Political Science MA

Overview

The MA program in Political Science is student-centered, and dedicated to studying the interaction of government, culture, and economics from both international and domestic perspectives.  Our goal is to produce graduates who are informed and engaged citizens of the global society. Graduate students are trained in relevant research methodologies and in all areas of Political Science.

Graduate Assistantships are available on a competitive basis, and come with a full tuition waiver and health care insurance. The program also collaborates with the APSA to provide free membership in the organization for all graduate assistants. To be considered, be sure to apply early (by March 15 if considering entering in the Fall).

Campus: Hattiesburg, Gulf Coast

Admission Requirements

In addition to meeting the Admission Requirements and Procedures , the master’s program applicant must present the following items:

1. Students without an undergraduate degree in political science, if conditionally admitted, may be required to take up to nine hours of undergraduate political science coursework.
2. The cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) from all institutions attended as well as the trend of grades over the course of the undergraduate degree program is considered. The school looks especially at the final two years of an applicant’s undergraduate program. An overall GPA of at least 3.0 during the final two years of undergraduate study is preferred.
3. Applicants must submit at least two letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation should be from persons qualified to assess the applicant’s academic achievements and qualifications for graduate study and should be submitted to the graduate school, preferably from faculty members.
4. Applicants must submit a letter of interest.
5. Applicants are encouraged to submit a writing sample.
6. Members of underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.
7. Applicants who do not meet the criteria for regular admission may, at the school’s discretion, be given conditional admission to the program. The requirements for removing the conditional status will be stated at the time of admission.

The graduate admissions committee makes recommendations on all admissions. Admissions decisions to all graduate programs are competitive and are made based upon the totality of the student’s admissions packet. A 3.0 overall undergraduate degree GPA (with at least a 3.0 in Political Science courses) is preferred.

Program Requirements and Academic Policies

Requirements for the Master of Arts degree include thirty-three (33) semester hours of coursework (21 hours of 600 level or higher), including SSGS 500 and SSGS 501. Students must select a major (comprising at least 9 hours, 3 of which must be 700 level) and two minors (comprising at least 6 hours, 3 of which must be 700 level) from the 6 fields of political science. A 3.0 GPA is required for graduation.

Thesis option: Students must complete a thesis and an oral defense of the thesis. Students must register for 6 hours of PS 698 - Thesis . The thesis committee may, at its discretion, conduct exams concurrently with the thesis defense.

Non-thesis option: Students must also register for 3 hours of 692 as special project. They must also take 3 hours of PS 691  to complete their research paper under the supervision of a professor in their major area and produce a substantial research paper equal in quality, but not in scope, to a thesis.

For other requirements and expectations, see General Degree Requirements  and General Academic Information .

Course Requirements (33 hours)

• SSGS 500 - Conducting Research in the Social Sciences 3 hrs.
• SSGS 501 - Data Analysis and Statistics in the Social Sciences 3 hrs.

•  

• PS 698 - Thesis 1-6 hrs. for a total of 6 hours.

• or

• PS 691 - Research in Political Science 1-16 hrs. AND
• PS 692 - Special Problems 1-3 hrs. arr.
• Major Field PS (9 hrs.)
• Minor Field (1) PS (6 hrs.)
• Minor Field (2) PS (6 hrs.)