Master of Arts in Political Science | M.A.

The Master of Arts in Political Science provides an exceptional graduate experience to students interested in pursuing careers in state and federal government, post-secondary teaching, non-governmental organizations, international businesses, or the further pursuit of a Juris Doctor or PhD program. With a large full-time faculty, students have the opportunity for a close intellectual exchange with professors and close mentoring. The program curriculum provides  exposure to a variety of courses in various subfields of political science, including American politics, international relations, political theory, and comparative politics. Seminars are limited to approximately 15 students with an average enrollment of 12 students. Students may also take Directed Readings courses that permit students to investigate specialized research topics on a one-to-one basis. 

Program Faculty

The 16 full-time graduate faculty members provide students with a wide range of expertise in areas such as the American founding and political thought, human rights policy, American foreign policy and grand strategy, authoritarianism and international law, African politics, religion and politics, the American presidency, international political economy, nuclear weapons and international security, Texas politics, and constitutional theory among others.  Faculty members’ research has been published in top-tier journals including American Political Science Review, Political Science Quarterly, International Journal of Human Rights, and Foreign Affairs. 

The program courses are organized into four major fields: American politics, comparative politics, political theory and international relations. 

While not required, the M.A. in political science offers four optional degree concentrations.

Both thesis and non-thesis students may take nine hours of their program hours in a related field with the approval of the graduate director, and thus pursue certificates in specific areas or broaden their experience. 

If you are a Texas State sophomore/junior thinking about the MA program, you should consider the 3+2 Option! 

**Application fee is mandatory for international students