A Master’s degree in political science provides a strong foundation for careers in government, political consulting, the law, academics, business, international organizations, education, and public service. A political science M.A. can be the basis for further study leading to a law degree, Ph.D., or other advanced degree.

The Political Science M.A Program at CSULB is a program for ambitious students interested in national and international politics. Our program allows students to acquire conceptual depth, learn methodological tools, and further develop their critical thinking abilities. The program is taught by instructors who do research on a variety of topics with contemporary political relevance.

An M.A. in Political Science at CSULB Offers…
Affordability

An M.A. in Political Science at CSULB is a good investment. A student can complete a degree in only two years, and for a relatively affordable cost. In fact, CSULB’s tuition/fees for M.A. students are among the lowest in the country.

Alumni Success

Many of our students have done very well after completing their degrees with us. We have former students in law school and in Ph.D. programs, as well as working in the private sector, government, NGOs, and education.

Substantive knowledge: Students will acquire advanced knowledge of national and international politics. They will gain conceptual depth in the field of political science, learn methodological tools, and further develop their critical thinking abilities.

Students with an M.A. in Political science will be able to:

understand the research designs and methods important to the field.
understand theoretical advances in the field.
understand major trends in the field, and the relation between the subfields of political science.
demonstrate command of the literature in at least one subfield.
understand the issues that drive contemporary research in political science.
analyze current political situations.

Analytical skills: Students will master advanced analytical skills, including the ability to evaluate evidence, make arguments, determine bias, and pose original research questions.

Students with an M.A. in Political science will be able to:

evaluate and analyze complex texts, reading material critically.
analyze and critique political positions, applying critical thinking skills to identify limitations in theories and data.
present opposing viewpoints and alternative hypotheses on various issues.
effectively apply reading, writing, critical thinking, and analytical skills to address significant issues in the political world.
effectively apply social scientific reasoning and theories to the analysis of a wide range of political issues.
generate and test hypotheses about political processes.

Research skills: Students will develop the skills necessary to conduct research. Students with an M.A. in Political science will be able to:

conduct research into political questions.
acquire information from class lectures, discussions, and readings.
collect, describe, and interpret qualitative and quantitative data.
review and synthesize relevant political science literature.

Communication skills: Students will be able to present their ideas effectively, both orally and in writing.

Students with an M.A. in Political science will be able to:

write clearly and cogently about political questions, using appropriate language in the discipline.
construct organized and coherent verbal presentations directed to appropriate audience levels.