Mar 28, 2024  
Graduate Catalog 2016-2017 
    
Graduate Catalog 2016-2017 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Master of Arts in Political Science


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Director of Graduate Studies:
Jim Butterfield,
Room 3352, Friedmann Hall

The Master of Arts in Political Science offers the student a variety of options to prepare him/her for various career goals: (1) positions public service and quasi-public agencies; (2) further professional training in political science and related professions, such as law; (3) teaching positions in community colleges; and (4) general positions in the business world.

 

Admission Requirements


In addition to meeting the general admission requirements of the Graduate College, a student must have completed at least 24 hours of work in the social sciences or other relevant fields and have achieved a 3.0 grade point average. Graduate Record Exam scores for the quantitative, verbal, and analytical parts are required for all students. Additional materials to be submitted include a brief essay about the student’s academic and professional objectives, a curriculum vita, and three recommendations (on WMU Graduate Reference Forms). The department may require the student to make up deficiencies in undergraduate preparation.

Program Requirements


The program is 30 credit hours and allows students to choose between the thesis and non-thesis options. Requirements in the two options may not be interchanged. Students should meet with the Director of Graduate Studies before registering for classes their first semester.

Thesis Option


1. Thirty hours of graduate credit in Political Science.


With the written approval of the Graduate Director, a student may substitute up to two courses with a maximum of eight hours of cognate work appropriate to his/her program.

2. Each student is required to take the following core courses (12 hours) or their equivalent:


3. Master’s Thesis


4. Pass an oral examination on the thesis and on the student’s political science program.


Non-Thesis Option


1. Thirty hours of graduate credit in Political Science.


With written approval of the Graduate Director, a student may substitute up to two courses with a maximum of eight hours of cognate work appropriate to his/her program.

2. Each student is required to take the following core courses (12 hours) or their equivalent:


3. Pass written and oral field examinations on the student’s political science program.


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