Thesis or creative component?
You can choose to complete a thesis or a creative component. A thesis is supervised original research that is done with a faculty committee and is great preparation for continuing on to pursue a Ph.D. “Creative component” is a broad term to describe several different types of research projects. A creative component is normally shorter than a thesis (20-30 pages) and can be supervised either by a single faculty member or a committee. A creative component could be a survey or case study related to your current employment, or a report briefing decisions makers on the trade-offs involved in different policy choices. You can work on something that fits your interests and is more practical (and less theoretical) than a thesis.
Funding
We are proud to be one of the few political science departments in the country to offer some of our master’s students funding. We offer quarter-time and half-time teaching assistant positions in which a student is a teaching assistant for one or two courses and receives a $5,066 or $10,132 per semester stipend plus a 25% or 50% tuition reduction.
Students can also get similar funding working as research assistants for our faculty. All graduate assistants automatically qualify for the in-state tuition rate. Assistantships awards are competitive and based on merit. Typically, to be considered for an assistantship you must be an M.A. student in political science and reside in Ames during the fall and spring semesters.
Preparing for a Ph.D.
The academic job market is competitive and so is admission into quality Ph.D. programs. Some students who have the ability to succeed on this path are not ready to start right after their undergraduate program. Sometimes they may have had lower grades that do not reflect their true potential, or they need to increase their quantitative skills or get more research experience. We work with students on this track to help them maximize the chances of a good Ph.D. program placement after graduation.
Admission and funding standards
We do not have a required minimum GPA. We prefer a GPA over 3.0, but we also know GPA may only tell part of the story and look at each application holistically. We do not require the GRE for admission. You can use our free assessment application to get information on whether you are likely to be accepted into the program within one week, and if you get a tentative acceptance you can contact the Director of Graduate Education for an assessment of whether you are competitive for an assistantship. To fill out the assessment application visit: apps.admissions.iastate.edu
Learning outcomes
Political Science Graduate Program Learning Goals (Thesis Option)
- Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of scholarly literature in political science or public policy.
- Form testable hypotheses and articulate research objectives that, when met, will lead to significant contributions to the field of study.
- Conduct qualitative and/or quantitative research via appropriate acquisition, analysis, and reporting of data.
- Interpret research results appropriately, integrating them into the existing knowledge in the discipline of political science or public policy.
- Clearly and accurately communicate research findings orally and in writing, and often through the use images (tables, figures, and other forms of imagery) and electronic or other forms of media.
- Articulate how the graduate program, including coursework and creative scholarship, fits into life and career goals.
- Conduct scholarship, in teams or with independence, in ways that consistently demonstrate ethical practice and professionalism.
Political Science Graduate Program Learning Goals (Non-Thesis Option)
- Demonstrate the ability to apply the scholarly literature in political science and public policy to practical issues in the public sector.
- Demonstrate understanding of the difficulties and complexities of implementing public policy in practice.
- Interpret research results appropriately, integrating them into the existing knowledge in the discipline of political science or public policy.
- Clearly and accurately communicate research findings orally and in writing, and often through the use images (tables, figures, and other forms of imagery) and electronic or other forms of media.
- Articulate how the graduate program, including coursework and creative scholarship, fits into life and career goals.
- Conduct scholarship, in teams or with independence, in ways that consistently demonstrate ethical practice and professionalism.