political science master thesis

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Political Science Masters Theses

Theses/dissertations from 2024 2024.

Corporatizing Violence: Targeted Repression of Indigenous Dissent in Democratic States , Laikaika Layne Rivera

The Arab Spring Uprisings in Geopolitical Context , Jake Alan Rutledge

Theses/Dissertations from 2023 2023

The New Profits of Pleasure: Reality Television and Affective Exploitation in Post-Pandemic Neoliberalism , Sophia Aepfelbacher

Committees in the Oregon State Legislature: Partisan, Distributive, or Informational , Woodrow C. Moore

Theses/Dissertations from 2022 2022

Gender Equity and State-Mosque Relations in Middle East North Africa: A Case Study of Tunisia , Joy Amarachi Agbugba

Comparative Foreign Aid Analysis: Replacing the Competition Between Donors with Complementary Aid Policies , Emily Melinda Baker

Legislative Procedures and Perceptions of Legitimacy , Megan Elizabeth Cox

The Meaning and Measure of Deliberative Systems , Darren Michael McCormick

Same Game, Different Rules: Pointillist Imperialism and the New Cartography of Great Power Competition , Andrew Jesse Shaughnessy

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

Trump's Legacy in the Middle East: Strategic Shift and the Geopolitics of American Foreign Policy in the Region , Bilel Kriaa

Freedom vs. Security: Analyzing the Connection between States' Prioritization of Security over Civil Liberties and Citizen Support for Democratic Norms , Carlyn Trumbull Madden

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

Follow the (Electronic) Money: How Bitcoin and Blockchain Technology Are "Shaking the System" , Jim Robert Mignano

The Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) Debate: Do Savings Provisions Influence Arbitration Outcomes? , Ryan Manning Moore

Understanding Evangelical Support for, and Opposition to Donald Trump in the 2016 Presidential Election , Joseph Thomas Zichterman

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

How Does Wasta Bolster Regimes? The Case of Tunisia , Issrar Chamekh

Indigenous Party Formation and Success: the Strategic Roles of Reserved Seats, Parties, and Horizontal Accountability , Michael FitzGerald

Arctic Security: the Race for the Arctic through the Prism of International Relations Theory , Michael Gregory Morgan Trujillo

Grappling with the African E-Waste Pandemic: Contributing Factors and Future Deterrence , Brittany Nicole Wideman

Theses/Dissertations from 2018 2018

Using the Syrian Civil War to Measure Hierarchy: Regional Power Transition in the Middle East , Eric Michael Clary

Understanding ASEAN : An Alternative Approach to International Relations Theory in Asia , Ryan Grimstad Driver

Evaluating the Impact of Oregon's Citizen Initiative Review (CIR) on Voter Decisions , Ari Joaquin Wubbold

Theses/Dissertations from 2017 2017

The 2016 Presidential Election: Demographic Transformation and Racial Backlash , Skyler Lillian Brocker-Knapp

Theses/Dissertations from 2016 2016

Manufacturing Consent in the Maghreb: How Mohammed VI of Morocco Survived the Arab Spring , David Michael Duke II

Substantive Representation by the Unelected: The Role of Staff Gender on Mayoral Priorities in U.S. Cities , Sara M. Hottman

BEE CAUSE: Is Legislative Action Protecting Bees from Neonicotinoids Justified? , Ursula A. Squire

Democratization, Political Performance, and Income Distribution in Argentina and Brazil , Nicholas Paul Stowell

Theses/Dissertations from 2015 2015

The Europeanization of Political Parties: A Study of Political Parties in Poland 2009-2014 , Dennis Jan Blew

An Examination of Factors that Catalyze LGBTQ Movements in Middle Eastern and North African Authoritarian Regimes , Michael Anthony Figueredo

Liberalization, Contention, and Threat: Institutional Determinates of Societal Preferences and the Arab Spring in Tunisia and Morocco , Matthew Thomas Lacouture

Theses/Dissertations from 2014 2014

The Responsibility to Protect and International Law: Moral, Legal and Practical Perspectives on Kosovo, Libya, and Syria , William R. Blackford

Synthesizing the Vertical and the Horizontal: A World-Ecological Analysis of 'the Industrial Revolution', Part I , Christopher R. Cox

Exploring Connections Between Efforts to Restrict Same-Sex Marriage and Surging Public Opinion Support for Same-Sex Marriage Rights: Could Efforts to Restrict Gay Rights Help to Explain Increases in Public Opinion Support for Same-Sex Marriage? , Samuel Everett Christian Dunlop

Moving Beyond Regulatory Mechanisms: A Typology of Internet Control Regimes , Richard Reid Hunt

The Effect of Social Media on Public Awareness and Extra-Judicial Effects: The Gay Marriage Cases and Litigating for New Rights , Sarahfina Aubrey Peterson

Explaining Ballot Initiative Contest Outcomes in California, Oregon, and Washington , Hans Daniel Stroo

Theses/Dissertations from 2013 2013

Macroeconomic and Political Determinants of Foreign Direct Investment in the Middle East , Robin Barnaby Calver

The Strategic Effects of Counterinsurgency Operations at Religious Sites: Lessons from India, Thailand, and Israel , Timothy L. Christopher

Fated to Pretend?: Culture Crisis and the Fate of the Individual , Rebecca Jade Ok

Economic Inequality's Correlation with Political Inequality and Inequality of Opportunity and the Implications for Social Justice Theory , Staci Leigh Schoff

A Dissatisfied Partner: A Conflict - Integration Analysis of Britain's Membership in the European Union , Osman Goktug Tanrikulu

Theses/Dissertations from 2012 2012

Supranationalism in the Fight Against Transnational Threats: A Comparative Study of ASEAN and EU Policy Responses to Human Trafficking , Nicholas M. Klynn

The Crisis of Cooperation: A Critical Analysis of Russian-Iranian Relations in the Post-Soviet Era , Eric D. Moore

Public Participation in Emergency Management , Jason Alexander Rood

A Strategic Model for INGO Accountability Systems , Sarah Elizabeth Wardwell

Theses/Dissertations from 2011 2011

The Fourth Amendment and Cyberspace: Conflict or Cohesion? , Federico Alberto Cantón

The Institutional Development of the American Vice Presidency , James Emory Hite

African Regime Types and International Humanitarian Non-Governmental Organizations: A Comparative Study of the Relationships of Friends and Enemies. , Krista Noel Lane

