The Department provides graduate training leading to the Master of Arts and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees, and participates in UWM’s Master in Public Administration.
All of our Graduate Students receive training in the broad discipline, across the following subfields:
American politics, which emphasizes political behavior, economy and institutions as well as policy and urban politics.
Comparative politics, which focuses on democratization, authoritarianism, and the role of the state in the economy.
International relations, which applies a theoretical approach to world politics as well as the study of global security, international political economies and international organizations.
Political theory, which delves into political questions of social and economic inequality in the late modernity period including globalization, identity politics and social movements.
Public Policy/Public Administration, which focuses on the development and evaluation of public policy, the bureaucracy, and intergovernmental relations.
The Master of Arts
The Master’s in Political Science is a rigorous graduate program that trains students for a career in governance, as well as in cutting-edge social science research.
- Most students complete the program in 2 years.
- The master’s program culminates in an original scholarly paper based on arguments grounded in extensive research and reference to relevant primary and secondary sources.
The Doctor of Philosophy
The PhD program is for applicants desiring to be trained as independent, original scholars. Most PhD graduates seek faculty positions at colleges or universities. PhD students complete the MA program requirements and take additional courses that help them specialize in particular fields of study.
- PhD students are an integral part of the learning and teaching experience across the Political Science Department.
- They conduct research, teach courses and work closely with various faculty members and students throughout the department.
- Most students complete the program in 5-6 years.
- Culminating events for the Political Science PhD include a qualifying examination, a dissertation, and defense.
CLICK HERE for the most current Graduate Handbook.
The Master of Public Administration
The Department participates in UWM’s MPA program as well, which prepares students for leadership and managerial roles in government, primarily at the local level. The program is jointly run by the College of Letters and Science’s Public and Non-Profit Administration program and the Lubar College of Business. Concentrations are available in municipal management, urban policy, and transportation and public works management. A dual degree option is available for obtaining both the Master of Public Administration and the Master of Urban Planning.
Additional information on degree requirements is available on our page in the Official Catalog.