Political Science, MA
Craft a program that meets your individual interests within subfields of the discipline. You can enjoy a low student-to-faculty ratio as you receive a rigorous introduction to graduate study in political science.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Political Science master's description
The Master of Arts program in political science offers a variety of areas of specialization within and between the four main subfields of political science --- American politics, comparative politics, international relations and political theory --- with particular strengths in ethnoreligious dynamics, women and politics, political violence, human rights, political psychology, political economy and Latino politics.*
Faculty are also active in collaborative interdisciplinary research at ASU and with scholars at other universities; many have won major grants and awards. The school is host to the Future Security Initiative, the Center for Latina/os and American Politics Research, and an experimental lab. Faculty are also affiliated with other centers at ASU, such as the Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab; the Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict; the Melikian Center for Russian, Eurasian and East European Studies; and the Center for the Study of Economic Liberty.
The program may be taken as a terminal program or as a step toward eventual fulfillment of the requirements for the doctorate. If you plan to obtain the doctorate at ASU, you should apply directly to the doctoral program.
*If you are interested in a political theory specialization, you should consult with the academic unit before applying.
Why study political science at ASU?
ASU's political science program allows you to customize a research-driven program that pairs rigorous methodological training with practical preparation. You evaluate data with quantitative methods and design independent research.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below:
30 credit hours and a thesis, or
30 credit hours including the required capstone course (POS 597)
Required Core Course (3 credit hours) Other Requirements (6 credit hours) Electives (15 or 18 credit hours) Culminating Experience (3 or 6 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information The course POS 603 Polimetrics I may be substituted with permission of both the director of graduate studies and the faculty advisor. Students in the political theory focus area take a second focus area course instead of POS 603.
POS 503 Empirical Political Inquiry (3)
focus area course (3)
POS 603 Polimetrics I or second focus area course for political theory (3)
POS 597 Capstone (3) or
POS 599 Thesis (6)
Students who select the thesis option must submit a written thesis and hold an oral defense. Students who select the capstone option must submit a written paper.
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Design independent research projects in the field of political science with real life applications.
- Evaluate political science data using quantitative statistical methods.
- Effectively communicate their research process and findings, orally and in writing.
Design independent research projects in the field of political science with real life applications.Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. All applicants must submit: Additional Application Information The personal statement should be one to three pages and describe the areas of political science the applicant wishes to study, postgraduation goals, and why the School of Politics and Global Studies is the best fit. Applicants may also mention any faculty members with whom they are interested in working and explain why, and provide context for any discrepancies in their educational background. The writing sample is typically a research paper or other similar paper that demonstrates the applicant's critical thinking and writing skills in political science or a related field. There is no length requirement for the writing sample, but it should be a sufficient length for the admission committee to evaluate the applicant's knowledge and skills. To assist in evaluating all candidates, the applicant should list titles and related information for all previous undergraduate and graduate courses or coursework in political science or related fields. The list must be saved as a .pdf, .doc, .rtf or .txt file and uploaded with the online graduate admission application. The information should be in a table with the following column headings: Course Title, Undergrad Credit Hours, Graduate Credit Hours, Grade, Institution, Year. Undergraduate coursework in political science is not a prerequisite for admission. However, master's degree students should have a basic understanding of elementary statistics and the undergraduate content of the political science fields of concentration that they wish to study. Students should allow sufficient time to acquire such a background.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
Application deadlines
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 04/01 | Final* |
*A final deadline means that all applications and application materials must be received by Admission Services by the deadline date. Applications that are incomplete may not be considered after the final deadline. Applications that are submitted past the final deadline may not be considered.
Explore expanded study opportunities
This program allows you to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. As a high-achieving student, accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for you to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of your master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.
This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:
Approval to pursue the accelerated master's is typically granted during the junior year of your bachelor's degree program. If you are interested, you can learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
Careers this political science master's degree prepares you for
Graduates are prepared for research or applied careers in political science in government, nonprofits and the private sector. Career examples include:
- campaign consultant
- campaign strategist
- data analyst
- lobbyist
- research specialist
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
School of Politics and Global Studies
|
COOR 6801
spgs@asu.edu
480-965-8563
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
