MA in Political Science

Defined as “the study of the state” by Aristotle, Political Science is a specialised branch of Social Sciences that focuses on assessing the governing systems across the globe as well as political practices and theories. Studying this broad domain, you will get to know about the workings of political structures as well as their relationships with the corresponding public. For those curious about this field of study, there is an array of Political Science courses available across the globe that one can choose from. One such degree program is an MA in Political Science which is generally a 2-year postgraduate course that aims to impart students with the knowledge of varied forces and factors that shape law, the economy, society, global relations as well as the politics of the future. Through this blog, we will provide you with a complete guide on MA in Political Science, its course structure, eligibility criteria, major universities as well as the career scope it entails.

Higlights

Course Name	MA Political Science
Full Form	Master of Arts in Political Science
Duration	2 Years
Basic Eligibility	Bachelor’s degree with 50% or more in Political Science or in any other related field
Examination Type	Semester
Major Subjects	Political Theory, Public Administration, International Relations, Comparative Politics, and Public Laws. etc.
MA Political Science Jobs	Academician, Activists, Archivists and Political Content Writer, Political Consultant, etc
Recruiting Areas	Universities, Administration, Campaigns, Political Houses, etc
MA Political Science Salary	INR 4,00,000- 8,00,000

MA in Political Science: Overview

As a master’s degree, an MA in Political Science carries out a detailed study of political institutions across the globe and their behaviour. The major emphasis is laid on the operational structures of the government and its interaction with the public along with other diverse aspects like sociology, international relations and economics. Offered by internationally renowned institutions such as the London School of Economics and Political Science and Harvard University, this postgraduate degree program integrates the national political structure along with the global governing system along with popular theories, debates, social movements as well as international relations.

MA in Political Science Syllabus

Though the course structure of an MA in Political Science might vary from one university to another, the following table elucidates some of the major subjects that are generally included under this 2-year degree program.

Semester 1	Semester 2
1. Contemporary Political Theory 2. Research Methodology 3. Western Political Thought 4. Ancient Political Thought 5. Practical Work/Exercise	1. Political Thinking Since Marx 2. Comparative Politics 3. Political Sociology 4. Theories of International Relations 5. Practical Work/Exercise
Semester 3	Semester 4
1. Public Administration  2. International Politics 3. Political Philosophy 4. Debates in Political Theory 5. Practical Work/Exercise	1. Social Movements and Revolutions 2. Post-Cold War International Relations 3. Themes in World Politics and 4. International Political Economy 5. Comparative Political Analysis 6. Parties, Elections and Political Process

MA in Political Science: Eligibility Criteria

To secure admission under an MA in Political Science, the general prerequisites remain the same i.e.

• A bachelor’s degree in Political Science or related field along
• English language proficiency scores like IELTS, TOEFL, PTE etc., Letter of Recommendation (LOR), Statement of Purpose (SOP), amongst others.
• Moreover, some institutions may also require students to have 1-2 years of work experience in this field of study.
• For the students who are looking forward to pursuing this course in India, they have to appear for entrance exams like OUCET, BHU PET, DUCET, IPU CET, etc.

Top Universities 

There are numerous universities across the globe that offer an MA in Political Science and its variants to those wanting to delve deeper into this specialised field of study. To assist you further in your research, below we have listed down some of the major institutions that are renowned for their prospective master’s degree programs in Political Science.

• Harvard University
• University of Oxford
• Paris Institute of Political Studies, Sciences Po Paris
• London School of Economics and Political Science
• University of Cambridge
• Stanford University
• Princeton University
• University of California, Berkley
• Yale University 
• Australian National University

Indian Colleges Offering MA in Political Science

Colleges	City
Hindu College	Delhi
Presidency College	Chennai
Lady Shri Ram College for Women,	Delhi
St. Xavier’s College	Kolkata
Gargi College	Delhi
Ramjas College	Delhi
Chandigarh University	Chandigarh
Presidency University	Kolkata
Lady Brabourne College	Kolkata
Osmania University	Hyderabad

MA in Political Science Scope

After completing your MA in Political Science, candidates can explore an array of career opportunities in a plethora of fields. Since it is a research-oriented degree program, students are encouraged to study the prevalent political and social issues on a global level which further equips them with great analytical skills. You can go onto pursue full-time jobs in the industry of your choice or take up the route of seeking higher education in this field. The leading organizations hire graduates of this field for an average salary of 5,50,000- 7,00,000 per annum.

MA in Political Science Jobs

As it prepares you to establish your career in Political Science, take a look at some of the key career profiles that you can opt for after completing this postgraduate program.

• Political Consultant
• Policy Analyst
• Legislative Assistant
• Public Opinion Analyst
• Campaign Organiser
• Corporate Social Policy Issues Analyst
• Political Commentator
• Legislative Analyst
• Lobbyist
• Corporation Legislative Issues Manager
• Legislative Coordinator

Average Salary

Your average salary after completing MA in Political Science will be like-

Job Roles	Average Salary(INR)
Public Administration	8 LPA
Political Correspondent	6 LPA
Political Content Writer	5.5 LPA
PR Executive	7 LPA
Political Activists	6.5 LPA
Archivist	5 LPA

MA in Political Science Books

Here are the important course books for MA in Political Science-

Name of the Book	Name of the Author
Making Political Science Matter: Debating Knowledge, Research, and Method	Sanford F. Schram; Brian Caterino
A Model Discipline: Political Science and the Logic of Representations	Kevin A. Clarke; David M. Primo
Political Science in America: Oral Histories of a Discipline	Michael A. Baer; Malcolm E. Jewell; Lee Sigelman
Political Research: An Introduction	Lisa Harrison

MA Political Science Entrance Exams

Exam Name	Application Period	Mode of Exam
BHU PET	January – March	Offline
IPU CET	March – June	Offline
JNU EEE	March – June	Offline
DUCET	April – June	Offline
OUCET	April – June	Offline

Distance Education

Candidates who cannot pursue a MA Political Science degree can opt for the distance learning degree, offered by leading education portals.

• Duration – Min: 2 years, Max: 5 years
• Average Fees – INR 15,000 to INR 25,000

We have listed the top colleges offering distance learning programmes below :

1. Nalanda Open University,Patna
2. Dr BR Ambedkar Open University, Hyderabad
3. Tamil Nadu Open University, Chennai
4. IGNOU, Delhi
5. Delhi University School of Open Learning, Delhi

FAQs

Thus, we hope that this blog has helped you understand the essentials of an MA in Political Science. If you are planning to study Political Science or any other specialisations of Social Sciences, take the help of our Leverage Edu’s AI tool to browse through a plethora of diploma and degree courses available in this broad arena and find an ideal combination of a course and university that can provide you with the right knowledge and exposure to build a rewarding career in this field.