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Interested in a Master’s Degree in Political Science? 

The Political Science Department at San Diego State University has a high-quality, flexible master’s program designed to meet the needs of a wide range of students:

• Those who believe they would like to obtain a PhD.  Our MA program is an excellent place to begin advanced training in Political Science theory and research methods, to develop a specialized area of interest and expertise, and to try on academic entrepreneurship by doing original research in a thesis. We have a good record of placing our graduates in top PhD programs and having these students hit the ground running.

• Those who would like additional training and credentials for a career in government, nonprofit organizations, public interest groups, research organizations, teaching, or business.  Some of our students on this career trajectory already have local employment and enroll part-time in order to blend advanced education with their current jobs.  Others enroll full-time and use the degree as a tool for entry into their field.  Our public policy emphasis is designed to enhance job placement through an internship in an organization relevant to a student’s interests. 

• Those who enjoy politics and the intellectual stimulation of an academic environment.  Some of our students enter our program without a clear agenda for how they will use the degree, but with a strong interest in politics or a desire to continue to learn and grow past their undergraduate study. 

Faculty members in Political Science are people who care about politics and who engage students as thinkers and actors.  Our students come away from the degree program with a more sophisticated grasp of power, politics, and justice and with a host of new skills as writers, analysts, and researchers.

About Our Program

The members of the political science faculty at San Diego State University are committed to maintaining a high-quality Master’s degree with programs of study tailored to individual students’ interests.  We have nineteen full-time faculty members with a broad range of research interests across the discipline.  Our faculty combines a commitment to good teaching with active research agendas that keep class content current and engaging. 
We have roughly 50 students actively enrolled in the MA program and admit a new class of 20-22 students each year, primarily in the Fall semester. 

Why San Diego State University?

San Diego State University is the largest campus in The California State University System with a national reputation for academic excellence.  SDSU was identified in 2007 as the top small research university in the country, based upon data from the Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index. As you pursue your master’s degree, you will learn from distinguished faculty engaged in cutting-edge research and committed to public education.

Research Opportunities

Last year, faculty members across SDSU were awarded over $145 million in grants and contracts, and reported close to 1,500 research projects under way. This vibrant, research-oriented intellectual atmosphere enhances both the instruction and the research mentorship available at SDSU. Furthermore, our geographic location on the U.S.-Mexican border, cosmopolitan context and diverse population provide unique opportunities for local fieldwork and research.

San Diego: An International Hub with Inter-University Opportunities

San Diego, the second largest city in California, is a thriving cultural, scientific, and educational center known for its near-perfect climate. Bordering the Pacific Rim and Mexico, San Diego is also recognized globally as a growing academic and research mecca.  SDSU maintains close library ties to other local universities, including the University of California-San Diego, and encourages students to take advantage of all the opportunities offered by the colleges and universities in the Southern California-Baja region. 

Students enrolled in SDSU’s Political Science program can arrange to take some coursework at either the University of California-San Diego or the California Western School of Law through an inter-campus exchange program.

For more information, contact:
Professor Kristen Hill Maher, Graduate Adviser
Department of Political Science
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-4427
619-594-4873
psgrad@mail.sdsu.edu