Graduate Study

M.A. IN POLITICAL SCIENCE

“All politics is local”, said the famous long-time Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Tip O’Neill. What he meant was that national politics was ultimately driven by the problems and concerns of towns and cities around the country. But it is also true that the issues that often concern most people most immediately are local, and it is through state and local political institutions that we are most likely to find a resolution.

The Department of Political Science offers a M.A. degree focusing on state, urban and local politics, which consists of 33 hours of coursework, made up of the following:

Core Courses (12 hours). Courses that are offered regularly and that all students enrolled in the MA must take:

POLS Y570 - Introduction to the Study of Politics
POLS Y580 - Research Methods in Political Science
POLS Y620 - State Politics
POLS Y622 - Urban Politics

Electives (9-12 hours). Elective courses cover a variety of topics in Political Science, Sociology, and Public and Environmental Management. Courses currently approved include the following:
POLS Y575 –  Political Data Analysis
POLS Y630 – State  Executive Politics
POLS Y640 – State  Parties and Interest Groups
POLS Y642 - Comparative Federalism 
POLS Y661 – American  Politics
POLS Y680 – Readings in Political  Science
SOC S612 – Political  Sociology
SPEA V564 - Urban  Management
SPEA V597 - Land Use  Planning
SPEA V622 - Seminar  in Urban Economic Development
SPEA P540 -  Community and Neighborhood Development Planning
SPEA V571 - State  and Local Environmental Management
Students may also nominate other relevant courses for consideration as electives.
An internship (3-6 hours) with a state, local, or urban government institution, or with a body having operational ties with such an institution. Students need to enroll in POLS Y881 - Internship in Political Science.

A thesis (6 hours) exploring some aspect of state, local or urban politics. Students should enroll in POLS Y880 - M.A. thesis. Please be sure to read the Graduate School Guide to the Preparation of Theses and Dissertations.

Admissions

Applications for admission to the program (without financial support) will be reviewed throughout the year, but applications received after May (for the fall) or November (for the spring) may result in delay.

Applications (including GRE scores) for IUPUI Fellowships must be submitted by February 1. Priority for other forms of financial aid (internships, research assistantships, teaching assistantships) will be given to those applying by May 1.

Minimum admissions requirements are a BA from an accredited institution, a GPA of at least 3.0, and average GRE scores of 500 with at least one score of 550 or better. You can sign up to take the GRE at http://www.gre.org. It is recommended that you sign up at least two weeks in advance of the date on which you want to take the exam to ensure that you get a reservation for that day.

For full details on the admissions process, please visit the Graduate Office web site. You can also file an application there. The application includes a personal statement and letters of recommendation. In addition, you will need to submit your undergraduate transcript and GRE scores.
Undergraduate transcripts, paper letters of recommendation, and any questions about the program should be directed to:
Dr. John McCormick
Director of Graduate Studies
Department of Political Science
425 University Blvd
IUPUI
Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
                 
                 
                 
                              