Political Science (MA)
The Master of Arts in Political Science provides students with a general, political science graduate education that trains students in methodological techniques and research design, and provides training in at least three fields of political science.
The Political Science (MA) also offers an Accelerated Master's Pathway for Undergraduate students to complete their Graduate studies in a fifth year. Further details of the AMP, including the suggested sequence of courses, can be found under the Curriculum tab.
Related Programs
Master's
Doctoral
Combined
Curriculum
The Master of Arts in Political Science requires 30 hours of coursework. Students are required to take 3 methods courses and a combination of courses in the sub-fields of American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory. Students may complete an internship, write an MA thesis, or take comprehensive exams to fulfill their degree requirements.
Besides the traditional Master's program, the Political Science (MA) is also offered as an Accelerated Master's Pathway where exceptional students can complete the program in a fifth year. A suggested sequence for the AMP can be found below.
Course Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Political Science Methods | ||
| PLSC 401 | Intro to Research Design & Method | 3 |
| PLSC 475 | Political Analysis I | 3 |
| PLSC 476 | Political Analysis II | 3 |
| Seven Electives from Two Subfields 1 | 21 | |
| The sub-fields that may be chosen from are International Relations, Comparative Politics, American Politics, and Political Theory. | ||
| International Relations Courses | ||
| Theories of International Politics | ||
| Formulation US Foreign Policy | ||
| Comparative Foreign Policy Analysis | ||
| International Organization | ||
| International Political Economics | ||
| International Conflict | ||
| Selected Problems International Law | ||
| Selected Problems in International Politics | ||
| Seminar: International Politics | ||
| Comparative Politics Courses | ||
| Comparative Political Systems | ||
| Democratic Political Systems | ||
| Authoritarian Political Systems | ||
| Soviet & Post-Soviet Politics | ||
| Politics of Developing Areas | ||
| Sub-Saharan Africa | ||
| Latin American Politics | ||
| Politics of the Middle East | ||
| Political Violence | ||
| Comparative Politics Selected Problems | ||
| Seminar: Comparative Politics | ||
| Seminar Western European Politics | ||
| Soviet/Post-Soviet Foreign Policy | ||
| American Politics Courses | ||
| Selected Problems in American Politics | ||
| American Executive Branch | ||
| American Legislative Branch | ||
| Public Policy-Making & Implementation | ||
| Urban Politics | ||
| American Political Parties/Electoral Process | ||
| Constitutional Politics | ||
| The American Legal System | ||
| Political Psychology & Socialization | ||
| Managing Urban Government | ||
| Political Theory Courses | ||
| Ancient Political Thought | ||
| Modern Political Thought | ||
| Great Authors | ||
| Political Ethics | ||
| American Political Thought to Civil War | ||
| 19th Century Political Thought | ||
| Liberalism | ||
| Political Philosophy Selected Problems | ||
| Total Hours | 30 | |
- 1
Seven elective courses should be chosen from at least two subfields: International Relations, Comparative Politics, American Politics, or Political Theory. With approval of the Graduate Program Director, up to six (6) hours may be at the graduate level in related disciplines.
Capstone Requirement: Thesis, Comprehensive Exams, or Internship
Thesis
Students may satisfy six hours (2 courses) by writing a thesis. Students who choose this option will take PLSC 596 Thesis Research for two semesters (a total of 6 credit hours, which count as electives) and take PLSC 595 Thesis Supervision until they are done with the thesis.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Take for two semesters (may satisfy 6 elective hours) | ||
| Thesis Research | ||
| Take until done with thesis | ||
| Thesis Supervision | ||
Comprehensive Exam
MA students can choose to take a written comprehensive examination. The student will select five courses from the substantive courses they have taken on which they will be tested. Prior to taking the exam students must finish all incompletes. Students may be currently registered for courses necessary for the degree in the semester in which they take the exam. If the student has fulfilled all degree requirements except for the comprehensive exams, they should register for PLSC 605 Master's Study in the semesters leading up to and including the exam. Students taking comprehensive examinations at the master’s degree level are expected to answer theoretical and substantive questions from a range of five courses they have taken in their coursework. Once a student knows that s/he will take the exam in a particular semester, we highly recommend that they discuss the exam with the faculty members with whom they have taken the five chosen courses. Comprehensive exams will take place during the second half of the fall and spring semesters. Students will answer three questions over a weekend, receiving the exam on a Friday at 5:00 PM and returning the completed examination the following Monday, at 9:00 AM. All three answers must be written during the specified weekend with no outside assistance. Students will write a maximum of 21, double-spaced pages (normal formatting: 1” margins, Times New Roman, 12 pitch font). Each answer should be approximately six or seven pages. Prior to taking comprehensive exams, students must submit to the Graduate Program Director a departmental “MA Requirements and Comprehensive Examination Form,” that lists all of the courses the student has taken and identifies on which courses the student would like to be tested. At the beginning of each semester the Graduate Program Director will distribute this form to all students who will take the exam.
