The Institute was established in 1989 and has been operating under its current name since July 1, 2001.

Political science studies have been conducted since 1997. Previously (since 1993) these were studies in political science and social sciences, and even earlier - in social sciences. On October 2, 2004, the Institute of Political Sciences became part of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Arts, which in October 2008 changed its name to the Faculty of Social Sciences. From January 1, 2020, the Department of Sociology was incorporated into INP.

The Department of Sociology was established in January 1998 at the Faculty of Pedagogy of the Higher Pedagogical School in Olsztyn, and then - after the establishment of the University of Warmia and Mazury in 1999 - it operated within the Faculty of Pedagogy and Artistic Education. In September 2004, the political science major at the University of Warmia and Mazury received accreditation for five years from the State Accreditation Commission. In 2010, another accreditation took place and again our institute received a positive assessment. In turn, in 2011, the Polish Accreditation Committee awarded the political science major with an outstanding grade, at the same time setting the date of the next accreditation for 2019/2020. On March 30, 2009, the Central Commission for Degrees and Titles granted the Faculty the right to award the degree of doctor of humanities in the discipline of political science.

On June 24, 2013, the Central Committee changed the Faculty's authorization to award the degree of doctor of social sciences in the discipline of political science. The University of Warmia and Mazury has been authorized to award the academic degree of doctor habilitated in the field of social sciences in the discipline of politics and administration.

The Central Commission for Degrees and Titles made the decision to award it on October 29, 2020. We currently offer education in the following fields of study: political science and international relations, national security, sociology, and public analytics and management.