Political Science (BA/MA)
The dual BA/MA program allows our best undergraduate Political Science majors to pursue the BA and MA in a shorter period of time than if both programs were pursued separately. Students typically complete the dual BA/MA program in 5 years, as opposed to the 6 years if both programs were pursued separately.
CURRICULUM
Students admitted to the Political Science BA/MA Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's program may apply up to 12 semester hours of credit earned toward the 120 semester hours needed for the BA toward the 30-hour requirement for the MA degree. The 12 hours must be 400- or 500-level credit. The 12 hours of credit applied toward the MA degree are in addition to the 33 semester hours of credit normally required for the undergraduate political science major. The application of the 12 hours of credit toward the 30-hour MA requirement means that students will only be required to take 18 additional semester hours of coursework beyond the 120 hours required for the BA degree. As a result, students will be able to complete the MA degree in less time than normal. The four graduate courses that students take in their senior year will count towards their major in PLSC.
Course Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Political Science BA Requirements | ||
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| Political Theory | ||
| American Politics | ||
| International Relations in an Age of Globalization | ||
| Comparative Politics | ||
| BA Subfield Requirements | ||
| One (1) course in American Politics Subfield | 3 | |
| One (1) course in Political Theory Subfield | 3 | |
| One (1) course in Comparative Politics Subfield | 3 | |
| One (1) course in International Relations Subfield | 3 | |
| Four (4) PLSC Electives | 12 | |
| Political Science MA Requirements | ||
| 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 MA Subfields 2 | 21 | |
| The MA subfields 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 | 63 | |
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If students take PLSC 100, 101, or 102 as the three required courses for the major, they can also take PLSC 103 and have it count as an elective in the major. Students in the BA/MA Political Science and Students in the BA/MA in International Affairs can count two of the graduate level courses (at the 400 or 500 level) that they take in their senior year as electives in the PLSC major, alongside the other two courses at the 200 or 300 level.
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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.
BA Curricular Notes
- The Political Science internship program (PLSC 370), a 3- or 6-credit hour course, counts as one of the four Political Science electives. Only 3 credits of PLSC 370 may count toward the PLSC major, the other three will be counted as general electives. An exception is made for students who complete an internship in Chicago as well as an internship via the Washington, DC program. In that case, 3 credit hours from each internship may be applied to the major.
- The following courses do not fulfill subfield requirements but do count as electives toward the PLSC major: PLSC 396 Directed Readings and PLSC 216 Political Numbers (PLSC 216 also fulfills the core quantitative reasoning requirement for PLSC majors only.)
- The following courses neither fulfill subfield requirements nor count as electives toward the PLSC major: PLSC 395 Political Science Honors Seminar. This is an extra course that students take beyond the major requirements in order to graduate with Honors in Political Science.
BA Subfield Courses
American Politics
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PLSC 202 | Mock Trial 1 | 3 |
| PLSC 203 | Moot Court 1 | 3 |
| PLSC 208 | Representation in the United States | 3 |
| PLSC 215 | Politics of Marginalized Groups | 3 |
| PLSC 218 | African-American Politics | 3 |
| PLSC 236 | Political Communication | 3 |
| PLSC 238 | Political Advocacy | 3 |
| PLSC 251 | Women in American Politics | 3 |
| PLSC 300A | Contemporary Political Issues: American Politics | 3 |
| PLSC 318 | Politics & the Economy | 3 |
| PLSC 319 | Women, Law & Public Policy | 3 |
| PLSC 320 | Constitutional Law-Due Process | 3 |
| PLSC 321 | Constitutional Law-Powers of Government | 3 |
| PLSC 322 | Constitutional Law-Rights and Liberties | 3 |
| PLSC 323 | Children, Law & Public Policy | 3 |
