Requirements for the Master of Arts degree include thirty-six (36) semester hours of coursework (21 hours of 600 level or higher), including PS 611 and PS 612, a thesis, comprehensive examination, and thesis defense.  SOC 564 (Qualitative Methods) may be substituted for PS 611 with permission of advisor.  The thesis committee may, at its discretion, conduct exams concurrently with the thesis defense.  A 3.0 GPA is required for graduation.  Students must select a major (comprised of at least 9 hours, 3 of which must be 700 level) and two minors (comprised of at least 6 hours, 3 of which must be 700 level) from the 6 fields of political science.

• Minimum 2.75 GPA on last two years of undergraduate coursework
• Acceptable scores on the GRE (be sure to specify that scores should be sent to The University of Southern Mississippi.  There is no need to take the subject test in PS)
• Three letters of recommendation from present or former faculty
• We welcome applications from students with B.A.s in any field.  Applicants with no political science background are asked to complete nine hours of undergraduate political science work.

Click a link below for more information, or click here to contact our Graduate Director, Dr. Marek Steedman.