The MA in Political Science program of the Department of Political Science at Cal State L.A. was established in the 1950s.  It has a long tradition of graduating students who have gone on for the Ph.D. and teaching/research careers.  The program requires all students to take or pass:

• A core of six courses (24 units, 6 courses);

• A concentration, chosen from Political Theory, American politics, or Global Politics (16 units, 4 courses)

• Either a comprehensive examination OR a thesis:

• The comprehensive examination requirement consists of the examination along with 5 units of graduate research directed by a faculty member OR 5 units for a practicum where the student interns in a political office, non-profit organization, campaign management firm, survey research center, or a comparable placement. Both the directed study and practicum options require students to complete a major paper.  

• The thesis requirement involves five units of thesis credit (POLS 599) and the production of a thesis involving an original case study, analysis of data, or theoretical treatment of a topic approved by a faculty committee, the MA Director, and the Department chair.  

Click here for a general description of the Department of Political Science and its academic programs, including the MA in Political Science 

For New and Prospective MA Students

For new and prospective students, the department has prepared a basic guide to the MA program in Political Science, which is meant to answer many frequently asked questions and concerns. The guide covers basic requirements, procedures, expectations, and student responsibilities, so please read this guide carefully and completely. Click here to read the online version of the guide (a PDF version is also available to download).