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.
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.
Political Science program requirements and curriculum
The political science M.A. degree requires students to satisfy the graduate program requirements and overall political science program requirements.
Major fields/concentrations of study
The following are the course requirements for the major fields or concentrations offered in the political science M.A. program. Each major consists of general requirements, concentration electives, other electives and an essay or thesis.
- American politics
This concentration requires a minimum of 33 credits.
General requirements (seven credits)
Course # Title Credits PS 5630 Statistics and Data Analysis in Political Science I 4 PS 7660 Research Methods in Policy and Politics 3 Concentration requirements (six credits)
Course # Title Credits PS 7030 American Political Processes 3 PS 7040 American Governmental Institutions 3 Concentration electives (six credits)
May include one of the concentration requirements
Course # Title Credits PS 5030 African American Politics 4 PS 5040 Religion and Politics 3 PS 5110 Constitutional Law 4 PS 5120 Constitutional Rights and Liberties 4 PS 6010 Political Psychology 3 PS 6020 Intergovernmental Relations and American Federalism 3 PS 6050 Class, Race and Politics in America 3 PS 6860 American Foreign Policy 3 PS 7010 The New Institutionalism 3 PS 7410 Policy Formation and Implementation 3 Electives outside concentration
Students should select courses from other fields of political science to complement the concentration. Courses taken as concentration electives cannot be double-counted to meet this requirement.
Thesis or essay
Under Plan A the student writes a thesis (PS 8999 for eight credits). Under Plan B the student writes an essay (PS 7999 for three credits).
- Comparative politics
This concentration requires a minimum of 33 credits.
General requirements (seven credits)
Course # Title Credits PS 5630 Statistics and Data Analysis in Political Science I 4 PS 7660 Research Methods in Policy and Politics 3 Concentration requirements (six credits)
Course # Title Credits PS 7710 Seminar in Comparative Politics 3 PS 7711 Advanced Seminar in Comparative Politics 3 Comparative politics electives (nine credits)
Course # Title Credits PS 5999 Special Topics: Field Research/Mexico 3 PS 7711 Advanced Seminar in Comparative Politics (may be taken more than once when offered on different topics)
3 PS 7720 Comparative Politics of Advanced Industrial Democracies 3 PS 7730 Comparative Politics of Developing Countries 3 PS 7740 Comparative Political Economy 3 PS 7810 Seminar in World Politics 3 Electives outside concentration
Students should select courses from other fields of political science to complement the concentration. Courses taken as concentration electives cannot be double-counted to meet this requirement.
Thesis or essay
Under Plan A the student writes a thesis (PS 8999 for eight credits). Under Plan B the student writes an essay (PS 7999 for three credits).
- Political theory
This concentration requires a minimum of 33 credits.
General requirements (seven credits)
Course # Title Credits PS 5630 Statistics and Data Analysis in Political Science I 4 PS 7660 Research Methods in Policy and Politics 3 Concentration requirements (six credits)
Course # Title Credits PS 7550 Topics in the History of Political Thought 3 PS 7560 Contemporary Political and Social Theory 3 Concentration electives (nine credits)
Course # Title Credits PS 5560 Biopolitics 4 PS 5999 Special Topics: Politics of Science Fiction 3 PS 7550 Topics in the History of Political Thought (may be taken more than once for credit when topic is different) 3 PS 7580 Political Theory of Public Law 3 Electives outside concentration
Students should select courses from other fields of political science to complement the concentration. Courses taken as concentration electives cannot be double-counted to meet this requirement.
Thesis or essay
Under Plan A the student writes a thesis (PS 8999 for eight credits). Under Plan B the student writes an essay (PS 7999 for three credits).
- Public administration
Visit our master's in public administration for more information.
- Public policy
This concentration requires a minimum of 34 credits.
