Our program prepares students for careers in professional political science while providing a traditional liberal arts education.
Master of Arts in Political Science | M.A.
Welcome to the Political Science graduate program at Texas State!
A Texas State Masters Degree in Political Science provides students essential job skills for modern public or private sector jobs, including critical thinking, communication, writing, and research, as well as a broad perspective on national and global trends impacting political and economic developments.
About the Program
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.
Graduate Advisor
Dr. Ionut Popescu
icp11@txstate.edu
512.245.6075
Trauth-Huffman Hall (THH), Room 323
Advisor Support
Dodie Weidner
dw29@txstate.edu
512.245.7815
Trauth-Huffman Hall (THH), Room 355
Careers and Alumni
Our graduates are well prepared to pursue careers in a variety of fields, including teaching postsecondary social studies and American government, working in local and federal government institutions in Austin, San Antonio and Washington, DC, the nongovernmental sector, national and international business, as well as to continue their graduate studies in Law School or PhD institutions.
The fully-online Social Science Teacher Emphasis option provides the opportunity to teach high school and dual credit courses at secondary institutions and community colleges across the state.
Our recent graduates are working at places such as:
Federal Agencies
U.S. Department of State
U.S. House of Representatives
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
State and Local Agencies
Texas Health & Human Services
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Texas State UniversityUT Austin
UT San Antonio
Austin ISD
Bastrop County Development Services
Metro San Antonio Chamber of Commerce
Private Sector
Tesla
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Nonprofit Agencies
The Cicero Institute
Texas Public Policy Foundation
The Graduate Program provided the perfect bridge between my military service and my current role in public policy. The program's rigorous coursework from international relations to local politics equipped me with both theoretical frameworks and practical applications that I use daily. My graduate education wasn't just academic exercise—it was career preparation that transformed my desire to serve into tangible public policy impact.
Selene Rodriguez
M.A. '22
The Department is home to the most incredible and attentive faculty and boasts comprehensive offerings in topics ranging from political theory, American government, and international relations. Additionally, the camaraderie between Political Science students across all aisles of the political spectrum is truly unmatched. I made numerous lifelong friendships during my time. My political science degrees from Texas State have proved invaluable in my further pursuits in law school and beyond!
Montana McMahon
M.A. '21
Connect with us!
Program Structure
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.
| Degree | Hours | Thesis Option | Minor Option | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M.A. | 36 | Non-Thesis | No Minor | San Marcos |
| M.A. | 33 | Non-Thesis | No Minor | San Marcos |
| M.A. | 36 | Non-Thesis (Social Studies Emphasis) | No Minor | Online |
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!
Tuition and Assistance
Knowing the cost of attendance can help you budget and better plan the financing of your education.
Application Deadlines
*Please note that many of our deadlines are flexible, so reach out to us about applying after the deadline passes.
| Deadlines | U.S. Citizen | International |
|---|---|---|
| Fall - Priority | February 1 | February 1 |
| Fall - Standard | June 15 (*Flexible) | June 1 |
| Spring | October 15 (*Flexible) | October 1 |
| Summer I | April 15 (*Flexible) | March 15 |
| Summer II | June 1 (*Flexible) | No Admission |
**Application fee is mandatory for international students
FAQ's
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What are your GPA requirements?
A 3.0 GPA in the last 60 units is the standard for regular admission, while a 2.75-3.0 GPA is usually reserved for conditional admission.
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Can I substitute something else for the the writing sample requirement?
Yes, contact the Program Director about it directly.
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Can you waive the application fee for International Students?
No, unfortunately not.
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Do you offer full scholarships for international students?
No, international students are expected to provide a majority of the funding package from outside sources.
Ready to apply?