From Blooming Judicial Philosophies to Castrated Legislation: Sexuality, Desire, and Nominations to the Supreme Court of the United States , Adam Michael McMahon

The Expressive Goals of Bias Crime Legislation and the Media , Louis Panush

In or Out: Interpretation of European Union Membership Criteria and its Effect on the EU Accession Process for Candidate and Potential Member States of Southeastern Europe , Ashley Marie Rasmussen

Citizenship, Duty and Virtue: A Vision of Jefferson's America , Anthony Philip Stine

Diminished Democracy? Portland Radio News/Public Affairs After the Telecom Act of 1996 , Rebecca Webb

Theses/Dissertations from 2010 2010

Northeast Asia and the Avoidance of a Nuclear Arms Race , Samuel Fogleman

Regional Integration in East Asia , Amaleia E. Kolovos

Rashomon Comes to the Courtroom: the Adoption of the Lay Judge System in Japan, Its Impact on Jurisprudence, and the Implications for Civic Engagement , Bryan Matthew Thompson

Limitation Riders in the Postreform House: A Test of Procedural Cartel and Conditional Party Government Theories , Jessica Scott Tollestrup

Nihilism Unbound: Strauss, Nietzsche and Foucault as Nihilist Thinkers , Jeffrey Jacob Wade

Theses/Dissertations from 2007 2007

Radicalism in American Political Thought : Black Power, the Black Panthers, and the American Creed , Christopher Thomas Cooney

Theses/Dissertations from 2006 2006

Social Regulatory Policy : A Challenge to Federalism , Kimberly Janet Russell

Theses/Dissertations from 2004 2004

Prospect Theory and the Cyprus Conflict: Analyzing Decisionmaking in the Turkish Cypriot President , Tarah Marie Wheeler

Theses/Dissertations from 2002 2002

Presidential Domain: An Exploratory Study of Prospect Theory and US Climate Policy Since 1998 , Hal T. Nelson

Theses/Dissertations from 2000 2000

International Environmental Regimes and Latin America : The Role of Environmental Non-governmental Organizations , Jennifer T. Eller

Theses/Dissertations from 1998 1998

An Analysis of the Principal Arguments in Support of a Congressional Term Limit , Paul William Cadero-Smith

The Impact of Relative Gains on Interstate Cooperation in the Areas of Security and International Economy , Renato Corbetta

Free Trade, Regionalism, and the Democratic Peace Theory , Julia B. Johnson

Tocqueville’s Civic Republicanism : The Balance Between Equality and Liberty in American Democracy , Clifford Brantley Smith

Theses/Dissertations from 1997 1997

The Minimal Role of Legal Traditions at the International Court of Justice , Kalley Rae Aman

Virtue, Liberty, and the Good : A Critical Analysis of Civic Republicanism , Nathan Douglas Austin

Collective Intervention in Internal Conflicts : An Examination of Why States Participate , Andrew L. Blum

Public Interest Group Politics and American Political Culture , Patrick Henry Brennan

The Reemergence of Kantian Ethics: Have We Adequately Responded to Hegel's Objections? , Gwen C. Thompson

Theses/Dissertations from 1996 1996

Oregon's Carry Concealed Weapon Laws: A Historical Review of the Right to Personal Protection , Richard Meek Bash

Neorealism and Environmental Cooperation: Towards a Structural Explanation of International Environmental Matters , Anthony David Lott

The Dangers of Nuclear Proliferation: Five Reasons More May Not Be Better , Matthew MacArthur

Theses/Dissertations from 1995 1995

Gaining State Response on Global Environmental Problem-Solving: Developing A State-centric Approach , Heather MacGregor Bothwell

Liberalism, Community, and the Context of Choice , Marta R. Colburn

Sustainable Development in the Third World: A New Paradigm? , Terry A. Gentry

Communicative Action as Feminist Epistemology , Todd Nathaniel Gilman

John Rawls, Feminism, and the Gendered Self , Lori Kinder MacArthur

Sustainable Development in Sub-Saharan Africa: Strategies for Self-help in Food Production, Case Study of Kenya , Dieudonne Mayi

State Cooperation on Regulatory Policies for Transboundary Environmental Issues , Jennifer Lyn Pennell

North vs. South: Sovereign Equality and the Environment in the Twentieth Century , Thomas Schlesinger

Theses/Dissertations from 1994 1994

A Study of Japan's Foreign Policy Behavior: The Discrepancy between Japan's Foreign Policy and Its Voting Behavior in the United Nations General Assembly , Atsuko Sato

Theses/Dissertations from 1993 1993

The Liberal-Communitarian Debate and the Development of a Political Conception of the Person , Kenneth Howard Biggs

Common Security: a Conceptual Blueprint for an Israeli-Palestinian Political Settlement , Robert Arthur Horenstein

The United States-Japan Security Treaty of 1951: An Essay on the Origins of Postwar Japanese-American Relation , Christopher S. Johnson

Theses/Dissertations from 1991 1991

A Comparative Analysis of U.S. Foreign Policy in Iran and the Philippines , Christina M. Blumel

Chinese Intellectual Dissidents , Meiru Liu

Theses/Dissertations from 1990 1990

John Rawls, the conception of a liberal self, and the communitarian critique , Johnathan Edward Mansfield

Politics and Education: The Nicaraguan Literacy Crusade , Teresa Squires Osborne

Theses/Dissertations from 1989 1989

An Analysis of US/Soviet Arms Control: Adding a Subsystem Perspective , Peter Millard Olson

Theses/Dissertations from 1987 1987

Hugo Grotius and the liberal tradition , Karen Diane Csajko

American Foreign Policy: The Utility of Force as an Influence, Bargaining, or Coercive Force in the Caribbean Basin , Susan M. Marandas

Theses/Dissertations from 1986 1986

Manipulation or education? : symbolic language, belief system and the Truman Doctrine , John Gunn Tilson

Theses/Dissertations from 1985 1985

Formulation of the Comprehensive employment and training act of 1973 , Gary G. Skalangya

Theses/Dissertations from 1984 1984

Integration in West Africa : an empirical examination of ECOWAS , Stephen C. Adkisson

Theses/Dissertations from 1983 1983

Polish foreign policy and the development of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe , Keijiro Yasui

Theses/Dissertations from 1982 1982

Congressional Power and Presidential Prerogative: The War Powers Question , Gerald Michael Worley

Theses/Dissertations from 1979 1979

The political integration of the Kurds in Turkey , Kathleen Palmer Ertur

Impact of the Older Americans act of 1965 upon the elderly in Portland-Multnomah County, Oregon, from 1965 to 1977 , Joil A. Southwell

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This collection of MIT Theses in DSpace contains selected theses and dissertations from all MIT departments. Please note that this is NOT a complete collection of MIT theses. To search all MIT theses, use MIT Libraries' catalog .

