secure society. CSDS was established in 2022.