Master of Arts in Political Science- American Politics

AMERICAN POLITICS is the study of the political system of the United States, including the people, groups, ideas, and institutions that make up that system. Students and scholars may focus on political behavior (voting, public opinion), or on political institutions (Congress, parties, interest groups), or on the relationships between institutions and behavior. Many scholars focus on contemporary politics but some study the evolution of political processes and institutions over time.The American Politics field at UMass has become a leader in the discipline over the past decade thanks to the department’s ability to hire and retain world-class award-winning scholars. The faculty conduct numerous active research programs and offer a broad array of training in the field of American Politics. Yet, while the American Politics field is the largest in the department, it is also a tightknit community that supports active research groups and provides plentiful opportunities for collaborative research. Indeed, every recent PhD student in American Politics has co-authored publications with faculty in the field.The field has excelled in both academic and non-academic job placement in recent years. Recent students have gone on to tenure-track jobs at institutions such as Brandeis University, Dartmouth College, Fordham University, and Stevens Institute of Technology. Others have used their training in social science methods and critical thinking to find rewarding employment in the corporate and non-profit sectors.

Graduate School application, Three letters of recommendationOfficial transcript(s)Personal Statement of InterestWriting sample GRE requirement.