Admissions

Program Requirements

Financial Assistance

Admission Requirements

The Graduate College requires MA applicants to hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with an overall GPA of at least 3.0 in the last two years of undergraduate coursework. In addition, the Department requires that a student must have completed at least 24 hours of coursework in the social sciences or other relevant fields and have achieved a 3.0 GPA. The Department may require the student to make up deficiencies in undergraduate preparation.

Admissions materials: The following materials should be submitted to the Admissions office:

The following materials should be submitted to the Department:

MA Alumnus Robert Harbaugh (rt), now Legislative Assistant to Rep. Wayne Gilchrist (Md).

Program Requirements

M.A. Program Requirements

Students must complete 30 hours of graduate credit in political science. With the written approval of the graduate director, student may substitute up to two courses (for a maximum of eight hours) of cognate work appropriate to their program. Core requirements are the same for the thesis and non-thesis options.

Core Requirements (15 Hrs.)

Complete the following two courses:

Complete one of the following three courses:

Complete the following courses:

Option-Related Courses (15 Hrs.)

Thesis Option (15 Hrs.)

In conjunction with the graduate director, students select nine hours of elective courses. In addition, they must take six hours of PSCI 700, Master’s Thesis, and pass an oral examination on the thesis.

Non-Thesis Option (15 Hrs.)

In conjunction with the graduate director, students select 15 hours of elective courses. In addition, they must pass written and oral examinations in one of the following fields: American politics, comparative politics, or political philosophy.

Financial Assistance

The Department of Political Science offers graduate assistantships on a competitive basis to qualified students each year. Assistantship stipends are competitive and include tuition remission. Graduate assistants typically work with faculty members conducting research or teaching large undergraduate classes. Application forms are available from the department. Consideration for an assistantship is contingent upon admission to one of our graduate programs. The application and accompanying materials are due February 15.

The Graduate College offers Graduate College Fellowships, available on a competitive basis, for all graduate students and Thurgood Marshall Assistantships for students from minority groups. Applications may be obtained through The Graduate College and completed applications are due February 15.

Information about student loans and other federal, state, and University need-based financial aid programs may be obtained from the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships.