Students enrolled in the master’s program may focus their research and coursework in any subfield of the discipline. Graduate assistantships, which are competitive, provide students with valuable experience in teaching and research.
The department's graduate students are very active in the area of research. Several students have presented papers at the national meetings of Political Science associations, while other students have published research in selective, peer-reviewed outlets.
Information for Prospective Students
Graduate studies in political science at UNLV emphasize methodological rigor, hands on teaching experience, and collaborative research with faculty members. Program graduates have been placed in academic positions, in government agencies, and in non-profit and for-profit organizations.
Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science
The Department of Political Science offers a general Ph.D. degree with concentrations in American Politics (including public policy and public law), Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory. Beyond mastering the substantive content in these fields of study and developing their own research agendas, students are expected to develop a strong understanding of the tools and approaches central to the scientific study of politics. The program requires students to complete 60 credits beyond the Bachelor of Arts or 48 credits beyond the Master of Arts. The program seeks to prepare students for academic positions at colleges and universities, and non-academic careers in public, private, and non-profit organizations and institutions. It is expected that the students will complete the program in five to six years.
Master of Arts in Political Science
The Department of Political Science offers a general Master of Arts degree with concentrations in American Politics (including public policy and public law), Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory. Students can normally expect to complete the program in one-and-a-half to two years. The graduate program in political science is designed to prepare graduate students for doctoral studies, teaching positions at secondary schools and community colleges, or employment by government agencies, research centers, or private industry.
BA/MA Advance Track Program
The BA/MA Advance Track program is designed to allow exceptional Political Science majors to enroll in certain graduate courses while they are still undergraduates. These courses would be used to satisfy undergraduate course requirements for the BA in Political Science. Then, assuming formal admission to the MA program, the graduate requirements attached to these courses would be waved. The intention is to allow students to graduate with an MA in Political Science with only 1 additional year of enrollment instead of the usual 2 years.