Master of Arts in Political Science

The Master of Arts in Political Science (M.A.) is designed for students who have completed a four-year undergraduate degree and wish to continue their education in political science. The M.A. in Political Science will prepare you for a career in many different fields, including government, education, policy advocacy and the non-profit sector.

Masters students complete a minimum of 33 credits including a three-credit capstone master's essay. We admit full and part-time students and most students complete their degree in two to three years. Many students go on to earn a doctorate upon completion of the M.A. There are a limited number of partial tuition scholarships available to master's students. Students who have been admitted to our master's program may apply for the Graduate Professional Scholarship and for CLAS scholarships. Wayne State undergraduates who participated in AGRADE may apply for an AGRADE scholarship.

Our M.A. students have the opportunity to specialize in one of six subfields of study: American government and politics, comparative politics, political theory, public policy, urban politics, or world politics. Students in the M.A. program also gain advanced analytic and methodological skills. Our program offers many advantages, including small class sizes, a diverse student body, a faculty dedicated to excellence in both teaching and research and the connections of our strong alumni network.

Admissions

See Master of Arts in Political Science admissions for more information.

Advising

The graduate director serves as the primary advisor to prospective students and continues to advise all students entering the master's degree program, helping you in initial course selection and in devising your plan of work. Later, students select a faculty advisor in their field of concentration.