Doctoral students who have passed their PhD comprehensive exams and elect to leave the program with an MA before completing the PhD may use those exams to satisfy the MA capstone requirement. Departing doctoral students must have met all other MA program requirements to earn the MA.
Internship
PLSC 470 Fieldwork in Political Science-Internship offers academic credit toward your major or minor while interning and gaining professional experience at one of several organizations, either here in Chicago or elsewhere. The intent is for students to 1) apply their education to date in a professional setting, 2) gain valuable experience at the start of their professional careers, 3) to explore a particular area of professional interest before embarking on their careers, and 4) to potentially “get a foot in the door” within a particular field or employer with the hope of landing a permanent position upon graduation. While past interns have received job offers from organization where they have interned, there are no guarantees or promises of employment that accompany taking this course.
Suggested Sequence of Courses
The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework. An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for a major or graduate study. Students should consult their advisor for assistance with course selection.
Traditional Master's Program
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| PLSC 401 | Intro to Research Design & Method | 3 |
| PLSC 475 | Political Analysis I | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| PLSC 476 | Political Analysis II | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
- 1
If pursuing thesis capstone option, student must substitute this elective for PLSC 596 Thesis Research.
Accelerated Master's Pathway
Students can take up to 12 credit hours in the senior year with admission to the AMP. These credits are shared between the Bachelor's and Master's programs.
| Senior | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| PLSC 401 | Intro to Research Design & Method | 3 |
| PLSC 475 | Political Analysis I | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| PLSC 476 | Political Analysis II | 3 |
| PLSC 400-Level or higher Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Master's | ||
| Fall | ||
| PLSC 400-Level or higher Elective 2 | 3 | |
| PLSC 400-Level or higher Elective | 3 | |
| PLSC 400-Level or higher Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| PLSC 400-Level or higher Elective 2 | 3 | |
| PLSC 400-Level or higher Elective | 3 | |
| PLSC 400-Level or higher Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
- 1
Students choose from the following options: PLSC 404, PLSC 405, PLSC 406, PLSC 407, PLSC 410, PLSC 411, PLSC 412, PLSC 416, PLSC 417, PLSC 418, PLSC 419, PLSC 420, PLSC 421, PLSC 422, PLSC 423, PLSC 424, PLSC 425, PLSC 426, PLSC 427, PLSC 428, PLSC 429, PLSC 430, PLSC 431, PLSC 432, PLSC 433, PLSC 435, PLSC 436, PLSC 437, PLSC 439, PLSC 440, PLSC 442, PLSC 444, PLSC 446, PLSC 447, PLSC 449, PLSC 470, PLSC 506, PLSC 520, PLSC 521, PLSC 531, PLSC 532, PLSC 533, PLSC 543, or PLSC 546. Students should consult the Graduate Program Director for assistance in selecting an elective that conforms with their research interests.
- 2
If pursuing thesis capstone option, student must substitute this elective for PLSC 596 Thesis Research.
Responsible Conduct of Research
All PhD students and students in thesis-based Master's degree programs must successfully complete UNIV 370 Responsible Conduct in Research and Scholarship or other approved coursework in responsible conduct of research as part of the degree requirements. It is strongly recommended that students complete this two-day training before beginning the dissertation/thesis stage of the program.
Guidelines for Accelerated Master's Pathways
In Accelerated Master’s Pathways, students share limited, authorized credits between their Undergraduate and Graduate degrees to facilitate completion of both degrees in a shorter amount of time. Shared credits are Graduate level credit hours (400-level or higher) taken during the Undergraduate career and then applied both to the Undergraduate degree and towards Graduate program requirements.
