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Requirements for the M.A. Degree in Political Science
Hours Required
Nonthesis option: Minimum of 33 hours of coursework.
Thesis option: Minimum of 24 hours of coursework plus 6 hours of thesis research.
Research Tool Requirement
Students must demonstrate competency in one research tool prior to completion of General Exams. Competency in a research tool can be established by:
- demonstrating reading knowledge in a modern foreign language (determined by an exam given by the relevant language department);
- demonstrating a specified level of knowledge in quantitative methods (students who complete PSc 202 with grade B or better meet this standard);
Or successfully completing two approved graduate-level courses in a cognate field (such as economics, sociology, anthropology, law, or other appropriate fields). Courses taken outside the department in order to meet the research tool requirement are not counted toward the overall requirement of 33 or 30 hours.
Required Courses
Students must take the required course in their primary field. Students are also required to take at least two courses outside of their primary field of concentration.
Course Work and Comprehensive Exams
- All students are required to pass a comprehensive examination in one of the following fields: American Politics and Government;
- International Relations;
- Comparative Politics;
- Political Theory;
- Public Policy.
Soon after their arrival in the department, students should speak with the professors who are the conveners for the fields in which they plan to take exams. Professors will advise students about coursework that is most appropriate, combining the parameters of the field with the student's interests. Check with the graduate director (currently Martha Finnemore) about who the conveners are for the current year.
During the first semester, and no later than the second, students should fill out a plan of study in consultation with the director of graduate studies and the conveners of the major and minor fields. This allows students and their advisors to plan for the entire program, and determine which classes are necessary to prepare for comprehensive exams and dissertation research.
The examinations are intended to test students' familiarity with, and critical understanding of, the broad range of ideas and literature that the fields comprise. Consequently, students prepare for exams by engaging in substantial reading beyond that required for their specific courses in consultation with faculty. Copies of exams from previous years are available in the front office.
Opportunities to take the exams are offered three times per year, in September, January, and May. An extra exam may be scheduled in April for MA students planning to graduate in May. Be sure to contact the graduate advisor in advance to arrange this if necessary. Comprehensive exams are evaluated as fail, bare pass, satisfactory pass, or pass with distinction. Students must receive a grade of bare pass or better on the MA exam in order to fulfill this degree requirement. Students may retake an exam once, if necessary; under no circumstances may a student take a comprehensive examination a third time. Failure to demonstrate the required level of performance on comprehensive examinations after two efforts will result in termination from the program.
Thesis Option
Students who elect the thesis option must prepare a thesis of high quality. A Committee (consisting of the thesis director and one reader) will judge its acceptability. The composition of the committee must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies.
Columbian College and Graduate School Requirements
All Master's degree candidates must meet the requirements and time deadlines specified by the College, as described in the University Bulletin
POLITICAL SCIENCE FIELDS AND RECOMMENDED COURSES
Field of American Politics
- PSc 210 American Political Process (required)
- PSc 213 Judicial Politics
- PSc 218 Legislative Politics
- PSc 219 American Political Parties and Elections
- PSc 220 Public Opinion and Political Psychology
- PSc 221 Interest-Group Politics
- PSc 211 Urban Politics
- PSc 215 Judicial Policy-Making
- PSc 216 American Presidency
- PSc 217 Executive Branch Politics
- PSc 226 Politics and Organizations
- PSc 228 Media and Politics
- PSc 229 Politics and Public Policy
Field of Comparative Politics
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PSc 331 Advanced Theories of Comparative Politics (required)
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PSc 234 Democracy and Democratization in Comparative Perspective (recommended)
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PSc 236 Political Economy of Developing Areas (recommended)
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PSc 237 Theories of Political Development (recommended)
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PSc 226 Politics and Organizations
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PSc 232 Communism and Democratization
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PSc 233 Comparative Politics of Russia and Eurasia
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PSc 235 The Politics of Industrialization
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PSc 260 Western European Politics
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PSc 261 Politics of the European Integration
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PSc 262 The Political Economy of Advanced Industrial States
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PSc 264 Comparative Governments and Politics of Eastern Europe
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PSc 266 Government and Politics of Russia
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PSc 270 Politics of China
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PSc 271 Politics of China II
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PSc 273 The Political Economy of Asia
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PSc 274 Governments and Politics of Japan and Korea
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PSc 277 Comparative Politics of the Middle East
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PSc 283 Comparative Politics of Latin America
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PSc 288 Selected Topics in Comparative Politics
*PSc 288 may be taken more than once when topics change.
Field of International Relations
- PSc 341 (Part I) Advanced Theories of International Politics (required)
- PSc 341 (Part II) Advanced Theories of International Politics (required)
- PSc 352 Theories of International Security (recommended)
- PSc 353 Advanced Theories of International Political Economy (recommended)
- PSc 354 Advanced Theories of Foreign Policy Decision Making (recommended)
- PSc 226 Politics and Organizations
- PSc 272 Foreign Policy of China
- PSc 289 Selected Topics in International Politics: Identity Politics
- PSc 289 Selected Topics in International Politics: Japanese Politics
- PSc 289 Selected Topics in International Politics: Psychology and International Relations
- PSc 289 Selected Topics in International Politics: Origins of Major Wars
* PSc 289 may be taken more than once when topics change.
Field of Public Policy
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PSc 303 Approaches to Public Policy (required)
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PSc 210 American Political Process
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PSc 212 Urban Policy Problems
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PSc 215 Judicial Policymaking
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PSc 217 Executive Branch Politics
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IAff 253 Science, Technology and National Security Policy
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IAff 246 U.S. Space Policy
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PSc 224 Domestic Policy Analysis - Selected Topics (may be taken more than once when topics change)
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IAff 252 Environmental Policy
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PSc 229 Politics and Public Policy
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PSc 246 The Politics of U.S. Foreign Policy
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PSc 247 U.S. Foreign Policy Traditions
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PSc 250 Foreign Policy Analysis - Selected Topics
Field in Political Theory
- PSc 205 Readings in Political Theory (Required)
- PSc 206 Topics in Political Theory
- PSc 287 Selected Topics in Political Theory (may be taken more than once when topics change)
- PSc 288 Theories of Democracy
Revised on 8/26/2008
