Political Science, MA < University of Iowa

This is the first version of the 2023–24 General Catalog. Please check back regularly for changes. The final edition and the historical PDF will be published during the fall semester.

The department usually offers the master's degree only as a preliminary step toward the PhD in Political Science.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

demonstrate in-depth knowledge of two major fields in the discipline and competency in one minor field (the minor field may be within the discipline, in an interdisciplinary subject, or in another related discipline);
demonstrate advanced research skills, including advanced statistical analysis and broad knowledge of a range of theoretical and methodological approaches relevant to their field of research;
demonstrate effective teaching skills following the pedagogical standards of the discipline;
be familiar with and follow disciplinary norms and standards, including understanding issues related to ethical practices in research; professional, public, and collegial engagement; and instruction; and
demonstrate a full understanding of the research enterprise, including an ability to engage others' work and an ability to make original and substantial contributions to the field.

The Master of Arts program in political science requires a minimum of 30 s.h. of graduate credit, with a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.25. No thesis is required. Each student's record is reviewed by a final examination committee, which may waive the final oral examination.

A first-year evaluation committee convenes at the end of a student's first year of courses; if the committee finds that the student's work provides sufficient evidence of the research and writing skills ordinarily demonstrated in a master's thesis, it may recommend that the student be allowed to proceed with a doctoral program. When the first-year evaluation committee finds the quality of a student's work inadequate for recommending continuation toward the PhD, the committee may recommend that the student be permitted to seek the nonthesis MA as a terminal degree.