Political Science (MA)

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Offered by the Department of Government , School of Public Affairs .

Admission to the Program

Applicants must meet the minimum university requirements for graduate study. Admission decisions are based on each applicant’s academic record, two letters of recommendation, resume reflecting experience, and an essay written by the applicant on their background and career interests. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test scores are optional. An official English Proficiency Test (EPT) score may be required from F-1/J-1 applicants. Admission decisions are based on each applicant’s total record and not on any single strength or deficiency.

Degree Requirements

33 credit hours of approved graduate work
Capstone Experience: Complete one of the following:
- American Politics or Applied Politics: satisfactory completion of a written comprehensive examination
- Comparative Politics: satisfactory completion of a capstone paper (requires registration in GOVT-695 Comparative Politics Research Project (3) )

Course Requirements

Research Methods (6 credit hours)

Tracks (27 credit hours)

Complete one of the following tracks:

American Politics

Required (6 credit hours)

Public Opinion, Political Behavior, Elections, Parties, or Interest Groups (9 credit hours)

Complete 9 credit hours from the following:

Comparative Politics or Political Theory (3 credit hours)

Complete 3 credit hours from the following:

Additional (9 credit hours)

9 credit hours in political science or other cognate disciplines, which may include up to 3 credit hours of GOVT-691 Internship (1-6)

Applied Politics

Required (3 credit hours)

GOVT-620 Applied Politics and American Public Policy (3)

Institutes (3-4 credit hours)

Complete 3-4 credit hours from the following:

Topics (2 credit hours)

Complete 2 credit hours from the following:

Additional (18-19 credit hours)

Complete 18-19 credit hours from the following if not taken to fulfill Institutes or Topics:

Comparative Politics

Required (3 credit hours)

GOVT-679 Introduction to Comparative Politics (3)

Comparative Politics (9 credit hours)

Complete 9 credit hours from the following:

American Politics or Political Theory (3 credit hours)

Complete 3 credit hours from the following:

American Politics

Political Theory

Additional (9 credit hours)

9 credit hours in political science or other cognate disciplines, which may include up to 3 credit hours of GOVT-691 Internship (1-6)

Capstone (3 credit hours)

GOVT-695 Comparative Politics Research Project (3)