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Degrees

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Candidates for the M.A. may elect either a thesis option, which requires 30 hours of graduate course work plus a thesis, or a non-thesis option, which requires 33 graduate hours and a bibliographic essay. M.A. students also must take 9 credits in a particular area of study (American Politics, Comparative Politics, Political Analysis, Political Theory, or another area approved by the Graduate Director). The M.A. program usually takes two years to complete.

MA Information

Degree Plans

Ph.D.

The Ph.D. requires a minimum of 48 hours of course work, including M.A. work; written comprehensive examination in two subfields and the successful defense of a dissertation. The doctoral degree usually takes an additional two years beyond the M.A., although some complete the M.A. and Ph.D. within four years.

PhD Information

Comprehensive Exam Information