| PLSC 324 | Civil-Military Relations | 3 |
| PLSC 326 | American National Security | 3 |
| PLSC 327 | Political Psychology | 3 |
| PLSC 328 | Political Behavior | 3 |
| PLSC 329 | Interest Group Politics | 3 |
| PLSC 332 | Politics of American Bureaucracies | 3 |
| PLSC 334 | Urban Policies and Problems | 3 |
| PLSC 335 | Urban Semester Seminar | 3 |
| PLSC 357 | Hollywood and Law | 3 |
| PLSC 372 | Crime, Race & Violence | 3 |
| PLSC 376 | Political Behavior and Public Opinion | 3 |
| PLSC 377 | American Public Policies | 3 |
| PLSC 378 | Intro to Political Economy | 3 |
| PLSC 379 | The Legislative Process | 3 |
| PLSC 380 | Public Policy Analysis | 3 |
| PLSC 381 | The American Presidency | 3 |
| PLSC 384 | The Judicial Process | 3 |
| PLSC 385 | Introduction to Law | 3 |
| PLSC 386 | Campaigns and Elections | 3 |
| PLSC 387 | Politics and the Press | 3 |
| PLSC 389 | State Politics | 3 |
| PLSC 390 | Urban Politics | 3 |
| PLSC 391 | Chicago Politics | 3 |
| PLSC 392 | Environmental Politics | 3 |
| PLSC 393 | Black Politics | 3 |
| PLSC 398 | Washington DC Internship Seminar 2 | 3 |
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This course is Engaged Learning.
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This course is Writing Intensive.
Political Theory
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PLSC 300B | Contemporary Political Issues: Political Theory | 3 |
| PLSC 301 | Political Justice | 3 |
| PLSC 302 | American Political Thought | 3 |
| PLSC 303 | Conservatism | 3 |
| PLSC 304 | Ancient Political Thought | 3 |
| PLSC 306 | Modern Political Thought | 3 |
| PLSC 307 | Democratic Theory | 3 |
| PLSC 308 | Contemporary Political Thought | 3 |
| PLSC 309 | Socialism | 3 |
| PLSC 310B | Catholic Political Thought | 3 |
| PLSC 312 | Feminist Theory | 3 |
| PLSC 313 | Resistance and Obligation | 3 |
| PLSC 314 | Liberalism | 3 |
| PLSC 330 | Global Justice | 3 |
| PLSC 331 | Islamic Political Thought | 3 |
| PLSC 339 | Political Ideologies | 3 |
| PLSC 373 | Politics and Literature | 3 |
| PLSC 388 | The Morality and Legality of War | 3 |
Comparative Politics
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PLSC 232 | Politics of the United Kingdom | 3 |
| PLSC 300C | Contemporary Political Issues: Comparative Politics | 3 |
| PLSC 336 | Politics in Contemporary China | 3 |
| PLSC 337 | Terrorism | 3 |
| PLSC 339 | Political Ideologies | 3 |
| PLSC 342 | African Politics | 3 |
| PLSC 343 | Latin American Politics | 3 |
| PLSC 344 | Contemporary Issues in Latin America | 3 |
| PLSC 345 | South & Southeast Asian Politics | 3 |
| PLSC 346 | East Asian Politics | 3 |
| PLSC 347 | The European Union | 3 |
| PLSC 348 | Soviet & Post-Soviet Politics | 3 |
| PLSC 349 | Eastern European Politics | 3 |
| PLSC 352 | Canadian Politics | 3 |
| PLSC 355C | Women and Politics: A Cross-National Perspective | 3 |
| PLSC 359 | Revolutions | 3 |
| PLSC 360 | Western European Politics | 3 |
| PLSC 362 | Politics Developing Societies | 3 |
| PLSC 365 | Italian Politics & Government | 3 |
| PLSC 366 | Dictatorship | 3 |
| PLSC 368 | Politics of the Middle East | 3 |
| PLSC 374 | Democracy | 3 |
| GLST 303 | Technological Change and Society | 3 |
International Relations
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PLSC 204 | Conflict Management | 3 |
| PLSC 213 | International Human Rights | 3 |
| PLSC 252 | Capitalism and Its Discontents | 3 |
| PLSC 300D | Contemporary Political issues in International Relations | 3 |
| PLSC 316 | Politics of Genocide | 3 |
| PLSC 317 | Politics of International Health | 3 |
| PLSC 325 | American Foreign Policy | 3 |
| PLSC 333 | Crossing Borders: The Politics of Immigration | 3 |
| PLSC 340 | International Relations of Africa | 3 |
| PLSC 350 | Politics of International Economic Relations | 3 |
| PLSC 351 | Latin American International System | 3 |
| PLSC 353 | International Law | 3 |
| PLSC 354 | Global Environmental Politics | 3 |
| PLSC 356 | Intervent in World Politics | 3 |
| PLSC 358 | War, Peace and Politics | 3 |
| PLSC 358D | The Scientific Study of War | 3 |
| PLSC 363 | International Politics | 3 |
| PLSC 364 | UN & International Organization | 3 |
| PLSC 367 | Model United Nations 1 | 3 |
| PLSC 369 | Politics of Energy | 3 |
| GLST 302 | States and Firms | 3 |
| GLST 305 | Globalization and Environmental Sustainability | 3 |
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This course is Engaged Learning.
