The M.A. is considered the first step in earning the Ph.D. Students are admitted for fall only and are expected to complete the degree within two years. The M.A. requires 30 semester hours, including 9 hours in research methods and 3 hours of thesis.

Duration of Program

The program is designed so that a student taking three courses per semester can complete both the M.A.
and Ph.D. degrees in five years. Within this framework, the completion of the M.A. degree takes approximately two years. The first-year M.A. student takes the bulk of the methodology core, begins an area of concentration, and may explore various fields of interest. The second year is devoted to remaining M.A. course requirements and to the completion and defense of an M.A. thesis.

Relationship to the Ph.D. Degree

It is important that all M.A. applicants be mindful of three things. First, we encourage students who enter at the M.A. level to think of themselves as prospective Ph.D. students. We require that students complete the M.A. degree en route to the Ph.D. Nevertheless, all coursework taken by our students at the M.A. level is fully applicable to broader doctoral requirements.

Second, our M.A. requirements are designed to prepare students for doctoral studies. We seek to impart the methodological skills, substantive competencies, and research experience that a rigorous doctoral program will demand. Third, we do not admit students to the M.A. program unless we think that they have the potential to advance to doctoral studies.

Requirements

Credit Hours

Certain requirements for the M.A. degree are set by the Graduate School; others are set by SPIA. M.A. students are required to complete one year (two semesters) in residence; an approved program of study; at least 30 hours of graduate credit (27 hours of substantive coursework and at least 3 hours of thesis credit, POLS 7300), with a minimum grade point average of 3.0; an approved thesis; and a passing grade on a final oral examination covering the thesis and the program of study.

In addition to these general requirements, SPIA has specified that M.A. students must complete a methodology core (POLS 7010, 7012, and 7014). Students continuing in the Ph.D. program will also take 7050. Beyond this, M.A. students have considerable flexibility in designing programs of study, but courses should be selected carefully so as to provide competency in some area of concentration, as well as familiarity with other fields.

Advisory Committee

During the third semester of residence, each M.A. student should choose, in consultation with the Graduate Coordinator, a three-person advisory committee. The student’s major professor and at least one other advisory committee member must be on the University’s Graduate Faculty. The advisory committee will work with the student to plan a program of study. By midpoint of the third semester of residence, an M.A. student is required to submit a working plan of study to the Graduate Coordinator for approval.

If an M.A. student is to complete degree requirements by the end of the second year of residence, it is important that timely progress be made on the M.A. thesis. About one-half of the student’s time during the second year should be devoted to planning and writing the M.A. thesis. For this purpose, the student should plan to take appropriate thesis preparation courses, including at least three hours of POLS 7300, beginning in the fourth semester of residence.

Thesis and Oral Defense

The thesis, which is written under the direction of the student’s major professor, must demonstrate a student’s independent judgment in examining a problem from primary sources. At the M.A. level, SPIA strongly recommends that students prepare a thesis prospectus, but details of implementation are left to the major professor and advisory committee. After the thesis has been approved by the student’s advisory committee, a final examination is scheduled. This is an oral examination that covers both the thesis and the student’s program of study.

Please see the graduate manual for more detailed information.