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Earning a master’s degree in the evergreen field of Political Science will help you enhance your knowledge as well as uplift your career. There are a variety of Political Science courses available at master levels such as MA Political Science, in which you will get to learn about the workings of political structures, and international politics, as well as its effects on the masses at a larger scale. Are you sceptical about what an MA in Political Science entails? If yes, then here is a blog on the MA Political Science syllabus which will guide you through the course structure in depth.
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MA Political Science Syllabus: 1st Year
The first year of the course consists of two semesters. You will study an array of subjects during these two semesters which will strengthen your knowledge of the field. Majorly, the subjects taught in the first year are Comparative Political Analysis, Theories of International Relations, Themes in World Politics, etc. However, this can vary from one university to another. Listed below is the semester wise MA Political Science syllabus of the 1st year.
Semester 1
In the first semester of MA Political Science, you will be familiarised with scores of theories and the relevance they hold in the latest political situation. Tabulated below are the subjects which you will find in the MA Political Science syllabus.
| Subjects | Topics |
| Debates in Political Theory | Political Context; Debates on Freedom; Debates on Justice; Debates on Equality; Debates on Democratic Political Community; Debates on Rights; |
| Political Development | Class, Caste, Tribe, and Gender; Approaches to Politics; Development Process; Political Parties; Religion, Region and Language; Elections; Social Movements, Objectives Methods, Impact, and Recent Trends |
| Comparative Political Analysis | Development; Comparative Methods and Approaches; Theories of State; Nationalism and Anti-Colonial Struggles; Comparative Party System; Social Movements and Revolutions |
| Theories of International Relations | Alternative Approaches in International Relations; Realism, its Variants and Complements; Introduction to International Relations; |
Semester 2
Giving a further edge on the domain, here are the subjects that form an essential part of the 2nd semester of the MA Political Science syllabus.
| Subjects | Topics |
| Administrative Theory | Theories and Approaches to the Study of Public Administration; Contextual Public Administration; Contemporary Developments; Grassroots Governance Alternative Perspectives |
| Themes in World Politics and International Political Economy | International Political Economy; Global Challenges and Movements; International Political Economy; Themes in World Politics |
| Key Texts in Political Philosophy | What is Interpretation Theories of Interpretation Problems in Interpreting Data History of Ideas The Importance of Language |
| Texts of Philosophers | Plato, Aristotle, Locke, Rousseau, etc |
Note: The subjects included in the MA Political Science syllabus will vary from one country and university to another.
2nd Year Syllabus
The final year of MA Political Science will be divided into two semesters with separate examinations for both. Moreover, apart from the core subjects, you will be required to study electives in both semesters. The last term will also include an industrial training or dissertation course. However, the structure will vary from one university to another. Let us now explore the MA Political Science syllabus for the 2nd year.
Semester 3
| Subjects | Topics |
| Interpreting Modern World | The conception of the “Modern” Perspectives of Justice and Social Transformation; Development and its Critiques; The conception of Nationalism; Debates on Globalisation; Community; Civil Society; Public Sphere; |
| Political Sociology | Citizenship; Social Movements; Political Culture and Social Capital; Role of Media; |
| Electives | – |
Semester 4
When it comes to the last semester, apart from 1-2 generic or elective subjects, you will have to complete a dissertation course.
Popular Electives
As discussed, in the 2nd year of your Master’s program, you will have to choose from a list of electives in order to major in a specific concentration. What is important to note is that the electives offered can vary from one country and university to another keeping in view the historical, cultural, and political significance. Here is a list of popular electives in MA Political Science:
- Public Law
- Democracy and Constitutional Design
- Global Governance
- Advocacy and Public Policy
- Jurisprudence in a Globalized World
- Role of Public Institutions
- Ethics and Politics
- Peace and Conflict Studies
- Understanding Foreign Policy
- Quantitative Research in Politics
MA Political Science Assessment Scheme in India
| Category | Weightage |
| Theory Examination | 70 |
| Internal Assessment/Dissertation | 30 |
| Total Marks | 100 |
DU MA Political Science Entrance Syllabus
The syllabus for DU MA Political Science covers the syllabus for BA Political Science.
The syllabus for BA Hons Political Science is here.
The syllabus for BA Programme Political Science is here.
JNU MA Political Science Entrance Syllabus
Here is the syllabus for the MA Political Science Entrance exams:
Unit I
a) Social and Political Thought of Modern India
b) Western Political Thought
c) Concepts and Approaches in Political Theory
Unit II
d) Constitution and Political Institutions of India
e) State and Politics in India
f) Political Processes and Public Policies in India
Unit III
g) Comparative Government and Politics
h) International Relations
MA Political Science Books
- A History of Political Theory by George Holland Sabine
- The Globalization of World Politics by John Baylis, Patricia Owens, and Steve Smith
- A History of Political Thought by Subrata Mukherjee and Sushila Ramaswamy
- The Political System by David Easton
- Democracy and Discontent: India’s Growing Crisis of Governability by Atul Kholi
- Politics by Andrew Heywood
- Contemporary Political Philosophy by Will Kymlicka
- Theories of Comparative Politics by Ronald H Chilcote
Top Universities for Political Science 2024
| Top Universities in the World | QS World Rankings 2024 |
| University of Cambridge, UK | 02 |
| University of Oxford, UK | 03 |
| Harvard University, USA | 04 |
| Stanford University, USA | 05 |
| University of California, Berkely | 10 |
| Yale University, USA | 16 |
| Princeton University, USA | 17 |
| Australian National University, Australia | 34 |
| London School of Economics and Political Sciences | 45 |
| Sciences Po, France | 319 |
FAQs
The main subjects covered in MA Political Science is Political Theory, Public Administration, International Relations, Comparative Politics, and Public Laws.
Yes, MA political science is a difficult subject to pursue. It is theoretical and practical area of study which focuses on multiple thinkers, philosophies and theories.
Most political science is a board field of study and allows students to enter multiple areas of specialisations like academics, public administration, bureaucracy, marketing, media, government and policy making.
The four main fields of political science is Politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory.
Hence, the MA Political Science syllabus covers various facets of the domain which hold importance at an international level! If you want to pursue Political Science course but are stuck with the dilemma of which concentration to choose, then we, at Leverage Edu, will assist you in choosing the most suitable concentration and will also provide assistance in completing the admission formalities. Hurry up, book an e-meeting with our experts now!
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I’m interested in knowing more about the scope of masters in poli science and also to enquire more eon weather I’m eligible for masters in politics when I have done my bachelors in an entirely different field .
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Hey Mariam. The minimum eligibility criteria for MA Political Science is an upper second class honours degree (2:1) or equivalent in any discipline. It means although you are from another field you can apply for this course. The scope of MA political Scinece is generally in academics. However, students can also pursue a career in central, state, or local government agenecies, enter into politics, law, social services, pursue political journalism, or aim to become a civil servant. For futher information, consult the study abroad experts at Leverage Edu.
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2 comments
I’m interested in knowing more about the scope of masters in poli science and also to enquire more eon weather I’m eligible for masters in politics when I have done my bachelors in an entirely different field .
Hey Mariam. The minimum eligibility criteria for MA Political Science is an upper second class honours degree (2:1) or equivalent in any discipline. It means although you are from another field you can apply for this course. The scope of MA political Scinece is generally in academics. However, students can also pursue a career in central, state, or local government agenecies, enter into politics, law, social services, pursue political journalism, or aim to become a civil servant. For futher information, consult the study abroad experts at Leverage Edu.