Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 30

Required Courses:

Core Course
POLS 8001Political Statistics I3
Subfield Courses9
Select three from the following:
POLS 8101
Government in American Society
POLS 8201
Comparative Politics
POLS 8301
International Politics
POLS 8401
Introduction to Political Theory
Electives 115
Methodology Course
POLS 8002Qualitative Research Methods3
or POLS 8003 Political Statistics II
Total Credit Hours30
1

All students should consult with their faculty advisor on course selection and exam preparation. Students select two elective courses in two main fields and one in a third minor field. Those who plan to continue into the PhD program should take their two main-field elective courses in the two fields in which they plan to complete written comprehensive exams and the third in a minor field.

Culminating Event:
Seminar Paper:
Students must complete a seminar paper in one of their elective courses. All graduate elective courses give students the option of writing a seminar paper as a central element of the course grading. Students must submit the seminar paper, with the instructors' comments and grades, to the Graduate Chair. The Graduate Chair must certify that these papers meet the seminar paper requirement (i.e., contain original arguments grounded in extensive reference to relevant secondary and/or primary sources). Such certification must be granted before the degree is awarded.