Political Science

The graduate program in Political Science is a liberal arts program based upon superior undergraduate preparation. It requires a higher level of achievement and places greater emphasis on independent study and research than does the baccalaureate program. Department evaluation and approval is required for admission to either classified or unclassified graduate standing. Please see additional information regarding classification standing in the program requirements listed below and in the Graduate Programs section of this Catalog.

Areas of specialization offered are as follows:

American Government and Politics, Comparative Government, International Relations, Methodology, Political Theory, Public Policy and Administration, and Public Law

A. Admission Requirements for Classified Status

1. Completion of University requirements for admission to graduate standing.
2. Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Political Science or completion of “minimum equivalence.”
3. Two letters of recommendation.
4. GPA of at least 3.25 in all undergraduate and graduate Political Science courses.
5. GPA of at least 3.25 in last 45 units of all coursework.
6. Written statement by applicant indicating career objectives.

B. For Conditional Status

1. Completion of minimum University requirement for admission to graduate standing.
2. Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Political Science or completion of “minimum equivalency*.”
3. Two letters of recommendation.
4. GPA of at least 3.0 in all undergraduate and graduate Political Science courses.
5. GPA of at least 3.0 in last 45 units of all coursework.
6. Written statement by applicant indicating career objectives. Exceptional cases that may not meet all the given requirements for minimum equivalency will be considered by the graduate committee on petition by the applicant. Specific reasons for the waiver of minimum equivalent requirement must be offered.

*Minimum Equivalency in Lieu of Political Science Major

1. Completion of all lower division requirements in Political Science required of the major at CSUN.
2. Completion of a course in research methods.
3. Completion of an upper division course in political theory (POLS 411, POLS 412, POLS 414).
4. Completion of an upper division course in three additional areas of political science (i.e., American government, comparative government, international relations, public law, public administration).
5. Completion of an upper division proseminar in one of the three areas selected above.

Courses Acceptable for the Master’s Degree

The 300-level courses in Political Science do not carry credit for the master’s degree in Political Science.
All 400-level courses except POLS 490, POLS 498 and POLS 499 carry credit for the master’s degree in Political Science.
All 500-level graduate seminars in Political Science carry credit for the master’s degree.

C. Reclassification from Conditional to Classified Status

1. Completion of at least 9 units in Political Science at CSUN with at least 6 units in 500-level courses.
   1. No credit or consideration will be given during the reclassification period for POLS 490, POLS 498, POLS 499, POLS 598 or POLS 599.
   2. GPA of at least 3.25 in these 9 units.
2. Units taken beyond the 9 units will not count toward the master’s degree program until the student formally petitions to be reclassified and is given classified status.
3. Completion of minimum University requirements for admission to graduate standing.

Students denied conditional classified status by the department, if granted admission by the University, may attempt to make up deficiencies and reapply for admission. However, no coursework taken under this status will count toward the 30 units required for the master’s degree. The following courses may not be used to remove deficiencies in GPA or course requirements: POLS 490, POLS 498, POLS 499, POLS 598 or POLS 599.

D. Degree Requirements

1. Core Requirements (18 units)

POLS 570 Seminar in Political Theory (3)
POLS 571 Seminar in Methodology (3)

Seminar in American Politics (6 units)

Choose two of the following seminars:

POLS 540A-J Seminar in American Government and Politics (3)**

Seminar in International Relations and/or Comparative Politics (6 units)

Choose two of the following seminars:

POLS 522A-G Seminar in International Relations (3)
POLS 530A-J Seminar in Comparative Government (3)

**Courses taken in the core curriculum must not overlap with courses in the American Politics option.

2. American Politics Option Courses (12 units)

Choose four additional courses (12 units) from POLS 540A-J Seminar in American Politics.

A maximum of two courses (6 units) can be substituted with the following 400-level courses: POLS 403, POLS 404, POLS 405, POLS 406, POLS 407, POLS 440, POLS 441, POLS 441A, POLS 448, POLS 450, POLS 455, POLS 457A, POLS 457B, POLS 458, POLS 460, POLS 461, POLS 462, POLS 463, POLS 465, POLS 466, POLS 467, POLS 469/L, POLS 471A, POLS 471E, POLS 471F, POLS 494I/A.

3. Culminating Experience (3 units)

POLS 698D Graduate Culminating Project (3)

E. Foreign Language/Statistics Recommendation

In cases where appropriate to the student’s fields of specialization and academic career goals, competence in a modern foreign language or in statistics may be recommended by the student’s primary subject advisor in consultation with the student.

Total Units Required for the M.A. Degree: 33