Degree Requirements

A student must complete a minimum of 33 hours according to the plan of study below. 
At least 15 of the hours presented for the degree must be in courses at or above the 600 level. 

I.

Required Courses: (18 hours)
PSC 520 (3), 551 (3), 680 (3), 740 (3), 770 (3), 781 (3)

18

II.

Electives: (9 hours)
Choose either the American Politics Concentration or the Comparative/International Politics Concentration:

9

A.

American Politics Concentration

Select 3 Courses from:
PSC 514 (3), 516 (3), 522 (3), 561 (3), 563 (3), 566 (3), 583 (3), 585 (3), 610 (3), 615 (3), 761 (3), 785 (3)

B.

Comparative/International Politics Concentration

Select 3 Courses from:
PSC 515 (3), 555 (3), 556 (3), 583 (3), 642 (3), 651 (3),774 (3), 785 (3)

III.

Plan Option - PSC 798 (1-6 hours) Spec
Select either Plan A or Plan B

6

A.  Plan  A Option - Thesis (6 hours)
Thesis and Oral Defense before a MA Thesis Committee: The Thesis must be a significant original scholarly work. 

B.  Plan B  Option Non-Thesis (6 additional hours of course work)
Two Research Papers and Oral Defense before a MA Thesis Committee: The seminar papers (15-20 pages each as evidence of scholarly achievement) are in lieu of 6 hours of thesis writing.  These papers must be prepared in connection with a seminar, independent research course, or graduate level course in the Political Science Department.

• The student must add PSC 798 and form a MA Thesis Committee (chair and 2 additional members) in their final semester of graduate course work.  This Committee shall determine whether the Thesis or Research Papers are satisfactory for permanent filing.
• Students planning to pursue a Ph.D. in Political Science are strongly advised to select the Plan A option.  The Plan B option is for students who expect the MA to be their terminal degree.

    TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS

 

33