MIT's DSpace contains more than 58,000 theses completed at MIT dating as far back as the mid 1800's. Theses in this collection have been scanned by the MIT Libraries or submitted in electronic format by thesis authors. Since 2004 all new Masters and Ph.D. theses are scanned and added to this collection after degrees are awarded.

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Home > Dissertations, Theses & Capstones Projects by Program > Political Science Master's Theses

Political Science Master's Theses

Theses from 2024 2024.

Analysis of Victim/Villain Narratives Presented Under Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing Frameworks: The Kosovo Case , Kristi Allaj

Hagia Sophia: Politics of Space and Hauntology , Hazal Demir

Who do Civilian Review Boards Serve and Protect? Applying Andre Gorz’s Non-Reformist Reform Theoretical Framework to Empirical Analysis from New York State , Jackson Diamond

Electoral Competitiveness and Legislator Responsiveness , Joseph Donza

Understanding the Knowledge Production Function of the United Nations: The Case of the Sahel Crisis , Hussein E. Elshaar

Cancer in Pajamas: Radio, Podcasts, and the Politics of Free Time in the Digital Age , Daniel Grjonko

Socially Racialized and Statistically Invisible: U.S. Census Recognition of The Middle Eastern and North African Diaspora , Aliana J. Jabbary

Examining the Factors that Contribute to the Survival and Resilience of the Al-Shabaab Terrorist Organization , Kevisha R. Kellar

Heteronormativity and Fair Housing: Comparing Housing Opportunities Among Cisgender and Transgender Women , Joseph E. Lara

Israel's Foreign Policy Toward Asia , Eli Lebto

Who’s Afraid of Employer Sanctions?: Political and Institutional Dynamics of Workplace Enforcement , Michael C. Macher

Framing the Fight: Revolutionary Feelings in Virtual Communities , James Reilly

Theses from 2023 2023

The Relationship between Democratic Measures, LGBTIAQ* Rights Acceptance, and U.S. Foreign Aid Allocation in the Global South , Jacqueline Biergans

Freedom Song: Uncovering a Politics of Dignity in Black Feminist Thought and Praxis , Abegail M. Dobson

The Impact of Overseas Study Experiences on Chinese Students’ Attitudes Toward the United States , Xufeng Fang

Finding Autonomy Under the Russian Bear: Explaining Central Asia’s Response to the Invasion of Ukraine , Ryan Hitch

Public Privacy and Info-Liberal Authoritarianism , Christopher Hongach

Power and Authority in Karl Marx, Niccoló Machiavelli and Thomas Hobbes , Ekim Kilic

Rewiring the Spokes: The Future of U.S. Bilateralism in Asia , Gian Marc Lombardo

The Relationship Between “Black Lives Matter” Movement Protests and Police Arrests in New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles: An Empirical Analysis , Lukas Louwagie

Misogyny in Contemporary Populist Authoritarianism , Maxine Mannheim

Algorithmic Sovereignty: Machine Learning, Ground Truth, and the State of Exception , Matthew Martin

How Do Authoritarian Regimes Win Re-Election During an Economic Recession? , Mst Sarmin Akter Mazumder

Ethnic Tensions in the Western Balkans and the Experience of Ethnic Minorities , Nadina Resulani

The Impact of Utilitarian Public Policies on Minority Communities: A Comparison of New York City and New South Wales, Australia. , Nicholas Reyes

Grand Strategy at the End of History: Chinese Strategic Thought in the 21st Century and its Western Perceptions , Daniel A. Rogers

Notes on Insurgent Universality In Ambedkar’s Social and Political Thought: A Critique Of Postcolonial Anti-Universalism , Sitharthan Sriharan

Fostering Expertise, Confidence, and Passion in Writing Education: How a Common Sense, Nonbinary Education Policy May Serve to Enrich Teachers’ Writing Lives, Shrink the Divide Between Literacy Educators, and Finally Improve Literacy Among New York City Students , Rebecca I. Wallace-Segall

Theses from 2022 2022

The Effects of Syrian Refugees on Jordanians’ Political Attitudes , Suna Buse Agkoc

American Intervention in the "New World Order" , Julie N. Benson

Drag, Drugs, and Demonstrations: Cultural Subversion under Capitalism , Nicholas Kade Edwards

A Multilevel Analysis of Political Risk , Marlon J. Guzman Valdera

The Campaign to End U.S. War-Making in Yemen: Strategies of Congressional Advocacy, 2015–2020 , Zachary Laub

Reproducing the Orient: A Critical Examination of Western Media Representations of China’s Uyghur Policies between 2014 and 2021 , R. Tiger Li

Janus v. AFSCME, Revisited , Benjamin Derek Morse

No Excuses Yet No Solutions: The Inherent Anti-Blackness of the No-Excuses Charter School Model , Tshala A. Pajibo

Comparing the Environmental and Social Factors of UK and US Firms: A Case for Stringent Disclosure Regulation , Jasmine Pybas

Towards a Multi-Polar International System: An Analysis of the BRICS Countries’ Growth as Economic and Political Actors , Damla Senlik

Democratic Processing of Waste: European Federalism and Decentralized Waste Management in Navarra and Basque Country , Michael Stinavage

Navigating the Multiple Streams: The Strategic Use of Sunset Provisions , David F. Wall

Theses from 2021 2021

Reimagining Post-Secondary Training, Community College, and Welfare Supports , Aaron Azerad

On the Woman Question: A Defense of Alexandra Kollontai against Liberal Critics , Nicole Baltzer

Nuances in Bottom-Up Interpretations: Colombia's and Guatemala's Radically Different Approaches to Transitional Justice , Chelsea L. Carrick

Optimism of the Intellect, Pessimism of the Will? A Gramscian Analysis of Two New York Police Reform Campaigns , Christian Covington

The Politics of Hip Hop: A Political Analysis of Hip Hop’s History and Its Complicated Relationship with Capitalism , Danielle Garcia

