Welcome to the M.A. Program

Visit the links at the right for more information about the M.A.

The M.A. Program

The M.A. Program in Political Science is suitable for enterprising students seeking careers from teaching to research, electoral politics, and government work. Additionally, many students choose to pursue Ph.D.s after graduating. The M.A. program allows full or part-time students to tailor a curriculum that best suits their interests and professional needs by choosing seminars from quantitative methodology to ancient political thought—and all points in between. When appropriate, students may enhance their graduate experience with coursework in related departments. The M.A. degree program culminates in a research thesis of the student’s choosing, overseen by his/her Thesis Director and thesis committee.  The M.A. degree also allows for a non-thesis option, where students take an additional 2 courses instead of the thesis, and successfully complete a comprehensive examination.  Students should work with their faculty advisors and the Graduate Program Coordinator and MA Program Director to determine which option is best suited for their career and academic goals.

Our graduate program works closely with faculty and staff and promotes the benefits of the University of New Hampshire main campus in Durham, NH. Students are encouraged to take advantage of frequent lectures, speaking engagements, and presentations by UNH faculty and experts, high-profile national and international guest speakers, candidates in and observers of the unique New Hampshire presidential primary and state electoral campaigns.

International relations are a strength of the program. Award-winning faculty members engage in teaching and research in the areas of international organizations, Asian politics, international environmental politics and organizations, and emerging democracies.

Courses

Each semester, the Department offers a selection of graduate seminars and required courses that include at least one course in each of our four subfields (American/PA; International Relations; comparative; and political theory). Required courses for the M.A. (POLT 900 Pro-Seminar and POLT 905 Introduction to Statistical Analysis ) are currently offered in the fall semester only. Summer course offerings are more limited. 

See Course Offerings

Faculty

UNH political science faculty specialize in a range of teaching and research areas such that graduate students have valuable resources and potential mentors throughout the M.A. program. In addition to teaching cognate areas, faculty teach research techniques from close readings of primary texts to quantitative methods and polling research.

See Faculty and Staff listing