Political Science, M.A.
Deepen your research skills and prepare for a wide range of top careers.
About the Master of Arts in Political Science
The Department of Political Science in the College of Liberal Arts offers a M.A. in Political Science. Students deepen their research skills, providing them with opportunities to begin conducting their own research projects. In addition to research papers for seminar classes, faculty often encourage students to join them on collaborative research projects outside the classroom.
Accelerated Master's Degree
Undergraduate political majors who have completed 90 credits as an undergraduate with a GPA of 3.0 or greater can begin earning credit toward an M.A. in political science, while completing their B.A. or B.S. in political science. They can thus earn the M.A. in only one additional year of graduate work after completion of the undergraduate degree.
On this Page…
Program Information
Degree
M.A. in Political Science
Required Credit Hours
30
Program Type
Master's Program
Program Location
School
Meet the Graduate Program Coordinator
I'm here to help! If you have any questions about the M.A. in Political Science, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Benjamin Thomas Jones
Associate Professor of Political Science and Graduate Program Coordinator
Explore the M.A. in Political Science
Get the details on the Master of Arts in Political Science—how to apply, what classes you'll take, accelerated degree options, funding opportunities, and the research support available to you.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 1
The Department of Political Science welcomes student applications with the following materials. Additional details are found on the department website.
- Complete the Graduate School's Online Application.
- Pay the application fee ($60).
- Submit official transcripts.
- International applicants whose first language is not English may be required to submit scores from an acceptable English language proficiency test.
- Upload Supplemental Application materials for the Department of Political Science to the link provided by the online application.
- Statement of purpose. 2-page document describing your interests in political science, selection of a major field (American politics, comparative politics, or international relations), and career goals
- Writing Sample: Substantial piece of work that highlight your best writing and analytical skills
- Three letters of recommendation: provide contact information for three recommenders
Students earning the M.A. degree complete 30 credit hours of graduate coursework (500-level or higher). The M.A. in political science can be completed as either a thesis or nonthesis program.
- POL 550: Research in Politics
- POL 551: Empirical Political Analysis
Thesis Option: Students complete a thesis of a minimum of 6 credit hours.
Nonthesis Option: Students complete a written comprehensive examination in the student's major subfield.
All students must pass an oral examination after the other requirements for the degree have been fulfilled.
The Department of Political Science offers graduate assistantships that require assisting faculty with teaching or research. Students with a graduate assistantship funded in the department receive a scholarship that covers some or all of the tuition and non-residency fee, if applicable, for regular semesters and subsidized health insurance.
The Graduate School’s financial aid webpage lists a variety of funding possibilities, including summer support and a recruiting fellowship program that promotes academic excellence and access to graduate education to groups who are historically underrepresented.
Students in the Department of Political Science have access to a number of resources on campus to support their research, including
- John Davis Williams Library (U.S. Government Documents Regional Depository)
- Grisham Law Library (with LEXIS and WESTLAW facilities)
- The Center for the Study of Southern Culture
- The Mississippi Center for Supercomputing Research
- Social Science Research Laboratory
As a member of the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research, the University provides access to ICPSR’s data archives and opportunities for advanced study in political methodology for faculty and students.
Video: Get to Know the Department of Political Science
Hear firsthand from students and faculty about the Political Science program.
Next Steps
Explore Affordability
We have a variety of scholarships and financial aid options to help make college more affordable for you and your family.
Apply to the University of Mississippi
Are you ready to take the next step toward building your legacy?