The Palestinian’s Venison: John Locke, Colonialism and Liberal Zionism , Benjamin Geier

The Second Kashmir (Informational) War of 1965 , Navdip Hans

A Lasting Impression: Higher Education’s Effects on Mass Polarization in the US , Bradley Highfield

El Pueblo Unido : How Threats Increased Latinx Turnout in Arizona’s 2020 General Election , Conner Martinez

The Federalist Papers' Account of Human Nature , Jeffrey P. Smith

The Role of Authoritarianism in the 2020 Election , Brandon Vigil

The LinkNYC Kiosk: Phone Booths, Urban Culture, and the Neoliberal Dream for New York City , Michael A. Villanova

Theses from 2020 2020

False Cures of U.S. Nationalism: The Border Wall – A Raucous Call from the Silent Center , Tatiana N. Browne-Kai

Black Parental Involvement in a Suburban School District , Walter L. Fields

Class Based Contestations in Neoliberal France , Sam Goodson

Modernity in Miniature: Maoism and the Beijing Department Store , Samuel M. Hellmann

Who Governs the Sea? An Analysis of the Regime Complex in International Shipping , Brent Landon

Repairing the U.S.–South Korea Alliance: THAAD as an Appeasement Measure , Jane Lee

Shock, Stimulus, and Upheaval: The Great Recession, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and Mayoral Coalitions in Brooklyn, NY 2009–2013 , Charles Linsmeier

Unpaid Care Work and Civic Engagement: A Review of Literature Suggesting Unpaid Care Work as Civic Engagement , William Novello

Ascriptive Nationalism, Demagoguery, and the Modern Presidency: A Case Study in Constitutional Decay , Christopher J. Putney

Aesthetic Redemption: Psychedelia, Film, and Walter Benjamin’s Sensory Revolution , Alexander C. Redlins

Internet Voting and the Equity of Participatory Budgeting Outcomes: A Study of New York City’s Participatory Budgeting Initiative , Rodrigo Saad

Building for Culture: How Municipal Ownership of Cultural Facilities Influences Annual Arts Funding in American Cities , Adam M. Sachs

Theses from 2019 2019

Afghanistan: The Crossroads of Conflicting Regional Interests , Sabera Azizi

The Role of Women in Terrorism , Zeynep Bayar

Sounds of Alter-destiny and Ikonoklast Panzerist Fabulations , Mette Christiansen

Youth Voice and the Promise and Peril of Affirmative Governmentality: An Analysis of New York City’s Borough Student Advisory Councils , Hillary R. Donnell

Black Women at Work in Corrections in the Era of Mass Incarceration: Documenting Demographic Changes in the New York City Department of Correction , Carolyn Fisher

Presidential Power: Assessing the Unitary Executive as the Strongest Determinant of Presidential Success , Maxwell J. Fuerderer

Why is the Black Population of Central Brooklyn, the Mecca of Black NYC, Diminishing? , Jamell N.A. Henderson

American Digital Election Infrastructure: Policy, Risks, Options , Tyson S. Himes

The Growing Middle Class and the Absence of Democracy in China , Danni Mei

Cyborgean Horizons: Gender, Disability and Technology in Olympic and Paralympic Sport, An Intersectional Approach , Stephanie O'Neill

A Politics of Boundlessness , Fernando Orellana

Swedish Migration Politics: Have the Sweden Democrats Taken Over the Political Agenda? , Sofia Sedergren

The Jihadist Marketplace: Understanding Competition between al Qaeda and ISIS , Hristo Voynov

Theses from 2018 2018

Out of the Shadows: Women of the FMLN Guerrilla Army in El Salvador’s Civil War, 1979–1992 , Erica Gonzalez

The Study of Soft Power: China’s Presence in African Region , Jessica Huang

Angelenos , Vivian Liang

We Refugees, Again , Aaron Linas

Economics, Politics and the Environment , Ron Mandelbaum

The Dictators’ Dilemma: Repression or Concessions in the Face of Resistance , Chris Massaro

Digesting Democracy: A Theoretical Analysis of American Food Regimes , Angela R. Moore

The State and Future of Autonomous Vehicle Regulation in the United States , Nikolay Nyashin

Rescinding Rancière: An Investigation Into the Conservative Tendencies of a Leading Proponent of Radical Democracy, and a Reconstruction of the Participatory Democracy of Ancient Athens , Tyler J. Olsen

The State of Hate in America: A Study of Hate Group Permeation in the United States by State , Michelle Rogers

The Politics of Service: Affectivity, Social Relations, and the Power of Tipping in the Restaurant Industry , Jacqueline A. Ross

Gendered Violence: An Analysis of State Legal Accountability for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Amongst Refugee Women , Maria Sigalas

Politics as Loot: Reflections on Theories of Decline in Political Thought , Milo Ward

Theses from 2017 2017

Capitalism and Unfreedom: Louis D. Brandeis and a Liberty of the Left , Eric L. Apar

The Technocratic Politics of the Common Core State Standards in History , Kate Duguid

Toward a Reoriented Radicalism: Black Marxism and Orientalism , Alexandros Orphanides

Underrepresentation of Women in Politics: Focus on New York City , Yuliya Szczepanski

Terrorism: A Tool For Shaping Public Opinion , Jonathan E. Voisich

Theses from 2016 2016

Neighborhood and Community Change in Brooklyn's Sunset Park , Anthony G. Aggimenti

Headhunting: Evaluating the Disruptive Capacity of Leadership Decapitation on Terrorist Organizations , Ted Clemens IV

Curing Violence: Prescriptions for Justice and Peace in Colombia , Marissa Crawford

Theses from 2015 2015

Target Zero: Why States Choose To Eradicate Infectious Diseases And How They Succeed , Gifty Abraham

Civil Unrest in the Untied State of America: Facing the Threat , Menemsha P.S. Milnor

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Graduate Program

Master of science in political science (sm).

The MIT Political Science master's program prepares students to uncover essential insights into the workings of societies and governments in the 21st century. Master's students develop the skills and knowledge to evaluate and promote effective public policies.

How the master's program works

The one-year MIT Master of Science in Political Science is designed for students who want to build proficiency in applied research so that they can pursue successful careers in government, business, and public policy. Students interested in an academic career should read more about the PhD in Political Science .

