Master of Arts in Political Science
Program Overview
Master of Arts in Political Science
The Master of Arts in Political Science is a graduate program that provides students with advanced training in research, writing, and presentation. The program is designed to help students develop a systematic comprehension of the discipline of political science and acquire specialized knowledge in three sub-fields: political theory, American politics, and comparative politics.
Admission to Program
To be admitted to the program, applicants must have an undergraduate degree in political science or a related major. The minimum cumulative GPA is 3.25, although applicants with lower GPAs may be considered if they demonstrate preparation for graduate-level studies in political science. Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation and may be required to take the GRE. Foreign students whose native language is not English must meet the University's requirements for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
Degree Requirements
The program requires 30 units of coursework, including 12 units of core requirements, 6 units of political science topic seminars, and 8-9 units of electives. The core requirements include:
- PLSI 700: Research Methods 1 (3 units)
- PLSI 740: Seminar in American Politics (3 units)
- PLSI 760: Seminar in Comparative Politics (3 units)
- PLSI 780: Seminar in Political Theory (3 units)
Political Science Topic Seminars
Students must take two topic seminars from a list of approved courses, including PLSI 705, PLSI 714, PLSI 741-759, PLSI 761-779, and PLSI 781-797.
Electives
Students may select electives from a list of approved courses, including PLSI 701, PLSI 707, PLSI 708, and additional courses from the seminar area not used to fulfill the seminar requirement. Students may also take graduate courses outside the Political Science department with prior approval from the graduate coordinator.
Culminating Experience
Students must complete a culminating experience, which may be either a comprehensive exam or a master's thesis. The comprehensive exam requires students to enroll in PLSI 896EXM and PLSI 896, while the master's thesis requires students to enroll in PLSI 898.
Program Learning Outcomes
The program is designed to help students achieve the following learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate a systematic comprehension of the discipline of political science and acquire specialized knowledge in three sub-fields.
- Demonstrate advanced training in research, writing, and presentation.
- Demonstrate a knowledge of the professional aspects of the field through teaching, research assistantships, or conference presentations.
Advancement to Candidacy
To advance to candidacy, students must have classified status, complete the core requirements, maintain an overall GPA of 3.0, and have the approval of the graduate coordinator.