Program Overview

Joint J.D./M.A. in Political Science Program

Introduction

The Joint J.D./M.A. in Political Science Program is a dual-degree program that allows students to pursue both a Juris Doctor (J.D.) and a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Political Science. This program is designed for students who wish to combine their study of law with advanced study in political science.

Admission Requirements

Students wishing to participate in the dual-degree program must be admitted separately by each unit. For graduate studies in the Department of Political Science, each applicant must hold a baccalaureate degree and submit specific credentials, along with the application form and fee, no later than 90 days before the first day of classes of the semester for which admission is being requested. Applicants must submit:

• Application Form
• Application Fee ($50)
• Three letters of recommendation from former professors
• Statement of Objectives
• Transcripts of all prior undergraduate and graduate work
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Results with minimum scores of 153 on Verbal, 144 on Quantitative, and 4.5 on Analytical sections
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Scores (for international students only) with a minimum score of at least 577 on the paper version or at least 90 on the computer version of the TOEFL

Financial Aid

The program costs and financial aid are determined by the school of original enrollment. Students should contact the relevant financial aid office for more information.

Program Requirements

Once admitted, students will consult with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the School of Law and the Political Science Director of Graduate Studies to determine their appropriate course of study. Each J.D./M.A. student must complete a total of 97 credit hours, distributed as follows:

Law School Requirements:

• Total of 76 credit hours
• 37 hours of Law School required courses
• 12-15 hours of general education requirements
• 15 hours of LLEAP courses
• 8 hours of experiential capstone (in final year)
• 2-3 hours for upper-level writing requirement (depending on whether it is completed in a seminar or supervised research)

Political Science Requirements:

• Total of 21 credit hours of graduate level courses
• 3 hours in the area of American Politics & Government
• 3 hours in the area of Comparative Politics
• 3 hours in the area of International Relations
• 3 hours in POSC 449 Research Methods
• 9 hours of electives (can include a maximum of 9 hours of independent study or thesis preparation)
• Completion of either an M.A. Thesis or the Examinations

M.A. Thesis

An M.A. Thesis should be a major research paper equivalent to at least six hours of registration. Students shall register for POSC 651, M.A. Thesis Research, which will count towards the 30 hours of coursework required for completion of the M.A. An M.A. Thesis must be read by a committee of three members of the faculty, and defended in an oral examination with the faculty committee.

M.A. Examination

For the M.A. Examination, students should be able to explain, critique, integrate and apply the arguments of leading works in two out of the three fields of American Politics and Government, Comparative Politics, and International Relations. The examination is a written test of five hours duration, with 150 minutes for each of the chosen subfields. The examination is administered in a controlled, closed-book setting, and test questions will be based upon the expectation that the student has thoroughly studied the works designated on the M.A. Reading Lists.