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DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AND GEOGRAPHY

Master of Arts Degree in Political Science

The Master of Arts degree in Political Science offers students the opportunity to develop and expand their understanding of political theories, methodologies, and substantive political affairs. The program prepares students for possible careers in city, state and federal government, international governmental and non-governmental organizations, public opinion polling, campaign management, community college teaching and other related occupations. The program also provides excellent preparation for law school and doctoral studies. Students may specialize in American Government, International politics, or political Theory and Public Law, or design their own specialization.

Program Admission Requirements. Students wishing to apply to the Master of Arts Program in political Science must submit the following materials to the graduate admissions office:

  1. an application form (available online at www.utsa.edu/graduate/)
  2. an application fee
  3. official transcripts from all collegiate institutions attended including community colleges
  4. a statement of purpose (roughly 500 words or two typed pages) indicating your interest and goals in studying Political science
  5. at least one letter of recommendation from someone familiar with your academic or professional qualifications.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and LSAT scores are optional, but are recommended for students who feel their undergraduate grade point average does not accurately reflect their academic potential. To qualify for unconditional admission, applicants must submit the above materials and satisfy all University requirements, have completed 18 semester credit hours in upper-division undergraduate or graduate-level courses in political science or related fields, and have a 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) in the last 60 hours of undergraduate and graduate work. Applicants who do not meet the requirements for unconditional admission will be considered on a case-by-case basis and may be admitted conditionally. Students who wish to take courses in the program without earning credit toward a Master’s degree may apply as non-degree-seeking students.

Degree Requirements. The minimum number of semester credit hours required for the degree is 36. Students without a basic foundation in statistics and/or social science research methods may be required to complete an undergraduate-level course in one of these areas before enrolling in POL 5013 Research Methods.

Degree candidates must complete the following requirements:

  1. 6 semester credit hours of methodological core courses:

    POL 5003 Political Inquiry
    POL 5013 Research Methods

    Plus 6 semester credit hours of breadth core courses from the following:

    POL 5043 International Politics
    POL 5063 Political Philosophy
    POL 5153 American Government and POLitics

  2. 18 semester credit hours (for the Master’s thesis) or 21 semester credit hours (for the Master’s essay) of designated elective courses in consultation with the faculty advisor. Students may receive up to 6 semester credit hours for courses taken outside of POLitical science after consultation with their advisor.

    Students specializing in American Government must complete:

    POL 5153 American Government and Politics

    And at least 9 semester credit hours from the following:

    POL 5023 Political Economy
    POL 5033 Political Communications and Behavior
    POL 5103 Topics in American Politics
    POL 5113 Latino/a Politics
    POL 5133 Ethnic and Gender Politics
    POL 5143 Theory and the City
    POL 5163 American Political Development
    POL 5173 Policy Process
    POL 5183 Congress
    POL 5193 Presidency
    POL 5403 Topics in Political Communications and Behavior
    POL 5413 Political Psychology
    POL 5423 Campaign Management and Consulting
    POL 5433 Electoral Behavior
    POL 5443 Polling and Survey Research Techniques
    POL 5454 Political Advertising
    POL 5503 Constitutional Law and Judicial Decision-Making

    Students specializing in International Politics must complete:

    POL 5043 International Politics

    And at least 9 semester credit hours from the following:

    PAD 5663 Development Administration
    POL 5303 Topics in Comparative and International Politics
    POL 5313 Comparative Political Parties
    POL 5333 European Politics
    POL 5363 Mexican Politics
    POL 5373 Human Rights
    POL 5703 American Foreign Policy
    POL 5713 Comparative Political Systems
    POL 5723 International Organizations
    POL 5733 Political Actors and Systems in Latin America
    POL 5743 Electoral Systems in the Americas
    POL 5773 Comparative Foreign Policy
    POL 5783 International Security
    POL 5793 International Political Economy
    POL 5813 Principles of Economic Governance
    POL 5823 Political Economy of the Americas
    POL 5833 Business and Labor in U.S. Politics
    POL 5853 Economic Geography
    POL 5873 Global Governance
    POL 5903 Political Geography

    Students specializing in Political Theory and Public Law must complete:

    POL 5063 Political Philosophy

    And at least 9 semester credit hours from the following:

    POL 5143 Theory and the City
    POL 5203 Topics in Political Theory
    POL 5223 Issues in Contemporary Political Theory
    POL 5243 International Justice and Values Relativism
    POL 5253 Issues of Immigration
    POL 5263 Theories of Racism
    POL 5273 Contemporary POLitical Theory and Social Policy
    POL 5503 Constitutional Law and Judicial Decision-Making
    POL 5523 Litigation Politics
    POL 6103 Seminar in Theories of Politics and Law

  3. 6 semester credit hours (Master’s Thesis); 3 semester credit hours (Master’s Essay):

    POL 6983 Master’s Thesis
    or
    POL 6993 Master’s Essay

  4. D. Students must complete the core course requirements within their first 18 hours of coursework. Students must complete at least 21 semester credit hours of coursework and maintain a 3.0 grade point average before they may enroll in POL 6983 Master’s Thesis or POL 6993 Master’s Essay.

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