Graduate Program

The Master’s Program in Political Science at California State University, Northridge offers a wide range of graduate seminars in American Politics, Comparative Politics, and International Relations. It also offers graduate seminars in Methodology and Political Theory. In addition, students may take up to six units of undergraduate 400-level courses in a broad array of areas including Public Policy and Administration and Public Law (see below “Degree Requirements” and “Courses Acceptable for the Master’s Degree”).
The program requires completion of 33 units, consisting of 30 units of coursework and 3 units of the culminating experience. All graduate seminars are offered in the evenings so the program is suitable for working professionals. Students may enroll on either a part-time or full-time basis.
The program is designed to prepare students for a number of career paths, as well as for further graduate study. Graduates of the program have pursued careers in government and non-governmental organizations, taught in community college or high schools, served as campaign managers, worked in the media, or continued to Ph.D. study at other institutions.

Important Links

For Program Applicants (see “Applying for Admission” below)

University Application
Department Application (If you are a new applicant, please create an account through this link)

For Students in the Program

University Policies and Information

Login (ETD)
Deadlines
Formatting
Predatory Publishers
Subject Privacy for ETD
IRB/Human Subjects Research

Department Information

Political Science Courses
Graduate Culminating Project

Applying for Admission

There are two separate application processes, one involving the University and the other the Political Science Department. Students must submit both the University and Departmental Applications. The Political Science Department admits students in two categories: Classified or Conditionally Classified.

University Application

To apply to the University, please use the CSU Graduate Application link. Click the term you are applying for.

Please be aware that the University deadline may not coincide with that of the Department (see “Departmental Application” below). Please check the CSUN Admissions and Records or CSU Graduate Application websites for more information. Additionally, please note that the CSUMentor online application will not be available after May 31, 2017. For more information, visit the Admissions and Records Graduate Applicants website.

For University Admissions and Applications Information, contact Admission and Records at (818) 677-3799 or send an email from the Contact Page.

Departmental Application

The application deadlines for the Graduate Program are April 1st for Fall admission and October 15th for Spring admission.

Application for Graduate Admission ($30 Application Fee)

At the above application site, you will be asked to submit the following:

Transcripts of all college-level undergraduate and graduate work done at all institutions attended (Unofficial transcripts from the institutions are accpetable);
A one-page resume showing dates of education and work experiences;
A one-page statement of purpose written by the candidate indicating objectives for graduate study.
A sample of the applicant’s writing ability (example: an academic paper from an advanced undergraduate course)

You will be also asked to provide the email addresses of two referees who will write a letter of recommendation for you. Each referee will be contacted separately by email to submit the letter online. GRE not required.

Inquiries to:

Dr. Alexandra Macias
Department of Political Science
210 Sierra Hall
California State University, Northridge
18111 Nordhoff Street Northridge, CA 91330-8254
Email: alexandra.cole@csun.edu (subject line: graduate application)

Graduate Student Classification

The Political Science Department admits students in two categories: Classified or Conditionally Classified. Classified students have already met all the reclassification requirements by both the University and the Department. Conditionally classified students, once admitted to the program, must reclassify their status and become classified in order to graduate from the program. Please see below “Conditionally Classified Status” and “Reclassification from Conditional to Classified status.” Also, please see the University’s website on graduate status.

Classified Status

The minimum requirements for a candidate to be admitted under classified status are:

1) a BA or BS degree from an accredited university or college in Political Science or related fields, or completion of “minimum equivalency”* as defined in CSUN Catalog;

2) a GPA of at least 3.25 in all undergraduate and graduate Political Science courses; and

3) a GPA of at least 3.25 in the last 60 units of all course work.

Conditionally Classified Status

1) a BA or BS degree from an accredited university or college in Political Science or related fields, or completion of “minimum equivalency”* as defined in CSUN Catalog;

2) a GPA of at least 3.0 in all undergraduate and graduate Political Science courses; and

3) a GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 60 units of all course work.

*Minimum Equivalency

* Completion of all lower-division requirements in Political Science required of the major at CSUN

* Completion of a course in research methods. * Completion of an upper-division course in political theory (411, 412, 414).

* Completion of an upper-division course in 3 additional areas of Political Science (i.e., American Government, Comparative Government, International Relations, Public Law, Public Administration).

* Completion of an upper-division pro-seminar in one of the 3 areas selected above.

Exceptional Cases that may not meet all the given requirements for minimum equivalency will be considered by the Graduate Committee on petition by the applicant. Specific reasons for the waiver of minimum equivalent requirement must be offered.

Reclassification from Conditional to Classified Status

Conditionally classified students must change their status to classified before they apply for the Master’s Degree and Diploma by fulfilling the following requirements.

1. If the student had a GPA lower than 3.25 in all undergraduate and graduate Political Science courses or in the last 60 units of all course work at the time of admission to the program, the student will need to achieve a GPA of at least 3.25 in at least 9 units in Political Science at CSUN with at least 6 units in 500 level courses.

o No credit or consideration will be given during the reclassification period for POLS 490, 499, or 599.

2. Completion of all other minimum University requirements for admission to graduate standing.

Students denied at least conditional status by the Department, if granted admission by the University, may attempt to make up deficiencies and to reapply for admission. However, no course work taken under this status will count toward the 30 units required for the master's degree. The following courses may not be used to remove deficiencies in GPA or course requirements: POLS 490, 499, and 599.

Degree Requirements (33 units)

American Politics Option: Degree Requirements

1. Core Requirements (18 units)

POLS 570 Seminar in Political Theory (3)
POLS 571 Seminar in Methodology (3)

Seminar in American Politics (6 units)

Choose two of the following seminars:

POLS 540B-J Seminar in American Government and Politics (3)**

Seminar in International Relations and/or Comparative Politics (6 units)

Choose two of the following seminars:

POLS 522A-G Seminar in International Relations (3)
POLS 530A-J Seminar in Comparative Government (3)

**Courses taken in the core curriculum must not overlap with courses in the American Politics Option.

2. American Politics Option Courses (12 units)

Choose four additional courses (12 units) from POLS 540B-J Seminar in American Politics.

A maximum of two courses (6 units) can be substituted with the following 400-level courses: POLS 403, POLS 404, POLS 405, POLS 406, POLS 407, POLS 440, POLS 441, POLS 441A, POLS 448, POLS 450, POLS 455, POLS 457A, POLS 457B, POLS 458, POLS 460, POLS 461, POLS 462, POLS 465, POLS 466, POLS 467, POLS 469/L, POLS 471A, POLS 471E, POLS 471F, POLS 494I/A.

3. Culminating Experience (3 units)

POLS 698D Graduate Culminating Project (3)

Courses Acceptable for the Master’s Degree

The 300-level courses in Political Science do not carry credit for the master’s degree in Political Science.
All 500-level graduate seminars in Political Science carry credit for the master’s degree.

Total Units Required for the M.A. Degree: 33

Global Politics Option: Degree Requirements

1. Core Requirements (18 units)

POLS 570 Seminar in Political Theory (3)
POLS 571 Seminar in Methodology (3)

Seminar in American Politics (6 units)

Choose two of the following seminars:

POLS 540B-J Seminar in American Government and Politics (3)

Seminar in International Relations and/or Comparative Politics (6 units)

Choose two of the following seminars:

POLS 522A-G Seminar in International Relations (3)**
POLS 530A-J Seminar in Comparative Government (3)**

**Courses taken in the core curriculum must not overlap with courses in the Global Politics Option.

2. Global Politics Option Courses (12 units)