The Master of Arts in Political Science, Power, Justice, and Democracy Specialization analyzes contemporary theories of justice, democracy, development, and inequality from both domestic and international perspectives using interdisciplinary evidence, diverse perspectives, and multiple approaches. Specialists in this field develop methodological skills for analyzing and interpreting contemporary social and political problems around such topics as development, ecology, gender, race, sexuality, social movements, and peacebuilding for private or public organizations.
Effective Fall 2021
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Course: | ||
| POLS 672 | Power, Justice, and Democracy | 3 |
| Methods Courses: | 6 | |
| Select one course from the following: | ||
| Approaches to the Study of Politics | ||
| Scope and Methods of Political Science | ||
| Select one course from the following: | ||
| Qualitative Methods in Political Science | ||
| Quantitative Methods of Political Research I | ||
| Advanced Topics--Research Methods 1 | ||
| POLS Electives 2 | 6 | |
| Track Specialization Electives (see list below) 3 | 6 | |
| Interdisciplinary Elective (see list below) | 3 | |
| POLS 699 | Thesis | 6 |
| Program Total Credits: | 30 | |
Track Specialization Electives (Select a minimum of 6 credits)2
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLS 405 | Race and Ethnicity in U.S. Politics | 3 |
| POLS 413 | U.S. Civil Rights and Liberties | 3 |
| POLS 420 | History of Political Thought | 3 |
| POLS 421 | Contemporary Political Theories | 3 |
| POLS 422 | Democratic Theory | 3 |
| POLS 442 | Environmental Politics in Developing World | 3 |
| POLS 443 | Comparative Social Movements | 3 |
| POLS 462 | Globalization, Sustainability, and Justice | 3 |
| POLS 463 | Urban Policy and Management | 3 |
| POLS 501 | Citizen Politics in the U.S. | 3 |
| POLS 509 | Gender and the Law | 3 |
| POLS 520 | Theories of Political Action | 3 |
| POLS 532 | Governance of the World Political Economy | 3 |
| POLS 541 | Political Economy of Change and Development | 3 |
| POLS 542 | Democracy and Democratization | 3 |
| POLS 729 | Political Theory and the Environment | 3 |
| POLS 739 | International Environmental Politics | 3 |
Interdisciplinary Electives (Select 3 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 447 | Gender Equity in Development | 3 |
| ANTH 505 | Resilience, Well-Being, and Social Justice | 3 |
| E 502 | The Politics of Literacy | 3 |
| EDHE 661 | Inclusive University | 3 |
| EDOD 667 | Power-Politics-Influence in Organizations | 3 |
| EDUC 715 | Critical Theory, Educational Equity & Praxis | 3 |
| ETST 365 | Global Environmental Justice Movements | 3 |
| SOC 322 | Environmental Justice | 3 |
| SOC 324 | Food Justice | 3 |
| SOC 362 | Social Change | 3 |
| SOC 462 | Applied Social Change | 3 |
| SOC 564 | Environmental Justice | 3 |
| SOC 660 | Theories of Development and Social Change | 3 |
| SPCM 357 | Film and Social Change | 3 |
A minimum of 30 credits are required to complete this program.
- 1
If POLS 693 is chosen, the credits needed to fulfill the requirement can be completed by taking additional credits in POLS 693 or by taking POLS 621 or POLS 625.
- 2
Students may select any graduate-level POLS course, or an undergraduate 300-400-level course with advisor's permission.
- 3
Students may select one undergraduate 300-400-level course with advisor’s permission.
Effective Fall 2021
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Course: | ||
| POLS 672 | Power, Justice, and Democracy | 3 |
| Methods Courses: | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Approaches to the Study of Politics | ||
| Scope and Methods of Political Science | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Qualitative Methods in Political Science | ||
| Quantitative Methods of Political Research I | ||
| Advanced Topics--Research Methods 1 | ||
| POLS Electives 2 | 6 | |
| Track Specialization Electives (see list below) 3 | 6 | |
| Interdisciplinary Elective (see list below) | 3 | |
| Additional POLS Electives 3,4 | 12 | |
| Program Total Credits: | 36 | |
Track Specialization Electives (Select a minimum of 6 credits)2
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLS 405 | Race and Ethnicity in U.S. Politics | 3 |
| POLS 413 | U.S. Civil Rights and Liberties | 3 |
| POLS 420 | History of Political Thought | 3 |
| POLS 421 | Contemporary Political Theories | 3 |
| POLS 422 | Democratic Theory | 3 |
| POLS 442 | Environmental Politics in Developing World | 3 |
| POLS 443 | Comparative Social Movements | 3 |
| POLS 462 | Globalization, Sustainability, and Justice | 3 |
| POLS 463 | Urban Policy and Management | 3 |
| POLS 501 | Citizen Politics in the U.S. | 3 |
| POLS 509 | Gender and the Law | 3 |
| POLS 520 | Theories of Political Action | 3 |
| POLS 532 | Governance of the World Political Economy | 3 |
| POLS 541 | Political Economy of Change and Development | 3 |
| POLS 542 | Democracy and Democratization | 3 |
| POLS 729 | Political Theory and the Environment | 3 |
| POLS 739 | International Environmental Politics | 3 |
Interdisciplinary Electives (Select 3 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 447 | Gender Equity in Development | 3 |
| ANTH 505 | Resilience, Well-Being, and Social Justice | 3 |
| E 502 | The Politics of Literacy | 3 |
| EDHE 661 | Inclusive University | 3 |
| EDOD 667 | Power-Politics-Influence in Organizations | 3 |
| EDUC 715 | Critical Theory, Educational Equity & Praxis | 3 |
| ETST 365 | Global Environmental Justice Movements | 3 |
| SOC 322 | Environmental Justice | 3 |
| SOC 324 | Food Justice | 3 |
| SOC 362 | Social Change | 3 |
| SOC 462 | Applied Social Change | 3 |
| SOC 564 | Environmental Justice | 3 |
| SOC 660 | Theories of Development and Social Change | 3 |
| SPCM 357 | Film and Social Change | 3 |
A minimum of 36 credits are required to complete this program.
- 1
If POLS 693 is chosen, the credits needed to fulfill the requirement can be completed by taking additional credits in POLS 693 or by taking POLS 621 or POLS 625.
- 2
Students may select any graduate-level POLS course, or an undergraduate 300-400-level course with advisor's permission.
- 3
Graduate students may use 300- or 400-level undergraduate courses approved by their committee in the Program of Study (GS Form 6) up to the limits set by the Graduate School. Graduate students may apply remedial undergraduate courses they were required to take as a condition of their admission toward the degree if such undergraduate credits are consistent with the requirements of the degree AND approved by their committee in the Program of Study (GS Form 6).
- 4
Outside courses optional and/or as recommended by the Student’s Graduate Committee.