The MIT Political Science master's program emphasizes intensive preparation in a single field of study:

• American Politics
• Comparative Politics
• International Relations
• Models and Methods
• Political Economy
• Security Studies

Requirements

1. six subjects.

You must satisfactorily complete a minimum of six graduate subjects. At least four of those subjects must be completed here at MIT Political Science. You may take the remaining two subjects at MIT or through cross-registration at Harvard University.

2. Sixty-six units

You must satisfactorily complete a program of study of at least 66 units—42 of those units must be G-level subjects acceptable to the department.

3. Three semesters

The master's program requires a minimum of three semesters—typically fall, spring, and summer (summer tuition is subsidized by MIT).

4. Master's thesis

As a candidate for a master's degree, you must complete and defend a thesis that is approved by two members of the faculty.

You must maintain a grade point average of 3.5 in all subjects applied toward fulfillment of the requirements for your master's degree.

Questions? Consult the MIT Political Science Departmental Handbook or a member of the staff in the MIT Political Science Graduate Office .

Department of Political Science

Graduate Program

Yale’s Ph.D. program has a strong historical record of producing leading scholars in the field of Political Science. (Please note: The department does not offer a stand-alone MA in Political Science. Information about the Jackson Institute MPP in Global Affairs .) Many Yale graduates have also had successful careers in government, politics, non-profit organizations, and the private sector. This historical strength is matched by a strong faculty deeply engaged in training current graduate students to succeed in contemporary Political Science.

One of the Department’s strengths is substantive and methodological pluralism—there is no single “Yale way,” and our students and faculty are motivated by a range of questions in and across the subfields of Political Science. At the same time as we acknowledge this diversity of interests, the Department’s curriculum is designed to ensure students have adequate opportunities to master the core tools of contemporary social science research, including a four-course sequence in quantitative methodology and research design (statistics), a two course sequence in formal theory, courses on experimental design, implementation, and analysis, and a training program in qualitative and archival methodology.

The Department also offers training in five substantive subfields: American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Economy, and Political Theory. In each of these subfields, faculty regularly teach courses that expose students to both the foundational work in these areas and current active research topics. In many subfields, this training takes the form of formal or informal “sequences,” for example Comparative Politics I and II are taught each year. These classes are supplemented by topical seminars on selected and advanced topics.

In addition to regular courses, the Department and affiliated institutions (in particular, the MacMillan Center and the Institution for Social and Policy Studies) host a variety of (near-)weekly workshops in which outside speakers and Yale affiliates present and discuss work. These workshops provide a unique opportunity for students to observe the work of leading scholars, as well as to develop their own research in conjunction with faculty and student review. Information about these workshops is available here.

Students will also take two courses as a cohort. The first, Introduction to Politics, is for all Ph.D. students in their first semester. The second, Research and Writing, spans the second year and is centered on students producing a publishable quality research paper prior to embarking on the dissertation. Students in Research and Writing present their final paper in the Department’s mini-APSA conference in April.

About eighteen students enter the Ph.D. program each year. The total number of students in residence at any one time, including students working on their dissertations, is approximately 100, of whom about 40 are taking courses.

The Director of Graduate Studies for the Political Science Department is Hélène Landemore . Professor Landemore’s DGS office is located in Room 234  in Rosenkranz Hall, 115 Prospect Street. To contact Professor Landemore or sign up for DGS office hours, email her at dgs.polisci@yale.edu .

The Graduate program registrar is Colleen Amaro.  Her office is located in Room 230 in Rosenkranz Hall, 115 Prospect Street. She can be contacted by email at colleen.amaro@yale.edu .

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Home > Political Science > Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Political Science, Department of

Department of political science: dissertations, theses, and student research.

Establishing Consent: The Role of Women Representatives in Passing Informed Consent Laws , Sophia Stockham

New Perspectives on Peace Settlements: The Significance of Power-Sharing and Hierarchies on Negotiation Dynamics , Alejandra Vásquez Gutiérrez

Human Rights Regime in West Africa: The Case of ECOWAS and the Journey to Nigeria's Fourth Republic , Fatima Mercy Aigbomian

The Impacts of Local Property Taxes on Nebraska's State Legislator Elections and State Legislator Voting , Taylor Gold

The Role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Improving Human Rights in Iraq , Naser A. Yahya

Private Interests in the Public Sphere: The Evolution of Private Interest Before and During the American Revolution , Jensen Alexander Humphrey

Navigating Non-Physical Borders: An Examination of the Boundaries of Exclusion and Ideas About Inclusion of Immigrants in American Communities , Alison O'Toole

Alliance Cohesion: Connecting the Disconnect in Alliance Reliability , Noelle Troutman

Cruising Into Conflict: A Mixed Methods Examination of Cruise Missile Possession and the Initiation of Military Force , Dennis Crawford

Inconsistent Interventions? : The Effect of Operational Feasibility on U.S. Presidential Military Intervention Decisions , Matthew D. Eberhart

Financial Socialization and Its Effects on Food Insecurity Among College Students , Jamie Morrissey

Rebel Group Compliance with International Humanitarian Law and Foreign State Sponsorship , Hannah Read

The Prosecution Paradox: How the International Criminal Court Affects Civil War Peace Negotiations , Julia Reilly

THOUSANDS OF SMALL BATTLES: A CASE STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF POLITICAL DISCUSSION NETWORKS ON VOTE CHOICE IN CAUCUSES , Jonathan Jackson

Shield or Glue? Key Policy Issues Constraining or Enhancing Multinational Collective Ballistic Missile Defense , Marxen Kyriss

Preferential Politics , Cary Wolbers

An Examination of Political Attitudes and Behavior Using Regulatory Focus Theory , Kristen D. Deppe

Congruence and Participation - Does the Discrepancy between the Elite's and the Public's Ideology Come at the Cost of Reduced Participation? , Balazs Feher-Gavra

Thinking about Race: How Group Biases Interact with Ideological Principles to Yield Attitudes toward Government Assistance , Frank John Gonzalez

The Seeds of Change: Attitudinal Stability and the Direction of Attitudinal Change across the Lifespan , Johnathan C. Peterson

Active Shooter Security at the University of Nebraska: The Case for Training and Door Locks , Randall Bowdish

Can International Criminal Law Deter Rebel Groups?: The Case of Uganda, the Lord's Resistance Army, and the International Criminal Court , Julia Reilly

