Political Science (Non-Thesis): Development Studies (M.A.) (45 credits)
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Research Project (18 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLI 693 | M.A. Research Proposal. | 3 |
M.A. Research Proposal. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Independent work under the supervision of the academic advisor(s) leading to a research essay proposal. | ||
| POLI 694 | Research Preparation 1. | 3 |
Research Preparation 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Preparatory work towards the Master's research project, or the Master's thesis. | ||
| POLI 695 | Research Preparation 2. | 3 |
Research Preparation 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Preparatory work towarrds the Master's research project. | ||
| POLI 696 | Research Preparation 3. | 3 |
Research Preparation 3. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Preparatory work towards the Master's research project. | ||
| POLI 699 | Master's Research Essay. | 6 |
Master's Research Essay. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. The Master's research paper should explore a clearly defined problem, show familiarity with the most important work previously done in the field, and demonstrate the ability to carry out research, organize results and present them in good literary style. Normally the paper will flow out of a previous graduate seminar and will be approximately 50 pages in length. | ||
Required Courses (9 credits)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| INTD 657 | Development Studies Seminar. | 3 |
Development Studies Seminar. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Special topics in international development studies. | ||
| POLI 691 | Bibliographic Methods 1. | 6 |
Bibliographic Methods 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Research-related skills and the production of a research bibliography. | ||
Complementary Courses (18 credits)
- 12-15 credits of additional 500- or 600-level courses related to international development studies. Course list is available from the Department.
- 3-6 credits, either of the following 3-credit options or, preferably, both:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLI 612 | Research Methods in Political Science. | 3 |
Research Methods in Political Science. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This seminar offers an overview of the fundamental principles of political science research. Emphasis is placed on acquainting students with the methods and techniques most commonly used by political scientists. Topics include research project design, procedures for carrying out research, as well as both qualitatively- and quantitatively-oriented methods of data collection, processing, and analysis. | ||
- or a suitable more advanced 500- or 600-level course.
- One of the following courses:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLI 561 | Seminar: Political Theory. | 3 |
Seminar: Political Theory. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A topic in political philosophy such as democracy, liberty, property or nationalism, or a political philosopher, is studied to enable students to research a topic in depth, to present their papers to the seminar, and to engage in and profit from discussion and debate. | ||
| POLI 613 | Selected Themes: Political Theory. | 3 |
Selected Themes: Political Theory. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A seminar on a theme in contemporary political theory or in the history of political theory. | ||
| POLI 614 | Proseminar in Political Theory. | 3 |
Proseminar in Political Theory. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A broad survey of major works in the history of political thought, mostly or entirely drawn from the reading list for the Ph.D. comprehensive exam in political theory. | ||
| POLI 616 | Modern Political Analysis. | 3 |
Modern Political Analysis. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An introduction to the concepts underlying modern approaches to the study of politics. The scope of the discipline will be delineated and the foundations of empirical research, including the philosophy and methodology of science especially as these apply to social science, will be considered. Various alternatives and critiques will be presented and evaluated. | ||
| POLI 617 | Problems in Political Theory. | 3 |
Problems in Political Theory. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. An introduction to central normative issues in the study of politics. The seminar consists of lectures, oral presentations, discussion and research papers. | ||
Of the 18 credits of complementary courses, up to 6 credits may be taken outside the Department.
Candidates for the M.A. degree follow an individual program in international development studies approved by the Department.