Apr 24, 2024

2022-2023 Graduate Catalog

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2022-2023 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Political Science and International Relations (MA)

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Please see the Program Policy Document for more information.

Requirements for the MA degree:

Methods Sequence

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

One of the following:

POSC 817 - Statistical Analysis for Political Science II Credit(s): 3
POSC 819 - Qualitative Methods for Political Science Credit(s): 3

Skills Requirement

All students must complete a skills requirement, either:

a competency in a foreign language (0 credits); or
a 3-credit methods course from outside the department or participation in a research methods workshop (with approval from the DGS); or
one of the following (3 credits):

POSC 812 - Proseminar in Political Theory Credit(s): 3
POSC 817 - Statistical Analysis for Political Science II Credit(s): 3
POSC 819 - Qualitative Methods for Political Science Credit(s): 3
POSC 849 - Experimental Methods in Political Science Credit(s): 3

Primary Field Requirements

Fifteen credits. All students must select a primary field 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 Field

Students completing International Relations as their primary field must take the proseminar and four additional International Relations courses.

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

International Relations Electives

POSC 810 - Topics in International Relations Credit(s): 3
POSC 813 - Seminar: American Foreign Policy Credit(s): 3
POSC 814 - Political Economy of the Environment Credit(s): 3
POSC 826 - Islam in Global Affairs Credit(s): 3
POSC 828 - Feminist International Relations Credit(s): 1-3
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 844 - International Security Credit(s): 3
POSC 845 - Human Rights and Global Governance Credit(s): 3
POSC 858 - The International Relations of Asia Credit(s): 3

American Politics Field

Students completing American Politics as their primary field must take the proseminar and four additional American Politics courses.

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

American Politics Electives

POSC 807 - American Political Behavior Credit(s): 3
POSC 823 - Topics in American Politics Credit(s): 3
POSC 832 - Legislative Politics Credit(s): 3
POSC 847 - Political Psychology Credit(s): 3
POSC 848 - The Politics of Race and Ethnicity Credit(s): 3
POSC 861 - Topics in Law and Politics Credit(s): 3

Comparative Politics Field

Students completing Comparative Politics as their primary field must take the proseminar and four additional Comparative Politics courses.

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

Comparative Politics Electives

POSC 811 - Topics in Comparative Politics Credit(s): 3
POSC 824 - Comparative Political Economy Credit(s): 3
POSC 827 - Gender and Politics Credit(s): 3
POSC 841 - Comparative Regionalisms Credit(s): 3
POSC 851 - Fragile States and Good Governance Credit(s): 3
POSC 852 - Comparative Democratization Credit(s): 3
POSC 860 - Making Sense of Populism Credit(s): 3

Political Theory Field

Students completing Political Theory as their primary field must take the proseminar and four additional Political Theory courses.

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

Political Theory 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
POSC 859 - The Politics of Capitalism Credit(s): 3
POSC 861 - Topics in Law and Politics Credit(s): 3

Proseminar in Secondary Field

Students must take a proseminar in a secondary field (either American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, or Political Theory; see below). Students who are taking POSC 812 - Proseminar in Political Theory to fulfill their skills requirement cannot also count the Political Theory proseminar for their secondary field proseminar requirement. (3 credits).

CRISP

Two credits. Students must take Current Research In the Study of Politics (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 39.

POSC 850 - Current Research in Society and Politics Credit(s): 1-3

Electives

Students must take the following for a total of 6-9 credits:

3 elective courses if their skills requirement was fulfilled with competency in a foreign language; or
2 elective courses if their skills requirement was fulfilled with a 3-credit course.

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. (0 credits).

POSC 899 - Research Paper for Master of Arts Credit(s): 0