Program Description
The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Political Science (Thesis) offered by the Department of Political Science in the Faculty of Arts is offered by the Department of Political Science in the Faculty of Arts is a research-intensive program. Students complete six to seven graduate-level seminars (depending on the program) over two or three academic terms and write an MA thesis or graduate research essay. The program's objective is to equip students with skills in conceptual and analytical thinking, social-scientific methods, literature synthesis, and critical reflection to either continue their studies or pursue professional opportunities.
In addition to the primary program, students may take one of the following options:
Gender and Women's Studies (GWS) option: provides graduate students with a cross-disciplinary specialization in gender, sexuality, and feminist studies. The thesis or MA non-thesis project must be on a topic that significantly engages with issues of gender and/or sexuality and/or feminism. For more information about GWS, visit the Institute for Gender, Sexuality and Feminist Studies (IGSF) website
Development Studies option: provides graduate students a multi-disciplinary background in development studies. Students take an interdisciplinary seminar (INTD 657) that introduces them to the study of development as well as a variety of graduate level courses on international development issues. The thesis must be focused on a topic in development studies.
Keywords: Canadian politics, Comparative politics, International Relations, Political Theory, Methods, qualitative research, quantitative research, interpretive research, institutions, government, power, political behaviour, political philosophy, history of political thought, gender, race
Unique Program Features
- Students in the program may specialize in Canadian Government and Politics, Comparative Politics, Political Theory, International Relations, or Methods;
- The thesis program fosters close collaboration with faculty, enabling students to develop sophisticated scholarly arguments within a vibrant international community led by dynamic teachers and renowned scholars.
- The department’s theoretical and methodological pluralism means that faculty members and graduate students employ multiple and diverse methods, from interpretive, historical, and experimental approaches to statistical and formal modeling; students are encouraged to tailor their methods to the questions they ask;
- Faculty members and graduate students are affiliated with various research groups and centres that host regular colloquia, working groups, and visiting speakers, such as the Centre for International Peace and Security Studies, the Centre for the Study of Democratic Citizenship, the Jean Monnet Centre, the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada, the McGill Refugee Studies Group, the Québec Studies Program, the Groupe de recherche inter-universitaire en philosophie politique, the Centre de recherche en éthique, the Yan P. Lin Centre, the Research Group on Constitutional Studies, the Research Group on Global Justice;
University-Level Admission Requirements
- An eligible Bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA out of a possible 4.0 GPA
- English-language proficiency
Each program has specific admission requirements including required application documents. Please visit the program website for more details.
Visit our Educational credentials and grade equivalencies and English language proficiency webpages for additional information.
Program Website
MA in Political Science website
Department Contact
Graduate Program graduate.polisci [at] mcgill.ca (subject: MA%20in%20Political%20Science) (email)
Available Intakes
Fall
Application Deadlines
| Intake | Applications Open | Application Deadline - International | Application Deadline - Domestic (Canadian, Permanent Resident of Canada) |
|---|---|---|---|
| FALL | September 15 | January 15 | January 15 |
| WINTER | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| SUMMER | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Note: Application deadlines are subject to change without notice. Please check the application portal for the most up-to-date information.