Political Science Program Mission

1
Political Science Program Mission

• Prepares students for
• advanced work in political science
• teaching and research about government
• careers in government and politics
• work in domestic and international
  non-governmental organizations.

2
Admissions Requirements - Masters

• -Application
• -Official Transcripts (2 copies)
• -Resume
• -Three letters of Recommendation Academic
  Sources(if not possible, from professional
  sources)
  
• -Goals Statement
• -Writing Sample is encouraged.
• -Entrance Exam Scores (GRE scores are required)
• -TOEFL exam if you are an international student

3
Admission Requirements - PhD

• -Application
• -Official Transcripts (2 copies)
• -Resume
• -Three letters of Recommendation from Academic
  Sources
  
• (if not possible, from professional
  sources)
  
• -Goals Statement
• -Writing Sample is required
• -Entrance Exam Scores (GRE scores are required)
• -TOEFL exam if you are an international student

4
3 Tracks for Admission to PhD

• With a Bachelors Degree
• With a Masters Degree from another University
• With a Masterss from GMU (MA or MPA)
• Students may apply to the Ph.D. program with
  either a Bachelor's or a Master's degree.
  Students with a Master's can apply up to 30
  graduate credits towards the PhD. Students with a
  Bachelor's will earn their M.A. on the way to
  getting the Ph.D. 

5
Curriculum Requirements - Masters

• -36 credits - May specialize in American
  Politics, or International Relations, or
  Comparative Politics
  
• -Twelve credits of Core Courses
• -Nine to eighteen credits of course offerings to
  reflect your specialization
  
• -Six credits of methods
• Govt. 500 Research methods a 2nd methods
  class (approved by advisor)
  
• -Up to nine hours of electives
• -Three to six hours of independent research.

6
How Long does it take to Complete the Masters?

• 6 years from the time of first enrollment as a
  degree-seeking student
  
• May miss 1 semester with no consequences
• Miss 2 or more consecutive semesters, must
  re-enroll
  

7
Curriculum Requirements - PhD

• -72 credits may specialize in American politics
  and Government, Public Administration,
  International Relations, or Comparative Politics
  
• -Nine hours of foundation courses
• -At least 21 credits of major field courses
• -At least 9 credits of minor field courses
• -9 credits of advanced methodology courses
• -Up to 6 hours of practical experience in the
  field
  
• -Three Six hours for dissertation proposal
• -Up to 15 hours for Dissertation Guidance

8
How Long Does it Take to Complete the PhD?

• The Ph.D. requires a minimum of 72-credits. 
  Doctoral students have six years from the time of
  first enrollment as a degree-seeking student to
  advance to candidacy.  Students have five years
  from the time of advancement to candidacy to
  graduation.  The student must defend the
  dissertation within 11 years of beginning the
  program, and 6 years of advancing to candidacy.

9
Core Courses - Masters

• Govt 510 American Politics and Government
• Govt 520 Political Theory
• Govt 540 International Politics
• Govt 631 Seminar in Comparative Politics and
  Institutions
  

10
Foundation Courses - PhD

• Choice of Three
• Govt 510 American Politics and Government
• Govt 520 Political Theory
• Govt 540 International Relations
• Govt 631 Seminar in Comparative Politics and
  Institutions
  
• Govt 650 Seminar in Theories of Public
  Administration
  

11
Incoming Class

• Masters Average GRE, Quantitative 633
  Average GRE, Verbal 548 Average GPA 3.5
  16 Full-time, 3 Part-time
  
• PhD Average GRE, Quantitative 704 Average
  GRE, Verbal 620 Average GPA 3.5 7
  Full-time, 5 Part-time

12
Schedule of Classes

• All classes are on the Fairfax Campus
• 3 Terms (Fall, Spring, Summer)
• Varied Class Schedules
• 430 p.m. / 720 p.m.

When are classes held?
13
Masters International

• What is it?
• How does it work? 6 internship credits
  tuition waived
  
• How many students are in the program?
• What countries are they in?
• Suriname Romania
• Paraquay Namibia
• Moldova Niger
• Lesotho

14
Questions?