Master of Arts

Core Requirements

The master's degree program is designed to introduce students to the breadth of the discipline, while providing tools for in-depth independent research. Students receive training in research methodologies that permit them to pursue original research in their chosen fields of interest.

The M.A. degree is offered under two plans, with thesis and without. Those who opt to write a master’s thesis must take at least 25 credit hours of coursework. The non-thesis plan entails a minimum of 32 credit hours. All Master's students must maintain a GPA of 3.2 or higher.

The department discourages students from enrolling in hybrid courses (undergraduate courses for which graduate credit is allowed); hybrid courses may only be taken with approval of the graduate advisor, in consultation with the Committee On Studies when available.

The plans are as follows:

Plan I (Thesis)

Master's Thesis students must choose one field of concentration and complete a minimum of 25 credit hours of course work including Pol Sc 580, 581, 582; three pro-seminars (including one in the chosen field of concentration); one research seminar in the chosen field of concentration; and one written comprehensive examination in the chosen field of concentration. All required course work must be completed with a grade of "B" or better, with the exception of 582, which is offered for Credit/No Credit only.

Also required are a minimum of six credit hours of thesis; an oral and written thesis presentation; and degree completion within five years.

The student’s Committee on Studies must approve both the coursework and the thesis. The student will select a member of the graduate faculty to serve as both the COS chairperson and the director of the thesis. The student will then choose two additional faculty members who work in consultation with the chair of the COS.

Plan II (Non-thesis)

Master's Non-Thesis students must choose one field of concentration and complete a minimum of 32 credit hours of course work including Pol Sc 580, 581, 582; three pro-seminars (including one in the chosen field of concentration); one research seminar in the chosen field of concentration; and one written comprehensive examination in the chosen field of concentration. All required course work must be completed with a grade of "B" or better, with the exception of 582, which is offered for Credit/No Credit only. The degree must be completed within five years.

The student will choose a chairperson and two additional members from among the graduate faculty for his/her Committee on Studies who must approve the coursework.

General Requirements of the Office of Graduate Studies for the Master’s Degree

1. At least 50 percent of coursework requirements must be completed after formal admission to the M.A. program; that is, courses taken as a “non-degree” student or at another institution may not exceed half the total credits.

2. Credit hours taken in “minor fields” of study may not exceed 7 hours, as in Plan I, or 12 hours as in Plan II.

3. A limit of 6 hours of problems courses (Plan I) or 12 hours (Plan II) can be taken.

4. All requirements for the master’s degree must be completed within a five-year period.

Comprehensive Examinations

The student must declare in writing to the graduate advisor their chosen field of specialization in the semester prior to taking the comprehensive exam. The exam is take-home, eight hours in duration, and must be word-processed. Old exams, as well as pro-seminar syllabi from various fields of study, are available in the department office and should be supplemented with advice from the subfield faculty.

The exam must be taken no later than in the semester following completion of 27 hours of coursework. Students are required to have completed a pro-seminar and at least one other course in a subfield, met the methodology requirement (methodology sequence PS 580-582 with a grade of “B” or higher in each course), and filed and received approval of the Program of Studies before attempting comprehensive exams.

Students that choose methodology as a field of specialization are required to take two courses beyond those required of all students. Students that choose public policy may take an American politics course with significant policy content as one of their required courses. Students are encouraged to enroll in at least one directed readings course during the semester in which they take their comprehensive exam in preparation for the exam.

The written examination in the field of specialization will be prepared and graded by members of the department in each field. If a student fails the examination, he/she has one chance to retake and pass the exam. The re-examination must be completed in the semester following the failed exam. Failure to pass the comprehensive exam will result in dismissal from the program.

NOTE: Comprehensive exams will be given twice a year, in late October and late March.