The master of arts (M.A.) degree program in political science focuses on the study of politics and public policy. The program provides students with the critical thinking and writing skills required for civic engagement in a democratic society and enables them to pursue careers in the public, nonprofit, and private sectors or to pursue doctoral study in political science, law, public service and administration, criminal justice, nonprofit administration, global politics, and international relations. The M.A. program includes opportunities for internships related to domestic and international politics. Courses are most often offered in the evening, meeting once a week.
Students benefit from the program's close collaboration with departments in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences as well as the Division of Global Affairs, the School of Public Affairs and Administration, Rutgers School of Law–Newark, Rutgers Business School, and the School of Criminal Justice.
Areas of major specialization are the American political system and international relations. Courses also are available in comparative political systems and political theory and methodology. Students seeking the M.A. degree must complete 30 credits of coursework, including 26:790:533 Research Methods in Political Science or 26:790:536 Advanced Research Methods in Political Science, and three required courses for the specialization. In addition, they must complete successfully a comprehensive examination in the specialization or write a thesis.
The School of Law–Newark and the Graduate School–Newark offer a concurrent juris doctor/master of arts degree in political science. As many as 12 of the 30 credits required for the M.A. degree may be satisfied by approved courses in the law school. Separately, with approval of the law school, a law student may take as many as 9 credits in political science as electives in the J.D. program. Students wishing to participate in this program must be admitted to both the Graduate School–Newark and the School of Law–Newark.
Students may complete the concentration in women and gender studies in conjunction with the master's degree.
