Political Science, MA

Political Science, MA

Admission Requirements

Admission is open to students who have completed a four-year undergraduate degree with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and who fulfill the admission requirements of the Graduate School. Three letters of recommendation (at least two from a faculty member who has worked with the student in the past two years, if applicable) and a personal statement outlining the expected fit between the student’s skills and objectives and the department’s programs and resources are required.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

The Master of Arts in Political Science allows students to focus their study in one of four concentrations: American Politics, Criminal Justice, Security Studies, or International Politics.

Students may also work toward certificates in Applied Politics in conjunction with their graduate studies in Political Science.

Political Science - Intelligence and National Security Studies Track

Admission Requirements

Admission is open to students who have completed a four-year undergraduate degree with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and who fulfill the admission requirements of the Graduate School. Three letters of recommendation (at least two from a faculty member who has worked with the student in the past two years, if applicable) and a personal statement outlining the expected fit between the student’s skills and objectives and the department’s programs and resources are required.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Students may also work toward certificates in Applied Politics in conjunction with their graduate studies in Political Science.

Degree Requirements

Complete 30 credits of graduate work, including 24 credits at the 600 level, as follows

Pass a comprehensive written examination covering one concentration: American Politics, Criminal Justice, or International Politics.

Complete the following writing requirement:

• An Essay of Distinction is a single, article-length, scholarly research paper. This writing requirement will encourage our students to learn how to participate in the debates central to our discipline and complete the program with a superb writing sample that can serve as a foundation for continued graduate work, a conference presentation, a published article, or a deliverable policy analysis.

To complete an Essay of Distinction, students are also required to orally defend their paper to their Faculty Advisory Committee (FAC). All FAC members must approve the topic and pass the paper and oral defense.

Political Science - Intelligence and National Security Studies Track

Degree Requirements

Complete 30 credits of graduate work as follows

Additionally, the following non-credit Milestones need to be completed by the end of the program:

Capstone Intelligence Assessment

Capstone Intelligence Assessment Defense