Master of Arts - Political Science - General

Washington State University's (WSU) General Master’s degree in Political Science is designed for those students who seek a terminal graduate degree and whose career goals include education, public service, not-for–profit organizations, or non-governmental organizations. Students may focus on Political Science and public policy broadly defined, or they may concentrate more specifically on American politics or global politics. The core courses will provide students with a strong background in Political Science as a field, and the substantive courses allow students to pick their focus.

Learning Outcomes:

To prepare students to achieve their professional goals and prepare them to pursue professional careers:

• Students demonstrate professional skills such as creating high quality curriculum vitae, learning about theories of teaching, ethics associated with human subjects  research and how to get published in disciplinary based journals.
• Students present original research in peer-reviewed journals or in conference papers given at regional and national professional association meetings.
• Students secure academic or professional employment commensurate with their education and career goals.

To prepare students to be effective researchers:

• Students read and synthesize the literature in a variety of subfields in Political Science.
• Students identify sound research questions and generate hypotheses that are appropriate to an original research problem.
• Students gather, organize, analyze, and report data on an original research topic.
• Students communicate research effectively in both written and oral forms.

To prepare students to be effective teachers:

• Students become independent teachers with the ability to utilize appropriate teaching techniques and technologies in order to develop effective and engaging  lecture material, class activities, and assignments.
• Students communicate information clearly and effectively in oral and written form and create a positive learning environment that encourages student  understanding.
• Students develop quizzes, examinations and assignments that successfully evaluate student learning.

To provide students with foundational knowledge in the discipline of political science:

• Students demonstrate expertise in appropriate concepts, theories and emerging methodologies in political science.