Political Science, M.A. - Concentrations in General Political Science, American Politics, International and Comparative Politics, or Public Law

Applicants must have received a B.A. or B.S. degree. The Department of Political Science asks applicants to submit the following:

• Complete Online Graduate Application
• Two letters of recommendation from persons who can authoritatively comment on your academic abilities
• Transcripts from all graduate and/or undergraduate institutions attended
• Statement of your research interests and how the Political Science Department will help you meet your career and educational goals
• Writing sample

The department seeks applicants with a history of strong academic achievement, clear interests and potential for excellence at the graduate level.

The degree program requires 30 credit hours. To fulfill these, most students will take eight 3-credit-hour courses, 6-credit-hours of experiential learning (which can be an internship, a consulting project, a study abroad opportunity or something else), and will complete a non-thesis research project.

For their coursework, students can choose to take from one to four methods courses, with the rest in substantive areas.  These can be completed both through online M.A.-level courses and through in-person Ph.D.-level seminars.  Students may also choose to substitute a thesis for two courses and the non-thesis paper.  Generally, the degree can be completed in three to four semesters, including summer.  More details are available in the catalog.

The program prepares students for careers in politics, government and academia. The program provides advanced training in American, comparative and international politics, as well as opportunities to build skills in cutting-edge quantitative and qualitative methodologies.

Our extensive relationships across metro Atlanta, the United States and the world provide students with meaningful experiential learning opportunities. These can include consulting projects with local governments and non-governmental organizations, internships with law firms, the Georgia Legislature and Carter Center and similar organizations, and study abroad opportunities.  The thesis option allows students to conduct original research under the supervision of faculty and can serve as a first step towards a doctorate.