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
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. During Year 4, students should plan to take any required major or elective courses needed to complete their undergraduate degree alongside the suggested graduate courses. Students should consult their advisor for assistance with course selection.
| Year 4 | ||
|---|---|---|
| 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 Graduate-Level Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Year 5 | ||
| Fall | ||
| PLSC Graduate-Level Elective | 3 | |
| PLSC Graduate-Level Elective | 3 | |
| PLSC Graduate-Level Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| PLSC Graduate-Level Elective | 3 | |
| PLSC Graduate-Level Elective | 3 | |
| PLSC Graduate-Level Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
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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 Bachelor’s/Master’s Programs
Terms
- Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s programs: In this type of program, students share limited credits between their undergraduate and graduate degrees to facilitate completion of both degrees.
- Shared credits: Graduate level credit hours taken during the undergraduate program and then applied towards graduate program requirements will be referred to as shared credits.
Admission Requirements
Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s programs are designed to enhance opportunities for advanced training for Loyola’s undergraduates. Admission to these programs must be competitive and will depend upon a positive review of credentials by the program’s admissions committee. 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. That is, programs may choose to have more stringent admissions requirements in addition to those minimal requirements below.
Requirements:
- Declared appropriate undergraduate major,
- By the time students begin taking graduate courses as an undergraduate, the student has completed approximately 90 credit hours, or the credit hours required in a program that is accredited by a specialty organization,1
- A minimum cumulative GPA for coursework at Loyola that is at or above the program-specific requirements, a minimum major GPA that is at or above the program-specific requirements, and/or appropriate designated coursework for evaluation of student readiness in their discipline.2
Students not eligible for the Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s program (e.g., students who have not declared the appropriate undergraduate major) may apply to the master’s program through the regular admissions process. Students enrolled in an Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s program who choose not to continue to the master’s degree program upon completion of the bachelor’s degree will face no consequences.3
Ideally, a student will apply for admission (or confirm interest in proceeding towards the graduate degree in opt-out programs) as they approach 90 credit hours. Programs are encouraged to begin advising students early in their major so that they are aware of the program and, if interested, can complete their bachelor’s degree requirements in a way that facilitates completion of the program. Once admitted as an undergraduate, Program Directors should ensure that students are enrolled using the plan code associated with the Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s program. Using the plan code associated with the Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s program will ensure that students may be easily identified as they move through the program. 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.
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Programs that have specialized accreditation will adhere to the admissions criteria provided by, or approved by, their specialized accreditors.
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The program will identify appropriate indicators of student readiness for graduate coursework (e.g., high-level performance in 300 level courses). Recognizing differences between how majors are designed, we do not specify a blanket requirement.
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If students choose not to enroll in the Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s program, they still must complete all of the standard requirements associated with the undergraduate degree (e.g., a capstone).
For more information on Admissions requirements, visit here.