Place Matters? Place and Legislative Behavior in Nebraska , Melissa Lee Trueblood

Truth and Justice? Towards Comprehensive Transitional Justice in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo , Alicia Weaver

Competing for Attention: A Comparative Study of Social Movements and News Media in Abortion Debates , Katherine Eugene LeBreton Hunt

Influences on Student Attitudes About U.S. Involvement in Nation-Building , Tobin C. Beck

Creatures of Incoherence: Dissecting the Drivers, History, and Cognition of Attitudinal Incongruence in the American Body Politic , Timothy Collins

Changing Times: Population Movements and Education Quality , Nicholas J. Cordonier

Coercive Airpower in the Precision Age: The Effects of Precision Guided Munitions on Air Campaign Duration , Brett A. King

Disproportional Representation: A Mixed Methods Analysis of Educational Attainment Representation in State Government , Jayme l. Neiman

Military Strategy: Theory and Concepts , Randall G. Bowdish

The American Ideal of Representative Democracy: The Roles of National Identity and Perceived Consensus and Homogeneity Among the American People , Frank John Gonzalez

Emotion and Public Attention to Political Issues , Michael W. Gruszczynski

Defining Scavenger-Actors: Understanding a Global Menace , James Harrold

Private Soldiers in Africa: A Look at the Effects of Private Military Contractors and Mercenaries on the Duration of Civil Wars in Africa from 1960 to 2003. , Seth H. Loven

SUICIDE ATTACKS IN AFGHANISTAN: WHY NOW? , Ghulam Farooq Mujaddidi

Political Hate Machines: Outside Groups and the 2012 Presidential Campaign Advertising Market , Martin Nader

DETERRING THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA: THE ROLE OF JAPAN’S BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE , Jonathan Trexel

Regional Regimes for the Defense of Democracy and Coups d'Etat , Jacob P. Wobig

Examining the Covariance of Political and Religious Beliefs Within Individuals and Across Generations , Amanda Balzer

Human Rights and U.S. Foreign Policy in the Multilateral Development Banks , Daniel Braaten

Reluctance or Power Hunger: Whom do Voters Prefer? A Test of the Wary Cooperator Theory and Evolutionary Political Behavior , Timothy Collins

Neural basis of egalitarian behavior , Christopher T. Dawes, Peter John Loewen, Darren Schreiber, Alan N. Simmons, Taru Flagan, Richard McElreath, Scott E. Bokemper, James H. Fowler, and Martin P. Paulus

Processing Facial Emotions: An EEG Study of the Differences between Conservatives and Liberals and Across Political Participation , Karl Evan Giuseffi

A Sanctuary for Discussion: Liberal Religion and Foreign Policy Attitudes , Madeline M. Hoffer

Understanding Africa’s China Policy: A Test of Dependency Theory and a Study of African Motivations in Increasing Engagement with China , Nkemjika E. Kalu

Patronage Politics and Public Goods Provision in Africa , Alex M. Kroeger

From Boon To Bust: State Lottery Policy & How Stakeholder-Created Beneficiary Fund Structure Determines Vulnerability To Future Legislative Grabs , Lisa Mathews

Terrorism Warnings as Strategic Appeals: An Analysis of Press Reporting and Public Reactions , Eric Whitaker

Populism and Human Rights in Theory and Practice: Chavez's Venezuela and Fujimori's Peru , Joseph P. Braun

Returning Attention to Policy Content in Diffusion Study , John M. Fulwider

Hellfire and Grey Drones: An Empirical Examination of the Effectiveness of Targeted Killings , Matthew A. Morehouse

Framing Traits: The Role of Personality in Framing Effects , Kristen D. Anderson

And Justice for All: Developing Rule of Law in the Balkans , Ryan M. Lowry

Fairness, Justice and an Individual Basis for Public Policy , Douglas R. Oxley

EUROPEAN INTEGRATION, IDENTITY, AND NATIONAL SELF INTEREST: THE ENDURING NATURE OF NATIONAL IDENTITY , Tyler R. White

An Empirical Study of What Governmental Processes Ordinary People Really Want in South Korea , Gang-hoon Kim

Ganging Up Against the Courts: Congressional Curtailment of Judicial Review, 1988-2004 , Benjamin J. Keele

Corruption and Democratic Performance , Levente Littvay

THE ADAPTIVENESS OF PUNISHING BEHAVIOR: A BASELINE STUDY , Levente Littvay

The Use of the Congressional Resolution as an Instrument of Influence over Foreign Policy: 1925–1950 , Robert Lee Munkres

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UKnowledge > College of Arts & Sciences > Political Science > Theses & Dissertations

Theses and Dissertations--Political Science

Theses/dissertations from 2024 2024.

Ruling in the Shadows: Analysis of the Supreme Court’s Use of the ‘Shadow Docket’ and its Effects , EmiLee Smart

Public Justice: Analyzing the Interactions of Supreme Court Justices with the American Public , Abbie Wood

Theses/Dissertations from 2023 2023

Welcome Visitor or Nosy Neighbor: Executive Branch Presence in Federal and State Judicial Affairs , Audrey Baricovich

The Spread of Nuclear Technology: The Difficulty of Arms Control and the Consequences of Nuclear Proliferation , Bryce Allen Beschorner

Home Is Where the Heart Is: Rural Residents, Deprivation, and the Impact of PRD on Governmental Representation , Mary Rachael Blandau

Citizen Demand for Cultural Censorship: A Mixed Methods Study , Kelly Grenier

Damsels in Defense: Exploring the Relationship Between Women and Violence Against Civilians During Armed Conflict , Baylee Harrell

Circumvention Theory: Rethinking Gray Zones, Understanding Bounded Competition, and Examining State Response to Unipolar Structure in the Twenty-First Century. , Damian M. Jones

COALITION OF THE ENDING: WHY STATES WITHDRAW FROM INTERNATIONAL MILITARY COALITIONS , Weiss Mehrabi

The UN-Intended Effects of Risky Mandates , Robert Wood

Theses/Dissertations from 2022 2022

NEWS TREATMENT OF THE SUPREME COURT: LANGUAGE SELECTION, IDEOLOGICAL DIRECTIONS, AND PUBLIC SUPPORT , Alexander Denison

STAYING COMPLIANT OR STAYING IN OFFICE? INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, POST-COUP SIGNALS, AND COUP-BORN REGIMES , Jennifer Flinchum

