Graduate Programs – Frequently Asked Questions
Admissions
Q. How do I apply?
A. Application for study is made through the Graduate School using their on-line application.
Q. What is the deadline for application?
A. The deadline for fall application is February 1st. For the spring it is October 1st (MA only).
Q. What are the application requirements?
A. The following is required for admission:
- GRE Scores (We do NOT require a subject test)
- Three letters of recommendation
- Official transcript(s)
- Writing sample
For other admissions questions and issues, please see the UMASS Graduate School FAQ
The Degree
Q. What funding opportunities does the department offer graduate students?
A. The department offers a limited number of teaching assistantships (TA). TAs are available for foreign students. Funding is only available for PhD students.
Q. Is it required to have an MA degree to apply for the PhD program?
A. No, the department admits the vast majority of students directly to the PhD program. The MA is not a prerequisite for the PhD, and funding support goes to PhD students.
Q. How much time do I have to complete my degree?
A. For the MA, three years; for the PhD, six years. Extensions on these limits are available.
Q. What are the general requirements for a PhD?
A. The PhD can be broken into five steps:
- Successful completion of 15 graduate-level courses, of which two may be taken in fields outside Political Science
- Successful completion of two comprehensive field examinations
- Fulfillment of the foreign language/quantitative techniques/cognate field requirement
- Submission of an approved dissertation prospectus
- Completion and oral defense of a dissertation
Q. What are the general requirements for a master’s degree?
A. There are two options for successful completion of an MA:
Option One:
Completion of eight graduate-level courses, of which at least one must be taken in each of the program's three curricular divisions and one which may be taken in a field outside Political ScienceSubmission of a thesis outline
Completion and oral defense of a thesis
Option Two:
Completion of ten graduate-level courses, of which at least one must be taken in each of the program's three curricular divisions and two of which may be taken in a field outside Political ScienceSubmission of two seminar research papers each of which must be at least 5,000 words in length and have received a grade of "AB" of better.
For both options students must receive course grades of "B" or better and must demonstrate an intermediate-level competence in a foreign language or quantitative techniques
Q. What are your fields of study?
1. American National Government
2. International Relations
3. Comparative Politics
4. Political Theory (historical and contemporary
5. Public Policy and Administration
6. Public Law
Please see the UMASS
graduate rules for more detailed information on the requirements
of our programs.
