In the POLS 5th Year Master’s Program, students can take one graduate course per semester of their senior year. Courses can be chosen from the program’s required or elective options.
Required Courses:
POLS 5000: Independent Study in Political Science (3 credits)
POLS 5010: Investigation of Special Topics in Political Science (3 credits)
POLS 5600 Nature of Political Inquiry (3 credits) – The scope of political science, modes of inquiry, the role of concepts and theory. Graduate students are urged to take the course in their first semester.
POLS 5605 Quantitative Methods (3 credits) – Introduction to the data analysis techniques most often used by political scientists. Requires no previous background in statistics.
POLS 5615 Qualitative Methods (3 credits) – A survey of qualitative research methods. Training in use of case studies, comparative historical approach, interviewing and focus groups, ethnography and interpretive methods.
Electives:
At least two courses (6 credits) in one of the five POLS subfields: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Theory, or Public Law.
Further, if students choose to focus on one of the three subfields in which proseminars are offered, students should opt to engage such opportunities.