M.A. IN POLITICAL SCIENCE Graduate Program Requirements

The Department of Political Science offers the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree which requires 30 graduate credits. Students may choose from a non-thesis or thesis option to meet the requirements of the degree. The non-thesis option is designed for students who wish to specialize in an area of study by completing two seminars instead of a thesis. Those who prefer the thesis option may do so with the permission of the Director of Graduate Studies. The thesis option is designed to prepare graduates for doctoral or professional programs. All students are admitted as non-thesis students. After the completion of at least 9 but not more than 15 graduate credits, a student may apply for admission to the thesis option. The application is submitted to the graduate director. If the Graduate Committee grants thesis-option status, the student must work with the graduate director to create a thesis committee.

Core - 9 credits
Research Design in Political Science*	POS 6736	3
Seminar in American National Government	POS 6045	3
Seminar in Comparative Political Processes	CPO 6007	3
Non-Thesis Option - 21 credits**
Seminars - 21 credits
Select seven courses at the 6000 level from the Department of Political Science
Thesis Option - 21 credits**
Seminars - 15 credits
Select five courses at the 6000 level from the Department of Political Science
Thesis - 6 credits
Master's Thesis	POS 6971	6

* POS 6736 must be completed the first semester of enrollment or the first semester the course is offered after admission to the graduate program.

** With the approval of the graduate director, a student may take a maximum of 6 credits outside the Department of Political Science.