THE INFLUENCE OF THE FEDERALIST SOCIETY ON JUDICAL POLITICS AND LAW IN THE UNITED STATES , Peter S. K. Lynch

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

The Transnational Diffusion of Human Trafficking Policy , Glenn M. Harden

THE POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES OF STATE ACTION ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: HOW VICTIMS AND NON-VICTIMS FORM OPINIONS ABOUT GOVERNMENT , Helen Rabello Kras

International Cooperation Networks and Economic Sanction Effectiveness , Gargi Vyas

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

Piecing Together Coalition War: Threat, Politics, and Coalition Structure , Stephen Joiner

BETTER DEVILS OF OUR NATURE: THE ROLE OF VIOLENCE-JUSTIFYING IDEOLOGIES IN OPINION FORMATION , Steven Kaiser

FROM HOBBES TO HABERMAS: THE ANTI-CULTURAL TURN IN WESTERN POLITICAL THOUGHT , Ralph Gert Schoellhammer

Predicting Positive Attitudes toward Immigrants with Altruism , Kati Elizabeth Stafford

Judicial Elections, Public Opinion, and their Impact on State Criminal Justice Policy , Travis N. Taylor

Why Weak States Balance: National Mobilization and the Security Strategies of Post-Soviet States , Eteri Tsintsadze-Maass

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

SEEDS OF SUSPICION: THE PERPETUAL CYCLE OF ANTI-MUSLIM STEREOTYPES, MIDDLE EAST INTERVENTION, AND TERRORISM , Christopher Ledford

PERCEPTIONS OF FAIRNESS AND POLITICAL SUPPORT IN THE FACE OF ECONOMIC INEQUALITY , Gregory W. Saxton

THE EFFECT OF STATES OF EMERGENCY ON GUBERNATORIAL APPROVAL RATINGS , Meghan Steinbeiss

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Research Topics & Ideas: Politics

100+ Politics-Related Research Ideas To Fast-Track Your Project

Finding and choosing a strong research topic is the critical first step when it comes to crafting a high-quality dissertation or thesis. If you’ve landed on this post, chances are you’re looking for a politics-related research topic , but aren’t sure where to start. Here, we’ll explore a variety of politically-related research ideas across a range of disciplines, including political theory and philosophy, comparative politics, international relations, public administration and policy.

NB – This is just the start…

The topic ideation and evaluation process has multiple steps . In this post, we’ll kickstart the process by sharing some research topic ideas. This is the starting point, but to develop a well-defined research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , along with a well-justified plan of action to fill that gap.

If you’re new to the oftentimes perplexing world of research, or if this is your first time undertaking a formal academic research project, be sure to check out our free dissertation mini-course. Also, be sure to sign up for our free webinar that explores how to find a high-quality research topic from scratch.

Overview: Politics-Related Topics

• Political theory and philosophy
• Comparative politics
• International relations
• Public administration
• Public policy
• Examples of politics-related dissertations

Topics & Ideas: Political Theory

• An analysis of the impact of feminism on political theory and the concept of citizenship in Saudi Arabia in the context of Vision 2030
• A comparative study of the political philosophies of Marxism and liberalism and their influence on modern politics
• An examination of how the Covid-19 pandemic affected the relationship between individual freedom and collective responsibility in political philosophy
• A study of the impact of race and ethnicity on French political philosophy and the concept of justice
• An exploration of the role of religion in political theory and its impact on secular democracy in the Middle East
• A Review of Social contract theory, comparative analysis of the political philosophies of Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau
• A study of the concept of the common good in political philosophy and its relevance to the ongoing refugee crisis in Europe
• An examination of the relationship between political power and the rule of law in developing African countries
• A study of the impact of postmodernism on political theory and the concept of truth, a case study of the US
• An exploration of the role of virtue in political philosophy and its impact on the assessment of moral character in political leaders

Topics & Ideas: Comparative Politics

• A comparative study of different models of federalism and their impact on democratic governance: A case Study of South American federalist states
• The impact of ethnic and religious diversity on political stability and democracy in developing countries, a review of literature from Africa
• An analysis of the role of civil society in promoting democratic change in autocratic regimes: A case study in Sweden
• A comparative examination of the impact of globalization on political institutions and processes in South America and Africa.
• A study of the factors that contribute to successful democratization in authoritarian regimes, a review of the role of Elite-driven democratization
• A comparison of the political and economic systems of China and India and their impact on social development
• The impact of corruption on political institutions and democracy in South East Asia, a critical review
• A comparative examination of the impact of majoritarian representation (winner-take-all) vs proportional representation on political representation and governance
• An exploration of Multi-party systems in democratic countries and their impact on minority representation and policy-making.
• A study of the factors that contribute to successful decentralization and regional autonomy, a case study of Spain

Topics & Ideas: International Relations

• A comparative analysis of the effectiveness of diplomacy and military force in resolving international conflicts in Central Africa.
• The impact of globalization on the sovereignty of nation-states and the changing nature of international politics, a review of the role of Multinational Corporations
• An examination of the role of international aid organizations in promoting peace, security, and development in the Middle East.
• A study of the impact of economic interdependence on the likelihood of conflict in international relations: A critical review of weaponized interdependence
• A comparative analysis of the foreign policies of the EU and the US and their impact on international stability in Africa
• An exploration of the relationship between international human rights and national sovereignty during the Covid 19 pandemic
• A study of the role of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAO)s in international politics and their impact on state behaviour
• A comparative analysis of the effectiveness of international regimes in addressing global challenges such as climate change, arms control, and terrorism in Brazil
• An examination of the impact of the rise of BRICS on the international system and global governance
• A study of the role of ideology in shaping the foreign policies of states and the dynamics of international relations in the US

Tops & Ideas: Public Administration

• An analysis of the impact of digital technology on public administration and the delivery of public services in Estonia
• A review of models of public-private partnerships and their impact on the delivery of public services in Ghana
• An examination of the role of civil society organizations in monitoring and accountability of public administration in Papua New Guinea
• A study of the impact of environmentalism as a political ideology on public administration and policy implementation in Germany
• An exploration of the relationship between public administration and citizen engagement in the policy-making process, an exploration of gender identity concerns in schools
• A comparative analysis of the efficiency and effectiveness of public administration, decentralisation and pay and employment reform in developing countries
• A study of the role of collaborative leadership in public administration and its impact on organizational performance
• A systematic review of the challenges and opportunities related to diversity and inclusion in police services
• A study of the impact of corrupt public administration on economic development and regional growth in Eastern Europe
• An exploration of the relationship between public administration and civil rights and liberties, including issues related to privacy and surveillance, a case study in South Korea

