Master of Arts in Political Science

Students interested in pursuing the M.A. in political science normally should have at least 9 undergraduate semester hours in political science or the equivalent. When this is lacking, a student may be required to make up deficiencies by enrolling in and successfully completing designated courses, by auditing designated courses, or by engaging in supervised reading without graduate credit.

Check departmental information for any additional requirements.

The student learning outcomes for this degree are located at http://www.niu.edu/assessment/clearinghouse/outcomes/index.shtml.

Admission

Students seeking admission to the M.A. program in the Department of Political Science must meet all the requirements for admission to the NIU Graduate School. In addition to the standard requirements for graduate admission, the master’s program requires degree-seeking applicants to submit the following materials:

• Baccalaureate Field: A B.A./B.S. in Political Science is preferred to be considered for admission. Outstanding candidates with degrees from related fields (e.g. Public administration, Sociology, Psychology, Economics), and who have completed substantial course work in Political Science will also be considered.
• Grade Point Average: At least 3.20/4.00 GPA is required. If you have already completed a master’s degree, a graduate GPA of 3.20/4.00 or higher is required.
• Letters of Recommendation: Two (2) letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to your ability to be successful in the completion of a graduate-level degree program. Ideally, the individuals who submit letters for you should have an academic relationship with you, be able to attest to your academic performance, as well as your suitability/readiness for graduate-level study. If it is not possible to obtain letters from someone with whom you have an academic relationship, letters from someone who knows you in a professional capacity may be substituted.
• Personal Statement:  Your personal statement should be no more than 750 words in length.  It should outline your preparation for graduate study in your chosen field, as well as your goals for graduate school and beyond. Additionally, the statement should address why you believe the program at N.I.U. can best help you meet your goals, as well as discuss your research interests.
• Writing Sample: A writing sample no longer than 30 full pages. The writing sample could be a research paper from a course, a senior thesis or capstone project, a manuscript prepared for journal submission, or a published article. It can be a section of a longer document, or the document in its entirety, so long as it does not exceed 30 pages. It should demonstrate your ability to write competently in English, to construct a coherent argument, and/or your capacity to conduct empirical research of a social science-related topic.
• Resume/C.V.: A copy of your current resume/C.V. in a pdf format that should include your academic background, research interests, any paid and/or voluntary work experience, any achievements or awards, any involvement in academic conferences, any publications or works-in-progress, as well as a brief list of references.
• Test Scores (GRE): The GRE is optional to apply to the M.A. program in Political Science. However, should you wish to submit GRE scores, you may submit an unofficial copy. Please ensure your name and all scores are legible. 
• Deadlines: Applications for Fall semester (August) admission will be reviewed beginning shortly after the application deadline of January 15. All application materials must be submitted by this date.