Master
of Arts in Political Science
Faculty
Professors: Thomas Brunell, Anthony M. Champagne, Marie I. Chevrier, Harold
D. Clarke, Euel Elliott, Edward J. Harpham, L. Douglas Kiel, Robert C. Lowry, Marianne C. Stewart
Associate Professors: Patrick Brandt, Jennifer S. Holmes, Linda Camp Keith, Gregory
S. Thielemann
Assistant Professors: Brandon Kinne, Banks Miller, Clint
Peinhardt
Senior Lecturers: Brian Bearry, Karl Ho
Mission Statement
The mission of the Master of Arts in
Political Science (MAPS) degree is to offer advanced instruction in the social
science literature and theories about politics, citizenship and governance. The
program serves the interests and needs of talented students who can commit
initially to a 30-hour program but may be attracted subsequently to the Ph.D.
program, as well as those who can commit initially to the doctoral program but
subsequently decide not to complete the program. The Master of Arts in
Political Science further can satisfy the interests and talents of students who
"fast-track" in the Political Science undergraduate program and who want an
additional year of more rigorous, sharply focused graduate coursework in
Political Science.
Objectives
Students in the Master of Arts in
Political Science program will:
• Demonstrate the ability to apply political science theories and concepts to the study of citizenship, governance and politics.
• Develop a competency in one of the fields of Comparative Politics and International Relations; Political Institutions and American Politics; or Law and Courts.
• Develop basic skills in professional communication appropriate to political science research and analysis.
• Develop competency in analysis, evaluation, and research design relevant to political science research and analysis.
Facilities
Students
have access to the computing facilities in the School of Economic, Political
and Policy Sciences and the University’s Computing Center. The School has two
computing laboratories that have over 30 computers that are network linked and
equipped with major social science software packages, including E-Views, R.
Rats, SPSS, and STATA. A computerized geographic information system, the Lexis Nexis database and Westlaw are also
available for student use. The University’s Computing Center provides personal
computers and UNIX Workstations. Many important data and reference materials
are available online from professional associations or at UTD via the Library's
and School's memberships in the American Political Science Association, the
European Consortium for Political Research, the Inter University Consortium for
Political and Social Research, the Roper Center, and the University Consortium
for Geographic Information Systems, and other organizations.
Admissions
Requirement
The University’s general admission
requirements are discussed here.
The Master of Arts in Political
Science seeks applications from students with a baccalaureate degree from an
accredited university or college. Although applications will be reviewed
holistically, in general, entering students have earned a 3.0 undergraduate
grade point average (on a 4.0 scale), and a combined verbal and quantitative
score of at least 1100 on the Graduate Records Examination (GRE). Standardized
test scores are only one of the factors taken into account in determining
admission. Applicants should also submit all transcripts, three letters of
recommendation (preferably from individuals who can evaluate the applicant’s
potential for graduate study), and a one-page essay outlining the applicant’s
background, education, and professional objectives. Applications are reviewed
by the Political Science Program Committee in the School of Economic, Political
and Policy Sciences.
Undergraduate
students who are interested in completing their undergraduate degrees while
simultaneously taking graduate courses in the M.A. in Political Science program
are expected to meet the School’s "fast-tracking" requirements.
Prerequisites
While
there are no specific course prerequisites, entering students will benefit from
exposure to undergraduate courses in the Economic, Political and Policy
Sciences, statistics, and research design. In cases where undergraduate
preparation is not adequate, students may be required to take additional course
work before starting the master's program.
Transfer Policies
Students who have previous graduate work pertinent to the
requirements of a master’s program may be given up to 6 hours of transfer
credit, and the hours of coursework required for the degree will be reduced
accordingly. Students desiring to transfer graduate courses thought to be
equivalent to core courses may be required to demonstrate competency through
examination. The award of such transfer credit must be consistent with the
University’s "Transfer of Credit" policy.
Degree Requirements
The
University’s general degree requirements are discussed here.
Students
seeking a Master of Arts in Political Science must complete at least 30
semester credit hours of work in the program, must receive a grade of B- or
better in all required courses, and must maintain at least a 3.0 grade point
average to graduate.
The
curriculum has two components:
(1) Fifteen semester hours of required coursework
(2) Fifteen semester hours of prescribed electives
Required Courses (15 hours)
All students should complete the
core courses as soon as possible.
All of the following:
EPPS 6313 Introduction to
Quantitative Methods
PSCI 6350 Logic, Scope and Methodology of Political Science
PSCI 6352 Empirical Democratic Theory
Two of the following:
PSCI 6300 Proseminar in
Comparative Politics and International Relations
PSCI 6311 Proseminar in Law and Courts
PSCI 6313 Public Policymaking and Institutions
Prescribed Electives (15 hours)
a) Two additional courses at the 5000 or 6000 level in one of the following fields: Comparative Politics and International Relations; Political Institutions and American Politics field; or Law and Courts.
b) Three additional political science courses at the 5000 or 6000 level, or methodology courses such as applied regression (EPPS 6316) or other methods courses offered throughout the School, or up to three credits of optional thesis (independent study).