The Statement of Goals should be approximately 500-1,000 words and should include the following elements: your interest in Temple's program; your research goals; your future career goals; and your academic and research achievements.

NOTE: Students who are ultimately interested in earning a doctoral degree in Political Science at Temple University should apply directly to the Ph.D. program.

Standardized Test Scores:

The GRE is required. Minimum scores of 156 verbal and 148 quantitative are expected.

Minimum TOEFL score needed to be accepted: 100 iBT or 600 PBT.

Writing Sample:

The writing sample should demonstrate your ability to research and write a scholarly paper. The paper should be no more than 25 pages and fully referenced according to a professional, scholarly style manual.

Transfer Credit:

Graduate coursework in Political Science may be transferred from outside the University, provided that the credits were obtained no more than five years prior to the student's matriculation at Temple and the grades are "B" or better. The maximum number of credits a student may transfer is 6.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:

Number of Didactic Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 30

Required Courses:

POLS 8000: Topics in Research Design

POLS 8001: Political Statistics I

And three of these four subfield core courses:

POLS 8101: Government in American Society

POLS 8201: Comparative Politics

POLS 8301: International Politics

POLS 8401: Introduction to Political Theory

Electives: Two elective courses taken in each of two main fields and one in a third minor field. M.A. students who plan to continue into the Ph.D. program should take two elective courses in each of the two fields in which they plan to complete written comprehensive exams and one in a third minor field. Students are also allowed to complete their fifth elective by registering for POLS 8002: Qualitative Research Methods or POLS 8003: Political Statistics II.

Students should consult with their faculty advisor on course selection and exam preparation.

Internship: No internship is required.

Language Examination: No language examination is required.

Culminating Events:

Seminar Paper:

The seminar paper requirement is met by completing the coursework required in POLS 8000: Topics in Research Design. Students must submit the seminar paper, with the instructors' comments and grades, to the Graduate Chair. The Graduate Chair must certify that these papers meet the seminar paper requirement (i.e., contain arguments grounded in extensive reference to relevant secondary and/or primary sources). Such certification must be granted before the degree is awarded.

Contacts

Program Contact Information:

www.temple.edu/polsci/

Department Information:

Dept. of Political Science

409 Gladfelter Hall
1115 Polett Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19122
polsci@temple.edu
215-204-1469

Department Contacts:

Admissions:

Tanya Taylor
tanya.taylor@temple.edu
215-204-1469

Graduate Chair:

Kevin Arceneaux, Ph.D.
arceneau@temple.edu
215-204-6950

Chairperson:

Richard Deeg, Ph.D.
rdeeg@temple.edu
215-204-7123

About the Program

The primary mission of the Political Science Department's graduate program is to prepare students for careers in academia. The department gives equal emphasis to training students for both the research and teaching sides of such a career. Most students in the M.A. program intend to pursue a Ph.D. either at Temple or elsewhere, immediately after graduation or after a few years of employment. Those who wish to pursue a Ph.D. at Temple are strongly encouraged to apply directly to the Ph.D. program at the outset of the admissions process. Some M.A. students use the degree to establish or strengthen credentials in teaching or for private/public sector positions; a few M.A. students want to strengthen their backgrounds for applications to other professional degree programs.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 3 years

Campus Location:

Main

Full-Time/Part-Time Status:

Students are able to complete the degree program through classes offered after 3:00 p.m. Students are also able to complete the degree program on a part-time basis (8 credit hours or less per semester).

Department Information:

Dept. of Political Science

409 Gladfelter Hall
1115 Polett Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19122
polsci@temple.edu
215-204-1469

Interdisciplinary Study:

Not applicable.

Affiliation(s):

Not applicable.

Study Abroad:

No.

Ranking:

Not applicable.

Accreditation:

Not applicable.

Areas of Specialization:

Our particular strengths in American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory are reflected in the brief biographical statements of our Graduate Faculty members' research and teaching interests. In American Politics, faculty teach and conduct research on political behavior, political institutions, public policy, urban politics, and political economy. In Comparative Politics, faculty focus on the issues of democratization; public policymaking; the role of the state in the economy; and identity politics in European and post-communist states, Latin America, China, and other developing nations. In International Relations, faculty emphasize the various theoretical approaches to the study of world politics and the testing of such theories in the areas of international security, international political economy, and the study of international organizations. In Political Theory, our strengths cluster around the research areas of late modernity; democratic and normative political theories, especially those pertaining to political questions of social and economic inequality, globalization, identity politics, and social movements; and the relationship between politics and religion.

Job Placement:

Most students in the M.A. program intend to pursue a Ph.D. immediately after graduation or after a few years of employment. Some M.A. students use the degree to establish or strengthen credentials in teaching or for private/public sector positions; a few M.A. students want to strengthen their background for applications to other professional degree programs.

Licensure:

Not applicable.

Non-Matriculated Student Policy:

Prior to applying for admission, students sometimes want to take courses as non-degree students. Those who wish to do so must first obtain the approval of the Graduate Chair in the Political Science Department to determine if the individual stands a reasonable chance for admission to the M.A. or Ph.D. program. Then, the prospective student must visit the Office of Continuing Studies with transcripts from all institutions attended, including the one that conferred the undergraduate degree, to be enrolled in the coursework.

Financing Opportunities

M.A. students are not eligible for departmental assistantships.

Updated 2.12.13