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Program Description
The Master of Arts in Politics is a terminal master’s degree. The curriculum is designed to expose students to substantive knowledge and scholarly research in political science in order to help students develop critical thinking, analytical, research, and writing skills.
Students who pursue a Master of Arts in Politics specialize in one of the following fields of study: political philosophy and theory, American politics, political economy, or comparative politics.
Our MA program offers foundational training in the study of politics, and we are committed to providing our students with both practical skills and sound theoretical knowledge. Alumni of the program have embarked on successful professional careers in government and the public sector, non-profits, and the private sector, while others have gone on to pursue a PhD in political science or other related fields.
Dual Degree
The Politics Department offers a dual degree with the NYU School of Law: Politics MA/Law JD.
See Politics for admission requirements and instructions specific to this program.
Admissions
All applicants to the Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) are required to submit the general application requirements, which include:
See Politics for admission requirements and instructions specific to this program.
Program Requirements
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| POL-GA 3995 | Internship Seminar | 2 |
| POL-GA 4000 | Master's Thesis Seminar | 2 |
| 16 |
| 8 |
| 8 |
| Total Credits | 36 |
Additional Program Requirements
Master's Thesis
Students must complete a Master's thesis as part of POL-GA 4000 Master's Thesis Seminar. The thesis will be a heavily researched academic work consisting of 10,000-15,000 words dealing with an important and timely topic in politics related to a student’s chosen concentration. The thesis should demonstrate that a student has a sufficient command of literatures and arguments pertaining to the chosen topic. Students are required to notify the thesis seminar course instructor at the initiation of research for the master’s thesis and register for the MA thesis course. In conjunction with the MA advisor and the thesis seminar instructor, students will choose a faculty thesis supervisor. Once a thesis topic and supervisor are designated, the director of MA program must approve changes to them.
Foreign Language Requirement
Students must demonstrate proficiency in one language other than English or, with permission of the director of the MA program, in statistics. Students demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language by passing the GSAS foreign language proficiency examination or by completing an intermediate-level foreign language course with a grade of B or better. Students demonstrate proficiency in statistics by completing POL-GA 2127 Intro to Quantitative Political Analysis II, with a grade of B or better.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will develop:
- A familiarity and knowledge of the existing political science literature in their subfield of study. This goal is met through the core course requirements as well as the required courses in the student’s field of study. Assignments in core courses (whether examinations or literature reviews) are designed with this goal in mind. Finally, by the time the student is at the thesis writing stage, they should be able to demonstrate a sufficient command of the literature related to their thesis topic.
- The ability to undertake research projects/papers. This includes identifying research questions, connecting their research to the existing literature, and developing and evaluating their argument. This skill is developed through research paper assignments in seminars and then culminates in the MA thesis seminar. In their master’s thesis, graduates undertake and complete independent research projects under the guidance of their thesis supervisor and the MA thesis seminar instructor.
- A set of analytical and methodological skills that they can apply to political science research and beyond. Graduates will gain quantitative methodological skills through the quantitative methods course sequence. Graduates develop qualitative method and critical analysis skills through seminars. Subfield seminars and the MA Thesis Seminar heavily focus on the development of research design. Graduates ultimately apply and demonstrate these skills by analyzing data and/or qualitative information in their master’s thesis.
- The ability to write and communicate clearly. Writing skill are developed throughout the student’s time in the program, through both research paper and shorter written assignments. The MA thesis seminar is writing intensive and emphasizes writing as a process; sections of the thesis are due throughout the semester and extensive feedback is given to the student. The expectation is that in their thesis, the student demonstrates their ability to present their research in a form suitable to the rules and conventions of the academic community. Finally, oral communication skills are fostered through in-class presentations.
- Professional development through internships or research. Undertaking an internship provides graduates with practical experience in occupational fields related to political science. Graduates interested in academic careers gain experience through research assistantships or by undertaking an independent study under the supervision of a faculty member.
Policies
NYU Policies
University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.
Graduate School of Arts and Science Policies
Academic Policies for the Graduate School of Arts and Science can be found on the Academic Policies page.