2020-2021 Graduate Catalog

Master of Arts in Political Science

This degree gives students opportunities to broaden and strengthen their understanding of political science. The master of arts in political science prepares students for a variety of goals. Some students may wish to pursue doctoral work at another university after earning the MA degree at Ball State University. Some may wish to enter law school; others may seek governmental employment; still others will go into business or professional organizations that require a knowledge of governmental processes. The MA degree program is flexible enough to prepare students for such a range of possibilities.

Degree requirements

Requires a minimum of 30 credits. The university research and writing requirement is met through the required completion of the methods sequence: POLS 625, POLS 626, and POLS 627.  At least 18 of the remaining credits must be earned in the core classes that cover the four subfields (American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory).

30 credits

Core area of study, 9 credits

POLS 625Research Methods in Political Science

3

POLS 626Research Seminar

3

POLS 627Advanced Research Methods

3

Core Requirements, 18 credits

18 credits required from the core courses (both courses in two sub-fields and one each in the remaining two)

American politics

POLS              630      Amer Pol Inst

POLS              631      Amer Pol Behavior

Comparative politics

POLS              636      Democratization and Devel           

POLS              689      Comp Pol Inst                          

International relations

POLS              611      Internat Pol Econ       

POLS              612      Internat Security

Political Theory

POLS              615      W Pol Theory

POLS              616      Global Pol Thought

POLS 630American Political Institutions

3

POLS 631American Political Behavior

3

POLS 636Democratization and Development

3

POLS 689Comparative Political Institutions

3

POLS 611International Political Economy

3

POLS 612International Security

3

POLS 615Western Political Theory

3

POLS 616Global Political Thought

3

3 credits of POLS courses as approved by the graduate advisor.