General requirements (seven credits)
Course # Title Credits PS 5630 Statistics and Data Analysis in Political Science I 4 PS 7660 Research Methods in Policy and Politics 3 Concentration requirements (nine credits)
Course # Title Credits PS 7410 Policy Formation and Implementation 3 PS 7480 Policy Analysis for Administration 3 PS 6640 Statistics and Data Analysis in Political Science II 3 Concentration electives (minimum of nine credits)
Course # Title Credits PS 7300 Public Administration and its Environment 3 PS 7330 Public Budgeting and Finance 3 PS 7240 Urban Public Policy 3 PS 7460 Program Evaluation 3 PS 7470 Comparative Public Policy 3 Electives outside concentration (six credits)
Course # Title Credits PS 5560 Biopolitics 4 PS 6860 American Foreign Policy 4 PS 6020 Intergovernmental Relations and American Federalism 3 PS 7040 American Governmental Institutions: Congress and the Courts ECO 5000 Microeconomics 4 Thesis or essay
Under Plan A the student writes a thesis (PS 8999 for eight credits). Under Plan B the student writes an essay (PS 7999 for three credits).
- Urban politics
This concentration requires a minimum of 33 credits.
General requirements (seven credits)
Course # Title Credits PS 5630 Statistics and Data Analysis in Political Science I 4 PS 7660 Research Methods in Policy and Politics 3 Concentration requirements (six credits)
Course # Title Credits PS 7210 Approaches to the Study of Urban Politics 3 PS 7240 Urban Public Policy 3 Concentration electives (nine credits)
Course # Title Credits PS 5030 African American Politics 4 PS 6020 Intergovernmental Relations and American Federalism 3 PS 6440 Regional, State and Urban Economic Development 3 PS 7250 Seminar in Urban Administration 3 PS 7330 Public Budgeting and Finance 3 Electives outside concentration
Students may take courses in American politics, comparative politics, political theory, public policy or world politics. Alternatively, in consultation with the director of graduate studies, students may take courses in other departments as long as the courses are logically related to the program of study.
Thesis or essay
Under Plan A the student writes a thesis (PS 8999 for eight credits). Under Plan B the student writes an essay (PS 7999 for three credits).
- World politics
This concentration requires a minimum of 33 credits.
General requirements (seven credits)
Course # Title Credits PS 7660 Research Methods in Policy and Politics 3 PS 5630 Statistics and Data Analysis in Political Science I 3 Concentration requirements (six credits)
Course # Title Credits PS 7810 Seminar in World Politics 3 PS 7811 Advanced Seminar in World Politics 3 Concentration electives (nine credits)
Course # Title Credits PS 5850 Human Rights 3 PS 5855 International Law 3 PS 5860 Conflict in the Nuclear Age 3 PS 5999 Special Topics: International Prosecution of State Actors 3 PS 6100 Introduction to Graduate Peace and Security Studies 3 PS 6830 Civil War and Conflict Processes 3 PS 6850 International Organizations 3 PS 6860 American Foreign Policy 3 PS 6870 US Foreign Relations Law 3 PS 7710 Seminar in Comparative Politics 3 PS 7711 Advanced Seminar in Comparative Politics (depending on the topic) 3 Electives outside concentration
Students should select courses from other fields of political science to complement the concentration. Courses taken as concentration electives cannot be double-counted to meet this requirement.
Thesis or essay
Under Plan A the student writes a thesis (PS 8999 for eight credits). Under Plan B the student writes an essay (PS 7999 for three credits).
Career insights
A degree in political science can lead to a variety of career paths. Here are just a few of the many opportunities available in this field.
| Career | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Climate change policy analyst | $74,000 |
| Compliance manager | $81,000 |
| Labor relations specialist | $72,000 |
| Legislator | $55,000 |
| Political science teachers, postsecondary | $90,000 |
| Political scientist | $75,000 |
| Public relations specialist | $61,000 |
| Regulatory affairs manager | $81,000 |
| Regulatory affairs specialist | $74,000 |
This data provides a broad overview of how major selection can lead to careers and is provided without any implied promise of employment. Some careers will require further education, skills or competencies. Actual salaries may vary significantly between similar employers and could change by graduation, as could employment opportunities and job titles.
Scholarships, financial aid and tuition
Special tuition discount of more than 30% for out-of-state students: For the 2025-26 academic year, out-of-state students in the Master of Arts in Political Science program qualify for a reduced tuition rate of $1,195.26 per credit hour, making a top-tier education even more accessible.
Learn more about graduate assistantship and fellowship opportunities.
Contact 💬
Yumin Sheng, director of graduate programs
gradpolisci@wayne.edu