Graduate Program
Dr. Mara Sidney, Graduate Program Director msidney@andromeda.rutgers.edu
973-353-5787, Hill 723
The Graduate Program in Political Science at Rutgers-Newark focuses on politics and public policy in both global and domestic contexts, giving students an understanding of how and why governments formulate and implement policy decisions. Because the program emphasizes both research and analytical skills a student typically takes a mixture of courses in political science, research methods, American politics, and global affairs.
Requirements for the M.A. degree are 30 credits of course work, including research methods, and either a comprehensive examination in the student's area of concentration or a master's thesis. The examination is normally taken in the last semester before graduation, and is based on the work done in courses. The major concentrations are American Government and Politics and International Relations. Courses in comparative politics and political theory and philosophy are also offered. To get a more complete picture of politics and the public policy process, students are encouraged to take courses outside their concentration. (For Guidelines on the Master's Thesis, click here.)
The Graduate Program in Political Science cooperates closely with the Division of Global Affairs and with the School of Public Affairs and Administration. Related graduate study is also available in the departments of History, Economics, and Psychology, as well as selected courses in the School of Law-Newark, the School of Criminal Justice, and the Graduate School of Management. Up to 9 credits of advanced undergraduate Rutgers courses taken for graduate credit may be applied to the degree.
Students in the School of Law-Newark may take a concurrent Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in political science that allows up to 12 credits in relevant law courses to be applied toward the 30 credits required for the master's degree. Because most of the students in the political science program are part time and employed, courses are offered in the evening, meeting once a week. Schedules for each semester become available two to three months before the start of classes.
COMPREHENSIVE EXAMS SPRING 2008
Thursday, April 3-Monday, April 7 2008
Students planning to take the comprehensive exams this semester should schedule a meeting with Dr. Sidney, should request a packet of past exams from Department Administrator Beth Freda, and must sign up for the exams by March 1 2008 by calling or emailing Dr. Sidney. Students must declare whether they plan to take the exam in American Politics or International Relations. Please contact Dr. Sidney with any questions.
GRADUATE STUDENT LIST-SERV
TO KEEP INFORMED ABOUT COURSES, DEADLINES, COMPS, JOB OPPORTUNITIES, ETC. STUDENTS MUST SUBSCRIBE TO THE GRAD STUDENT LISTSERV: PSCIGRADS
The grad director makes important announcements and passes along information through this listserv. To subscribe, go to the listserv’s web page:
https://andromeda.rutgers.edu/mailman/listinfo/pscigrads
If you have trouble or questions, please contact Dr. Sidney at msidney@andromeda.rutgers.edu, or 973-353-5787, or in
Hill Hall 723.
GRADUATE SCHOOL FORMS AND DEADLINES
Please be sure to check relevant deadlines for graduation. Click here for the Grad School web page.
COURSES
Fall 2006 Political Science Graduate Courses
Departmental and Rutgers Fellowships and Scholarships:
Walter F. Weiker Scholarship (2007) DEADLINE APRIL 27, 2007
