I. The Department of Political Science offers individually tailored programs leading to the Master of Arts in Political Science. This degree provides a broad foundation in politics and government for those intending further graduate study or careers in education and public service or private enterprise. Both thesis and non-thesis programs are available. Also, the study of Political Science may be combined with study in related areas.

Assistantships are available for qualified students in all programs. Applications are available in Clement Hall, Room 437.

All graduate students will consult with their advisor in the Department of Political Science as to the program of study they expect to follow.

II. The Department of Political Science offers a graduate program leading to the Masters of Arts with a major in Political Science. Special fields of study included in the Master of Arts in Political Science are: American Politics (National, State, and Urban) and Public Law; Political Theory; Public Policy and Administration; Comparative Politics, and International Relations.

Program objectives are: (1) development of a broad understanding of the political science field; (2) understanding of the behavioral and humanist approaches to the study of politics; and (3) ability to engage in critical thinking and analysis, use of logic and evidence to construct and defend a position, and communicate argument in written and oral form.

III. MA Degree Program

A. Program Admission

1. Admission to the program will be based on selections from a pool of applicants who meet the University’s Graduate School admission requirements.
2. Significant weight is given to the following factors in determining admissions to the MA program:
1. An undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from an accredited college or university.
2. GRE scores of at least 500 verbal and 500 quantitative. Miller Analogies Test (MAT) scores are not accepted for admission.
3. Letters of recommendation from two persons (one academic) familiar with the applicant’s academic background or experience, specifying in detail the applicant’s capabilities for graduate study.
4. A statement of approximately 1000 words indicating the applicant’s present interests and career goals, including why the applicant wants the MA degree.

1. Students who write a thesis must complete 33 hours of graduate courses including 3-6 hours of credit for POLS 7996, Thesis. Students who do not write a thesis must complete 36 hours of graduate courses.
2. All students must complete POLS 7100, Seminar in Scope and Methods of Political Science Research, and POLS 7401, Seminar in Political Theory, with grades of B or better in each course.
3. At least 24 semester hours of the courses (27 hours for the non-thesis option) must be taken at the 7000 level, twelve of which must be in Political Science.
4. No more than 6 semester hours of internship courses may be counted toward the 33 or 36 semester hour requirement.
5. Non-thesis students must pass a comprehensive examination and thesis students must pass an oral defense of their thesis. The oral defense of the thesis constitutes a comprehensive examination over all course-work.
6. Comprehensive examinations will include one exam on the core Theory and Methods (POLS 7401 and POLS 7100) and exams from any two of the following fields: American Politics and Public Law, Comparative and International Politics, Political Theory, Public Policy and Administration. A student should take a minimum of nine hours in each of the two examination fields.
1. With the approval of the academic coordinator, a student may substitute nine hours in a collateral field for one of the two examination fields.
2. The examination committee will consist of a chair and two other faculty, chosen by the student in consultation with the academic coordinator and the chair of the examining committee.
3. Each of the three written exams will be graded by at least two faculty readers, at least one of whom is a member of the examination committee.
4. Students receive a grade of “pass,” “high pass,” or “fail,” on each of the three exams. If a student receives a grade of “high pass” on all three exams, the oral examination is waived. Otherwise, the student will, upon passing all three written exams, submit to an oral exam with the committee, to cover all three examination areas.

6101. Political Statistics. (3). (Same as PADM 6101). Introduction to analysis of quantitative data used to test, statistically, hypotheses in fields of political science and public and health administration.

6200. Environmental Law, Policy, and Regulation. (3). Survey of the principal federal laws, policies, and regulations concerning environmental use and protection.

6211. Constitutional Law—National Powers. (3). An analysis of the relationships and controls of the three branches and the nature of the division of power between the nation and the states, with emphasis on the role of the Supreme Court as the arbiter in the constitutional system.

6212. Constitutional Law: Origins and Evolution of Civil Liberties in US. (3). Background, role, and legitimate extent of civil rights and liberties in US.

6222. Urban Politics. (3). Roles and processes of politics and governance in urban America in context of global, social, and economic influences on cities and suburbs.

6223. Issues in Urban Politics. (3). Selected issues in contemporary urban politics and policy.

6224. Urban Problems. (3). (Same as PADM 6224). A study of selected problems in urban administration, politics, and policies.

