The Department of Political Science offers a program of study leading to a master of science (M.S.) degree. There are two alternative tracks. The Ph.D.-preparation track is designed for students who are seriously contemplating the pursuit of a doctoral degree in political science after finishing their master’s degree at PSU. The professional track is designed for other students—e.g., those interested in careers in law, legislative affairs, or the foreign service. The Department also participates in the Public Affairs and Policy Ph.D. Program.
Political Science M.S.
The M.S. in Political Science is a two-year program that provides students with the theories, research skills, and practical understanding of government and politics necessary to pursue both professional and academic careers. It is unique among masters programs in political science in offering a course of study especially designed to prepare students to succeed as doctoral students in the discipline’s most competitive Ph.D. programs. For students less interested in academic careers, the program offers a course of study well suited to professions in such fields as law, public policy, legislative affairs, and the foreign service. Learning outcomes include:
- Knowledge of the main theories and methodological approaches defining two of the subfields of political science, with a more advanced mastery of one of them.
- Ability to independently evaluate conflicting arguments, interpret evidence from alternative analyses, and make reasoned conclusions from the evidence available.
- Analytic skills to formulate an original research question, design and carry out an appropriate study for answering the question, and communicate the findings to a scholarly community.
Requirements
Master's degree students in both the Ph.D.-preparation and the professional tracks follow a similar course of study during the first year in the program, which includes three required courses on theory and research in political science, a choice of two seminars on the primary subfields in political science, and two additional political science electives. During the second year, professional track students may substitute up to 8 credits of Internship for elective courses taken by students in the Ph.D.-preparation track. Coursework, including credit for work on the master’s thesis (see below), is distributed as follows:
First Year Coursework
Fall
| PS 511 | Advanced Overview of Political Science | 4 |
| PS 590 | Introduction to Graduate School: Skills for Scholarly Success | 1 |
| | | |
| PS 5XX | Field Seminar | 4 |
| | or | |
| PS 5XX | Political Science Elective | 4 |
Winter
Spring
Second Year Coursework
Fall
| PS 503 | Thesis | 3 |
| PS 589 | How to Teach and Present Social Science Research | 2 |
| | | |
| PS 5XX | Political Science Elective | 4 |
| | or | |
| PS 504 | Internship | 4 |
Winter
Spring
The following courses qualify as Field Seminars:
| PS 520 | Seminar on American Political Institutions | 4 |
| PS 530 | Proseminar in International Relations | 4 |
| PS 569 | Comparative Political Institutions | 4 |
| PS 585 | Political Theory and Governance | 4 |
Thesis
The final requirement for the degree is the master's thesis—an original investigation that demonstrates mastery of a topic in political science and the ability to communicate this understanding to an audience of one's peers. The thesis topic is chosen during Spring term of the first year in consultation with the student's thesis advisor, who supervises the drafting of a thesis prospectus. The thesis prospectus is defended by the end of the term, at which time the student either receives approval to move forward with thesis research or is directed to revise the prospectus for a second defense in Fall term of the second year.
The completed thesis is defended during Spring term of the second year in an oral presentation laying out the purpose, implementation, and findings of the project, and making a case for its contribution to political science scholarship.
In order to count toward fulfillment of master's degree requirements, courses must be passed with a grade of B- or above. No more than two online classes can be counted toward the fulfillment of degree requirements. Students are required to meet with or email their advisors to approve their classes before each term.
Total Credit Hours: 52