A new path integral formulation for the q-state Potts model is proposed. This formulation reproduces known results for the Ising model (q = 2) and naturally extends these results for arbitrary q. The mean field results for both the Ising and the Potts models are obtained as a leading saddle point contribution to the
corresponding functional integrals, while the systematic computation of corrections to the saddle point contribution produces the Onsager reaction field terms, which for q = 2 coincide with results already known for the Ising model.