About the Program and Ohio University

Master of Arts in Political Science

Master of Public Administration

Certificate Programs-Women's Studies, Contemporary History

Applying for Admission

Financial Aid for Graduate Students

Regional Campus Programs

The Department of Political Science awards two graduate degrees: the Master of Arts in Political Science (M.A.) and the Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.). The M.A. is an academic degree, while the M.P.A. is a professional degree, but both consist of three parts: course work, research skills, and knowledge of basic literature and approaches.

The Department of Political Science offers a wide range of course work, including seminars in each of the five fields of specialization: American government, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, and public administration. Students, in consultation with advisors, are able to construct programs to fit their particular needs. Each year, some of our graduate students go on to work toward the Ph.D. degree at leading graduate centers, while others go into careers in government service, politics, journalism, communications, business, and teaching.

The development of research skills is required as part of the normal program of studies and is given particular emphasis in the courses on modern political analysis and quantitative political analysis. Formal evidence of these skills is presented in either a thesis or major research papers. Familiarization with the basic literature in each student's field of specialization is acquired during normal course work and through a reading list prepared by the department for each field of specialization. For those doing a thesis, a reading list relative to the thesis topic is prepared by the student together with his/her graduate thesis committee.

One extremely important aspect of graduate education is close contact between the faculty and the graduate students. The political science faculty members pride themselves on being very a ccessible to the graduate students, and informal activities between faculty and graduate students are strongly encouraged. The ratio of graduate students to faculty is approximately 3:1.

Another important but sometimes overlooked aspect of graduate education is what the students learn from their fellow graduate students both in and out of class. The political science graduate students come not only from Ohio and other regions of the United States, but also from Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East. This diversity of background and culture adds a valuable international dimension to graduate experience at Ohio University.

Advising

Upon arrival at the university, each student will be assigned an advisor depending on the student's field of specialization. The student should consult with the advisor about his or her program and prepare a tentative plan of study. Advisors may be changed after one quarter at the student's request.