The thesis option requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of credit, at least 24 of which must be for other than thesis research. The non-thesis plan requires a minimum of 36 semester hours of course work, with a minimum of 24 hours within the Department of Political Science and a minimum of six hours in a supporting field. The remaining courses are selected in consultation with the Graduate Advisor and the student's individual Advisory Committee. Further details about general requirements for the M.A. degree may be found in the Graduate Catalog. Students must complete nine hours during the Fall, Spring or 10 week summer semester to satisfy the residency requirements.
Most students spend three to four semesters pursuing the degree.
The Graduate Advisor will assist students in planning a program of study during the first semester. The Graduate Advisor may also appoint a temporary advisory committee for incoming students. Before the end of that semester, the student should select an Advisory Committee consisting of at least two professors from the Department of Political Science and one from another department. For students in the non- thesis option, the outside professor must be from a department in which the student plans to take at least one course. The chair of the Advisory Committee directs the general development of the student's work and should be consulted in establishing a degree plan.