Admission and Matriculation
Accelerated Master's Pathways are designed to enhance opportunities for advanced training for Loyola’s Undergraduates. Admission to these programs is competitive and will depend upon a positive review of credentials by the Graduate program. Accordingly, the admission requirements for these programs may be higher than those required if the Master’s degree were pursued entirely after the receipt of a Bachelor’s degree.
Students enrolled in an Accelerated Master's Pathway who choose not to continue to the Master’s degree program upon completion of the Bachelor’s degree will face no consequences.
Ideally, a student will apply for admission to an AMP program as they approach 90 credit hours in their Undergraduate career.
Students will not officially matriculate into the Master’s degree program and be labeled as a Graduate student by the university, with accompanying changes to tuition and Financial Aid (see below), until the Undergraduate degree has been awarded. Once admitted to the Graduate program, students must meet the academic standing requirements of their Graduate program as they complete the program curriculum.
Advising and Registration
Students in their final Undergraduate year will work with Advising in the home School of their Bachelor's program(s), as well as the Graduate Program Director of the Master’s program. Any 400-level or higher courses that the student plans to enroll in should be reviewed by both advisors to ensure that these courses will complete requirements for both degrees.
Registration in Graduate level courses during the Undergraduate year may require assistance from the Graduate Program Director and/or the student’s current academic advisor to enroll.
Shared Credits
Only courses taken at the 400-level or higher will count toward the Graduate program. At the Undergraduate level, students are restricted to enrolling in and sharing up to the number of Graduate level credits explicitly indicated in the catalog for their selected AMP program.
In general, Graduate level coursework should not be taken prior to admission into the Accelerated Master's Pathway. Exceptions may be granted for professional programs where curriculum for the Accelerated Master's Pathway is designed to begin earlier. On the recommendation of the program’s Graduate Program Director, students may take one of their Graduate level courses before they are admitted to the Accelerated Master’s Pathway if they have advanced abilities in their discipline and course offerings warrant such an exception.
Degree Requirements and Conferral
Undergraduate degree requirements are in no way impacted by admission to an Accelerated Master’s Pathway. Students should not, for example, attempt to negotiate themselves out of a writing intensive requirement on the basis of admission to a Graduate program.
The program’s Graduate Program Director will designate credit hours to be shared through the advising form and Master’s degree conferral review process. Graduate credit hours taken during the Undergraduate career will not be included in the Graduate GPA calculation.
If students wish to transfer credits from another university to Loyola University Chicago, the program’s Graduate Program Director will review the relevant syllabus or syllabi to determine whether it meets the criteria for a 400-level course or higher.
Programs with specialized accreditation requirements that allow programs to offer Graduate curriculum to Undergraduate students will conform to those specialized accreditation requirements.
Degrees are awarded sequentially. All details of Undergraduate commencement are handled in the ordinary way as for all students in the School/College/Institute. Once matriculated in the Graduate program, students abide by the graduation deadlines set forth by the Graduate program. Students in these programs must be continuously enrolled from Undergraduate to Graduate degree program unless given explicit permission by their program for a gap year or approved leave of absence. In offering the option of an Accelerated Master’s Pathway, the university is making possible the acceleration of a student’s Graduate degree completion. It should be understood that students may not request deferral of their matriculation into the Master’s degree program. If students would like to delay their Graduate studies after earning the Undergraduate degree, they may apply for admission to the traditional Master’s degree program. Any application of Graduate credit earned while in the Undergraduate program is subject to the policies of the Graduate degree granting school.
Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations
Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.
Learning Outcomes
Students will graduate from the MA in Political Science program having achieved the following learning outcomes:
- Apply theories and concepts of political science when interpreting past and present political issues.
- Evaluate empirical and normative claims about political phenomena by assessing theoretical coherence and empirical evidence.
- Implement quantitative research methods to answer political questions using statistical software to generate and interpret results
- Communicate about complex political issues clearly and effectively in written and oral formats.
We also encourage our MA students to take advantage of additional learning opportunities through numerous Political Science-sponsored programs:
- Advanced methodological training
- Advanced language training/proficiency in a language other than English
- Advanced research skills
- International, cross-cultural experience
- Professional development and experience
- Networking opportunities