Curriculum
Level and progression of courses. The Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s programs are designed to be competitive and attractive to our most capable students. Students admitted to Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s programs should be capable of meeting graduate level learning outcomes. Following guidance from the Higher Learning Commission, only courses taken at the 400 level or higher (including 300/400 level courses taken at the 400 level) will count toward the graduate program.1,2 Up to 50% of the total graduate level credit hours, required in the graduate program, may come from 300/400 level courses where the student is enrolled in the 400 level of the course. Further, at least 50% of the credit hours for the graduate program must come from courses that are designed for and restricted to graduate students who have been admitted to a graduate program at Loyola (e.g., enrolled in plan code that indicates the Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s program, typically ending with the letter “D”).3
In general, graduate level coursework should not be taken prior to admission into the Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s program. Exceptions may be granted for professional programs where curriculum for the Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s program is designed to begin earlier. On the recommendation of the program’s Graduate Director, students may take one of their graduate level courses before they are admitted to the Accelerated Bachelors/Master’s program if they have advanced abilities in their discipline and course offerings warrant such an exception.4 Undergraduate degree requirements outside of the major are in no way impacted by admission to an Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s program.5
Shared credits. Undergraduate courses (i.e., courses offered at the 300 level or below) cannot be counted as shared credits nor count towards the master’s degree. Up to 50% of the total graduate level credit hours, required in the graduate program, may be counted in meeting both the undergraduate and graduate degree requirements. Of those shared credits, students in an Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s program should begin their graduate program with the standard introductory course(s) for the program whenever possible. So that students may progress through the Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s program in a timely manner, undergraduate programs are encouraged to design their curriculum such that a student can complete some required graduate credit hours while completing the undergraduate degree. For instance, some of the graduate curriculum should also satisfy electives for the undergraduate major.
The program’s Graduate Director will designate credit hours to be shared through the advising form and master’s degree conferral review process. Shared credit hours will not be marked on the undergraduate record as having a special status in the undergraduate program. They will be included in the student’s undergraduate earned hours and GPA. Graduate credit hours taken during the undergraduate program will not be included in the graduate GPA calculation.
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If students wish to transfer credits from another university to Loyola University Chicago, the program’s Graduate director will review the relevant syllabus(es) to determine whether it meets the criteria for a 400 level course or higher.
- 2
Programs with specialized accreditation requirements that allow programs to offer graduate curriculum to undergraduate students will conform to those specialized accreditation requirements.
- 3
In rare cases, the Graduate Director may authorize enrollment in a 400-level course for a highly qualified and highly motivated undergraduate, ensuring that the undergraduate's exceptional participation in the graduate class will not diminish in any way the experience of the graduate students regularly enrolled.
- 4
For example, if a particular course is only offered once every 2-3 years, and a student has demonstrated the necessary ability to be successful, the Graduate Director may allow a student to take a graduate level course to be shared prior to the student being formally admitted to the graduate program. See, also, footnote 3.
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Students should not, for example, attempt to negotiate themselves out of a writing intensive requirement on the basis of admission to a graduate program.
Graduation
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 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 Bachelor’s/Master’s program, 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.
Learning OUTCOMES
The dual BA/MA in Political Science offers students:
- An overview of the theories and scholarly literature devoted to four major Political Science subfields: American Politics (study of U.S. institutions and political processes); Comparative Politics (study of political processes in various regions of the world, such as Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East); International Relations (study of global processes throughout the international system); or Political Theory (study of political philosophy ranging from Ancient to Modern and Contemporary political thought).
- Methods training, including research design and statistical analysis, that will enable the successful candidate to effectively design and conduct research.
- Enhanced ability to express their thoughts in writing (all Political Science graduate classes include a significant writing component).
- Preparartion for purposeful careers in politics, government, international affairs, law, the non-profit world, journalism, business, education, social services, and other professions, as well as for further graduate (PhD) study at professional schools and institutions of higher learning, both in the U.S. and abroad.
- We also encourage our BA/MA students to take advantage of additional learning opportunities: Advanced methodological training; Advanced language training/proficiency in a language other than English; Advanced research skills; International, cross-cultural experience; Professional development and experience; and Networking opportunities