Requirements
Master's degree students concentrate their coursework in two of four fields of concentration in political science: American politics, international relations, comparative politics, political theory. Coursework also prepares students for their two comprehensive field examinations. Coursework is distributed as follows:
Required Coures (5 courses)
Students choose 3 of the 4
| PS 520 | Seminar on American Political Institutions | 4 |
| PS 530 | Proseminar in International Relations | 4 |
| PS 507 | Seminar on Comparative Political Institutions | 4 |
| | | |
| PS 507 | Normative Foundations of Governance | 4 |
| | or | |
| PAP 611 | Normative Foundations of Governance | 3 |
All students complete:
Three courses in two fields of concentration (24 credits), including the following courses:
| | Minimum of two 500-level seminars | |
| | Maximum of one approved non-political science course | |
| PS 595 | Research Methods for Political Science | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 50 |
PS 595 is only required for the M.S. Degree
Limit of 2 online classes can be counted toward the fulfillment of degree requirements.
Students are required to meet with or email their advisors to approve their classes before each term.
In order to count toward fulfillment of master's degree requirements, courses must be passed with a grade of B- or above. M.A. students must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language. Those who have not had at least two years of college-level instruction in a foreign language must pass an examination in one foreign language, administered by the Department of World Languages and Literatures.
Field Examinations
Field exams are taken in both fields of concentration. Each tests the student's comprehension of that field, as encompassed by the student’s coursework. The student's field advisors provide information about the format of the exam, the material it will cover, and the expectations for satisfactory performance. Students are encouraged to take their field exams toward the end of the term in which they will complete their coursework for the degree, or very soon thereafter (usually fall or winter term of the second year).
Thesis
The final requirement for the degree is the master's thesis—an original investigation that demonstrates mastery of a topic in political science and the ability to communicate this understanding to an audience of one's peers. The thesis topic is chosen in consultation with the student's thesis advisors. The thesis is defended in an oral presentation that lays out the purpose, implementation, and findings of the project, and makes a case for its contribution to political science scholarship.