†6230. Legislative Internship. (3-12). Supervised internship working with the Tennessee General Assembly or other legislative bodies on current legislative programs. Seminar sessions are held to discuss and analyze the problems with which the interns are working. May be repeated for a total of 12 credits. PREREQUISITE: Permission of department.

6305. Post–Soviet Governments and Politics. (3). Analysis of institutions, issues, processes, and domestic policies of states comprising the former Soviet Union, with special emphasis on Russia.

6307. Government and Politics of China. (3). A study of the institutions of government, the political process, political elites, political groups, and political socialization of the People’s Republic of China.

6315. Revolution and Political Violence. (3). Comparative analysis of the forms and causes of political violence within nations, including revolutions, ethnic conflict and secessionist movements, and terrorism.

6317. Transitions to Democracy. (3). Comparison of the transition from authoritarian rule to democracy in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe, including consideration of the institutional design of democracy and the impact of culture on democratic transition and consolidation.

6401. Modern Political Ideologies. (3). A study of major ideologies of democracy, communism, and fascism as well as capitalism, socialism, racism, and nationalism, and ideologies of the developing or “third” and “fourth world” nations.

6405. Origin and Development of American Political Thought. (3). Origin and development of political thought in the United States from the colonial to the present time, with emphasis placed on the relation between political thought and political institutions and practices.

6504. International Law. (3). An analysis of the nature, scope, duties, rights, and evolutionary trends of international law.

6508. Theories and Concepts in International Relations. (3). Theoretical approaches to study of international politics. Consideration of various schools of thought, methods, and substantive literatures.

6510. Politics of the Global Economy. (3). Consideration of manner in which political processes affect and are affected by economic processes at global level.

6511. International Conflict. (3). Sources of conflict between nations, including characteristics of the international system, national attributes, and decision making.

6710-19. Special Topics in Political Science. (1-3). Topics of current significance in public issues. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours with permission of the chair or graduate coordinator.

7100. Seminar in Scope and Methods of Political Science Research. (3). Survey of major theoretical approaches to study of politics with emphasis on both analytic and empirical aspects of political inquiry.

7201-8201. Seminar in American Politics. (3). Selected topics in American government and politics. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

7202-8202. Seminar in Government of the United States. (2-3). Analysis of the principal institutions of the federal government of the United States, including Congress, the Presidency, and the Supreme Court.

7302-8302. Seminar in Comparative Politics. (3). Selected topics in comparative politics. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

7303. Seminar in Political Development. (3). Comparative study of the process of political change in the nations of the third world.

7401-8401. Seminar in Political Theory. (3). Contribution of political philosophy to full understanding of politics is illustrated through selected topics. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 hours.

7501-8501. Seminar in International Relations. (3). Selected topics in international politics and foreign policy. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours.

7502-8502. Seminar in International Conflict and Security. (3). Comparative and theoretical examination of how national and international actors conceptualize, identify, perceive, and address threats to their security; includes technological and social change, capabilities and limitations of defense decision makers and bureaucracies, and role of international institutions.

†7503. Reading for Comprehensives. (3). Arranged on an individual basis for graduate students in political science, public administration, or health administration only. PREREQUISITE: Completion of degree requirements or in the last two semesters of program.

7504-8504. Seminar in Government of Western Europe. (2-3). Politics and policies of Western Europe, with emphasis on the nations of Britain, France, and Germany and integration processes occurring within the European Community.

7505-8505. Seminar in Latin American Politics. (2-3). Developmental challenges that confront Latin American nations, configurations of political institutions with which those nations address those challenges, and changing patterns of state-society relationships that result from the politics of development in Latin America.

7506. Seminar in Foreign Policy. (3). Analysis of the conduct and formulation of foreign policy.

7508. Seminar in International Relations Theory. (3). A survey of the main theoretical approaches within the field of international relations.

7510. Seminar in the Politics of the Global Economy. (3). Analysis of the interactive relationship between global political and economic processes.

‡7702-8702. Independent Study. (1-3). May be repeated for a maximum of six hours. Independent investigation of research problems or directed readings in selected area of political science. PREREQUISITE: Permission of instructor.

7710-19–8710-19. Special Topics in Political Science. (1-3). Intensive study of selected topics in political science. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 hours.

†7996. Thesis. (1-6). The student must write and defend satisfactorily a thesis on a subject approved by the major professor.

†Grades of S, U, or IP will be given.
‡Grades of A-F, or IP will be given.