Political Science and International Relations (MA)

Requirements for the MA degree

Each student will complete a minimum of 38 credits.

1. Methods Sequence (10 credits)

All students must complete ten credits of methods training.

POSC 801 - Scope and Methods in Political Science Credit(s): 1
POSC 815 - Introduction to Statistical Analysis for Political Science Credit(s): 3
POSC 816 - Philosophy of Science and Research Design Credit(s): 3
And one of the following courses:
POSC 817 - Statistical Analysis for Political Science II Credit(s): 3
POSC 819 - Qualitative Methods for Political Science Credit(s): 3

2. Additional Requirements (3-6 credits)

All students must complete a skills requirement: ENEP 810 - Political Economy of the Environment (if not taken to fulfill another requirement), an additional methods course (not used to fulfill the required methods sequence), or pass a language competency exam. Students must also complete a proseminar in a field other than their primary field.

3. Primary Track Requirements (15 credits)

All students must select a primary track from the four subfields offered (International Relations, American Politics, Comparative Politics, Political Theory). Students must complete the proseminar for their primary track in addition to four elective courses from the track electives.

International Relations Track

Students completing the track in International Relations must take the proseminar and four additional track electives.

POSC 825 - Proseminar in International Relations Credit(s): 3

International Relations Track Electives

ENEP 810 - Political Economy of the Environment Credit(s): 3
POSC 810 - Topics in International Relations Credit(s): 3
POSC 813 - Seminar: American Foreign Policy Credit(s): 3
POSC 826 - Islam in Global Affairs Credit(s): 3
POSC 830 - Seminar: International Relations Theory Credit(s): 3
POSC 831 - Frontiers in Critical International Relations Theory Credit(s): 3
POSC 840 - International Political Economy Credit(s): 3
POSC 842 - International Organization Credit(s): 3
POSC 843 - Global Governance: Theory and Cases Credit(s): 3
POSC 844 - International Security Credit(s): 3
POSC 845 - Human Rights and Global Governance Credit(s): 3

American Politics Track

Students completing the track in American Politics must take the proseminar and four additional track electives.

POSC 803 - Proseminar in American Politics Credit(s): 3

American Politics Track Electives

POSC 807 - American Political Behavior Credit(s): 3
POSC 808 - American Political Institutions Credit(s): 3
POSC 813 - Seminar: American Foreign Policy Credit(s): 3
POSC 818 - Environmental Politics and Policy Credit(s): 3
POSC 823 - Topics in American Politics Credit(s): 3

Comparative Politics Track

Students completing the track in Comparative Politics must take the proseminar and four additional track electives.

POSC 809 - Proseminar in Comparative Politics Credit(s): 3

Comparative Politics Track Electives

POSC 802 - Seminar: Comparative Politics of the Global South Credit(s): 3
POSC 811 - Topics in Comparative Politics Credit(s): 3
POSC 818 - Environmental Politics and Policy Credit(s): 3
POSC 824 - Comparative Political Economy Credit(s): 3

Political Theory Track

Students completing the track in Political Theory must take the proseminar and four additional track electives.

POSC 812 - Proseminar in Political Theory Credit(s): 3

Political Theory Track Electives

POSC 806 - Global Ethics and Normative Issues Credit(s): 3
POSC 822 - Topics In Political Theory Credit(s): 3
POSC 831 - Frontiers in Critical International Relations Theory Credit(s): 3
POSC 836 - Democratic Theory Credit(s): 3

4. CRISP, Elective Courses, and other courses (10-13 credits)

Students must take Current Research In the Study of Politics (CRISP - POSC 850 ) for one credit each spring of their first two years. In addition, students must take elective courses (two or three, depending on the means by which the skills requirement is fulfilled) to bring their total credits to 38.

5. M.A. Writing Requirement

Students not moving further into the PhD program will prepare a major research paper, usually one written for one of their graduate seminars. Students will register for POSC 899 - Research Paper for Master of Arts in the spring of their second year to facilitate completion of this requirement.