Social Sciences

Admissions · Advising · Catalog · Financial Aid · Registrar · Scholarships

Masters of Arts Degree in Political Science - Thesis Track

The MA in Political Science(thesis track) requires 36 hours of approved course work, including POLS 598 (scope Methods in SOcial Science) and POLS 599 (Practicum, Field Problems, or Internships). Each student may choose up to 12 hours in appropriate supporting work, which, if in a single specific field, may be declared a minor. Flexibility according to student need and interest will be permitted in the selection of specific course work.

Each thesis track student must demonstrate proficiency in at least one foreign language prior to the awarding of the MA degree. Proficiency will be measured either by the successful completion (with a C or better) of 14 hours in a single foreign language either as an undergraduate or graduate student) or by obtaining a passing score on a standardized foreign language exam.

Each thesis track student will take a written comprehensive examination after completing 24 hours of course work and before registering for POLS 588 (Thesis). The examination, based on course work submitted for the MA degree plan, will be constructed, administered, and evaluated by the student's graduate advisory committee. If the examination result is unsatisfactory, the student will be allowed to retake the comprehensive examination one additional time. Additional course work in areas of weakness may be required. 

Each thesis track student will complete a thesis under the direction of a thesis advisor, who will chair the student's graduate advisory committee. The student will not begin work on the thesis prior to completion of 24 hours of course work and will enroll in Thesis (POLS 588) only with prior approval of the department head and graduate political science advisor. The thesis will be prepared in accordance with the general procedures specified by the College of Graduate Studies. Upon completion of the thesis, the student will sit for an oral defense before a committee composed of his/her graduate advisory committee and a representative for the Graduate College. Under special circumstances, the thesis advisor, in consultation with the graduate political science advisor and the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies, may modify these requirements.