*The MA in Political Science is not available for external admission. Only students admitted to the PhD program in Political Science may pursue the MA in Political Science.
Political science has a rich history at Tulane, which is where the American Political Science Association was founded in 1903. Today, our MA program prepares students to ask innovative questions, conduct independent research, and become effective teachers. In training students, we emphasize the importance of mastering methodology and research design and using those tools to analyze how political phenomena develop around the world. Our faculty has broad expertise – the department consists of scholars who study domestic and international politics, in relation to the United States and the countries of Latin America, Africa, Europe, and Asia.
The substantive concerns that motivate the research of our faculty and students consist of the politics of inclusion and exclusion; the consequences of inequality; obstacles to sustainable development; international trade, cooperation, and conflict; the protection of human rights; and the foundations of durable authoritarianism. Those thematic research foci intersect in multiple ways and jointly contribute to informing our understanding of some of the most pressing global concerns of our times. The department is methodologically diverse and inclusive of different approaches to the study of politics.
The MA requirements include 30 credits of coursework (taken over two years), which are to be distributed as follows:
| Course ID | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Five Courses in Scope and Methods/Research Skills | 15 | |
| Scope & Methods for Poli Sci | ||
| Quantitative Methods I | ||
| Quantitative Methods II | ||
| Qualitative Methods | ||
| Graduate Professional Skills | ||
| One Course in American Politics or Theory | 3 | |
| Field Seminars | 6 | |
| Special Topics | ||
| Research | ||
| Two Electives in the Department | 6 | |
| Mandatory Political Science Seminar Attendance (One Year) | 0 | |
| Thesis Research | ||
| POLS 9980 | Masters Research | 0 |
| Total Credit Hours | 30 | |