Political Science (MA)

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Degree

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Political Science

Faculty

Faculty of Arts & Science

Program type

Thesis

Primary campus

Sir George Williams (SGW)

Duration

2 years

Credits

45 credits

Start term

Fall, Winter

Program overview

The MA in Political Science gives you the opportunity to address some of the most pressing questions in contemporary politics. As political thought shapes the world we live in, you will be encouraged to think about the relations between individuals and political communities from an analytical and critical perspective. Your research will be applicable to academia, public administration, private industry and NGOs. You will have access to inter-institutional research centers and research networks, such as the Center for Immigration Policy Evaluation, engAGE, Latin American Studies Network of Montreal (RÉLAM), and the Groupe de recherche interuniversitaire en philosophie politique de Montréal. Other topics currently being studied by our students include security studies and international relations, the history of political thought and emerging economies.

Program structure

Degree Requirements

Fully-qualified candidates are required to complete a minimum of 45 credits.

Please see the Political Science Courses page for course descriptions.

Political Science MA (45 credits)

3	credits of Core Courses in Area of Concentration: • POLI 603 International Relations Theory (3.00) • POLI 626 Seminar in Comparative Politics (3.00) • POLI 632 Seminar in Political Theory (3.00) • POLI 636 Theories of Public Policy and Public Administration (3.00) • POLI 638 Seminar in Canadian and Quebec Politics (3.00)
3	credits Research Course chosen from: • POLI 601 Research Design (3.00) • POLI 644 Research Methods (3.00)
6	credits of Concentration Courses in Subfield, with courses chosen from the subfield in which the student intends to write a thesis: Public Policy and Administration, Canadian and Quebec Politics, International Politics, Comparative Politics, and Political Theory
6	credits of Approved Elective Courses chosen from any of the 600-level courses in political science, or from cognate courses offered in related disciplines. For cognate courses, approval of the Director is required. In some cases approval for registration in cognate courses must be obtained from the department involved
3	credits: • POLI 694 Thesis Proposal (3.00)
24	credits: • POLI 696 Master’s Thesis (24.00)

Consult the Graduate Calendar for the complete list of courses

Admission requirements

Admission Requirements

Undergraduate honours degree or the equivalent is required with a minimum GPA of 3.30.
Proficiency in English. Applicants whose primary language is not English must demonstrate that their knowledge of English is sufficient to pursue graduate studies in their chosen field. Please refer to the English language proficiency page for further information on requirements and exemptions.

Application process

Review these four steps before applying

Make sure to check for program specific requirements

Application deadlines

FALL

February 1

WINTER

October 1

SUMMER

n/a

Priority will be given to complete applications submitted by the deadline. In some cases, programs may continue to accept applications as long as there is space available.

International students: Considering the waiting period involved in meeting the entry requirements to Canada and Quebec, we strongly encourage international applicants to apply early and submit supporting documents prior to the deadline.

Tuition & funding

Tuition and fees

Tuition and fees of the program may depend on your student status, among other key factors. Estimate these costs based on the most common situations.

Use the tuition & fee estimator

Awards and funding

Funding packages are generally available for students in thesis-based programs. They come in the form of awards, teaching and research assistantships are offered at the time of admission to most students to allow them to focus on their research and studies. Research and thesis-based students are automatically considered for all entrance graduate awards when they apply to Concordia, provided they meet eligibility criteria. No separate application is required.

Learn more about entrance awards

The Quebec and Canadian governments offer a number of competitive graduate scholarships. We encourage you to apply for these awards at the same time you are preparing your application.

Consult the list of awards available

Other programs of interest

Public Policy and Public Administration (MA)

Take the opportunity to gain valuable training in Public Policy and Public Administration. Secure a paid internship with government agencies in Ottawa and pursue a career in the public service and non-governmental organizations

Department

Department of Political Science

Faculty

Faculty of Arts & Science

View program details

Political Science (MA)

Program overview