Our Master of Arts (MA) in Political Science will deepen your understanding of American and global politics while preparing you for a variety of real-world opportunities.
With this degree, students pursue domestic and international careers rooted in governmental, non-governmental, and non-profit organizations. Our students also further their educational careers with doctoral work or law school.
What You Will Learn
Our MA in Political Science is focused on a curriculum that provides a solid foundation in many areas of politics, including:
- The Media and Elections
- Terrorism, National Security, and Radicalism
- Religious and Ethnic Conflicts
- Environmental Politics
- Political Economy
- Minority Politics
Program Benefits
With our Master's of Arts in Political Science, you can design a course of study that follows your interests. With a wide variety of graduate-level courses offered, you can master the following:
- American Institutions
- International Relations
- Comparative Politics
- Research Methods
- Political Theory
- Policymaking
- Policy Analysis
Program Requirements
The MA in political science requires a minimum of 30 credits with at least 15 completed in political science courses at the 600-level.
For a complete list of all the courses you may take and their descriptions, please see our graduate catalog.
View Catalog
Our 14 full-time faculty specialize in:
Public Administration and Policy
American Government and Politics
Political Theory
International Relations / Comparative Politics
As a student, you will work and learn in close collaboration with faculty and fellow students. These collaborations lead to innovative ideas, engaging research, and opportunities for real-world partnerships.
Many of our students engage in immersive research and have had the opportunity to present their research at major academic conferences such as these:
- Midwest Political Science Association
- American Political Science Association
- Northeastern Political Science Association
- Indiana Political Science Association
- Benjamin V. Cohen Peace Conference
Student Testimonials
Hear from some of our current and former students about their experiences in the program.
Jessica Fraser
"My graduate school experience at Ball State was invaluable to my career. It gave me the statistics chops (Thanks Dr. Misa Nishikawa!!) and the critical thinking skills to do one of the most important jobs of a think tank."
Read Jessica's Story
Ahmed Alshammari
"After having completed these classes with these amazing professors who are proficient in their specialties, I am confident of having the right tools and methodologies to explore the varied approaches and theories to continue researching and expanding my knowledge in Political Science."
Read Ahmed's Story
Brittney Koehnlein
"Since being here, I have grown as a person and as an academic. The professors here have so much wisdom to impart and take the time to really get to know every student if you give them the chance."
Read Brittney's Story
Eric Kuznar
"The program gave me exactly what I needed in both an education about domestic and foreign political systems as well as a deeper understanding and appreciation of quantitative data analytics, which was one of the deciding factors in the attainment of my job with NSI Inc."
Read Eric's Story
Ted Combs
"I feel that without my time at BSU I would have been unprepared for my PhD program and I know I wouldn’t have been admitted to nearly as good of a program."
Read Ted's Story
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What Can You Do With a Master’s Degree in Political Science?
You will have many options available after completing your degree. You may wish to pursue doctoral work at another university or apply to law school. You may also wish to seek governmental employment or work for a business or professional organization that requires knowledge of governmental processes.
Career Options
- Election Campaign Organizer
- Lobbyist/Activist
- Non-profit Staff
- Journalist
- Consultant
- Congressional Research Analyst
- White House Staff
- State Agency Employee
- Governor's Office Staff
- Public Policy Analyst
- Foreign Affairs Specialist
- Peace Corps Worker
- Global Policy Analyst
- International Development Program
- Foreign Service
- International NGO
- Global Government Affairs and Policy
- Think Tank Analyst
- Public Policy Analyst
- Lobbyist
- Political Correspondent
- Historian
- Educator
- Foundation/Association Staff
- Think Tank Research Analyst
- Program Evaluator
- Data Analyst
- Research Methodologist
Job Placement
Students who obtain a Master's Degree in Political Science have many career paths that they can use their degree. Below is a list of some of the great places and positions our graduates have landed careers.
- U.S. Department of Transportation – Technology Policy Analyst
- Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research & Policy at Indiana University – Policy Coordinator
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan - Security Assistant
- Indiana Criminal Justice Institute - Research Associate
- U.S. Department of Justice - Administrator
- Food and Drug Administration - Regulatory Counsel
- Indiana Department of Education - Public Records Officer
- NSI, Inc. - Research Analyst
- Center for Workforce Innovations - Non-profit Research and Survey Designer
- Helix Education - Director of Community Outreach
- One Medical Group - Communications Manager
- Venture Strategies, LLC. - Financial Systems Analysts
- Wishard Health Services - Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications
- Grant Thornton, LLP - Senior Associate
Continuing Education
Students who pursue a Master's Degree in Political Science may aspire to further their education with doctoral work or continue to law school. Below is a list of some of the educational institutions that our students have been accepted at to continue their education in Political Science.
- Arizona State University
- Binghamton University
- Florida International University
- Indiana University
- IUPUI McKinney School of Law
- Michigan State University
- Southern Illinois University
- SUNY Buffalo
- Syracuse University
- Texas A&M
- University of Kentucky
- University of Leeds, UK
- University of Tennessee
- University of Toronto, Canada
- University of Hyderabad, India
Program Requirements
The MA in political science requires a minimum of 30 credits with at least 15 completed in political science courses at the 600-level.
For a complete list of all the courses you may take and their descriptions, please see our graduate catalog.
View Catalog
Computer Recommendations
Students entering the Department of Political Science will need to possess a personal computer. The College of Sciences and Humanities provides recommendations for the specifications student need to excel in their course work.
See Our Recommendations (PDF)
Paying for Your Education
A graduate assistantship is an excellent opportunity to gain meaningful professional experience while helping cover the costs of your degree. A limited number of graduate assistantships are available within the Political Science Department. Assistantships are also available in other units across campus. Learn more.
Ready to Apply?
Are you interested in pursuing a master of arts in political science? The first step is to apply as a graduate student to Ball State University. You will also need to submit materials directly to our department.
More Information
Do you want to learn more about this program or have questions about the application process or options for funding your education? You may complete our online form to request more information. Or if you would rather speak to someone directly, please feel free to call or email our department.