Topics & Ideas: Public Policy

• An analysis of the impacts of public policy on income inequality and poverty reduction in South Sudan
• A comparative study of the effectiveness of legal and regulatory, economic and financial, and social and cultural instruments for addressing climate change in South Korea
• An examination of the role of interest groups in shaping public policy and the policy-making process regarding land-use claims
• A study of the impact of globalization on the development of public policies and programs for mitigating climate change in Singapore
• An exploration of the relationship between public policy and social justice in tertiary education in the UAE
• A comparative analysis of the impact of health policies for the management of diabetes on access to healthcare and health outcomes in developing countries
• Exploring the role of evidence-based policymaking in the design and implementation of public policies for the management of invasive invertebrates in Australia
• An examination of the challenges and opportunities of implementing educational dietary public policies in developing multicultural countries
• A study of the impact of public policies on urbanization and urban development in rural Indonesia
• An exploration of the role of media and public opinion in shaping public policy and the policy-making process in the transport industry of Malaysia

Examples: Politics Dissertations & Theses

While the ideas we’ve presented above are a decent starting point for finding a politics-related research topic, they are fairly generic and non-specific. So, it helps to look at actual dissertations and theses to see how this all comes together.

Below, we’ve included a selection of research projects from various politics-related degree programs to help refine your thinking. These are actual dissertations and theses, written as part of Master’s and PhD-level programs, so they can provide some useful insight as to what a research topic looks like in practice.

• We, the Righteous Few: Immoral Actions of Fellow Partisans are Judged as Less Possible (Varnam, 2020)
• Civilizing the State: Civil Society and the Politics of Primary Public Health Care Provision in Urban Brazil (Gibson, 2012)
• Political regimes and minority language policies: evidence from Taiwan and southeast Asia (Wu, 2021)
• The Feminist Third Wave: Social Reproduction, Feminism as Class Struggle, and Contemporary Women’s Movements (Angulo, 2019)
• The Politics of Immigration under Authoritarianism (Joo, 2019)
• The politics of digital platforms: Sour Dictionary, activist subjectivities, and contemporary cultures of resistance (Okten, 2019)
• Vote choice and support for diverse candidates on the Boston City Council At-Large (Dolcimascolo, 2022)
• The city agenda: local governance and national influence in the policy agenda, 1900-2020 (Shannon, 2022)
• Turf wars: who supported measures to criminalize homelessness in Austin, Texas? (Bompiedi, 2021)
• Do BITs Cause Opposition Between Investor Rights and Environmental Protection? (Xiong, 2022)
• Revealed corruption and electoral accountability in Brazil: How politicians anticipate voting behavior (Diaz, 2021)
• Intersectional Solidarity: The Political Consequences of a Consciousness of Race, Gender and Sexuality (Crowder, 2020)
• The Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Coalitional Representation of Latinxs in the U.S. House of Representatives (Munoz, 2019)

Looking at these titles, you can probably pick up that the research topics here are quite specific and narrowly-focused , compared to the generic ones presented earlier. In other words, to create a top-notch research topic, you must be precise and target a specific context with specific variables of interest . In other words, you need to identify a clear, well-justified research gap.

Get 1:1 Help

If you’re still feeling a bit unsure about how to find a research topic for your dissertation or research project, check out our Topic Kickstarter service below.

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DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

• Undergraduate
• Honors Thesis

Award Winning Theses

The following theses are recent examples of outstanding work:.

• Avery Goods:  "An Inconvenient Group: The Effect of Motivated Messages on Climate Change Attitudes and Behaviors of Skeptic Audiences" 2019 Janda Prize Winner for Best Honors Thesis
• Joshua Varcie: "The Artificial Incumbency Advantage: How Bipartisan Redistricting Schemes Protect Incumbents" 2019   Janda Prize Honorable Mention for Distinguished Honors Thesis
• Benjamin Alan Weinberg: " Ballot Challenge: Explaining Voting Rights Restrictions in 21st-Century America"  2018 Janda Prize Winner for Best Honors Thesis
• Logan Scott Peretz:  "How Hillary May Have Lost the White House: The Electoral Effects of Presidential Campaign Visits in 2016"  2018   Janda Prize Honorable Mention for Distinguished Honors Thesis
• Aaron Gordon: "An Empirical Appraisal of the Liberty of Contract"  2017 Janda Prize Winner for Best Honors Thesis
• Hayley Hopkins: "Restrict the Vote: Disenfranchisement as a Political Strategy" 2017 Janda Prize Winner for Best Honors Thesis
• Matthew Gates: "Ideological Basis for the Gay Rights Movement"  2017   Janda Prize Honorable Mention for Distinguished Honors Thesis
• Elena Barham: "Passing the Buck: World Bank Anti-Corruption Reform and the Politics of Implementation" 2016 Janda Prize Winner for Best Honors Thesis
• Remy Smith: "Inherently Unequal: The Effects of Equal Representation on Senate Policy Outcomes" 2016 Janda Prize Honorable Mention for Distinguished Honors Thesis
• Laura Rozier:  "The Media, the Innocent, and the Public: A Nuanced Look at Exonerations and Public Opinion of the Death Penalty"   2015 Janda Prize Winner for Best Honors Thesis
• Kaitlyn Chriswell: “Cross-cutting cleavages: Euskadi Ta Askatasuna, Terra Lliure, and the centrality of networks” , 2014 Janda Prize Winner for Best Honors Thesis
• Jordan Fein:  "Searching for Health Care Reform: Studying Media Coverage and Framing Public Opinion of the 2009-2010 Health Care Debate" , 2011 Janda Prize Winner for Best Honors Thesis
• Dylan Lewis:  “Unpaid Protectors: Volunteerism and the Diminishing Role of Federal Responsibility in the National Park Service” , 2011 Janda Prize Honorable Mention for Distinguished Honors Thesis
• Benjamin Zhu:  “Resource Distribution in Post‐PRI Mexico: De‐Politicized or Re‐Politicized?” , 2011 Senior Marshall for Distinguished Honors Thesis
• Ben Armstrong:  “Ne Touche Pas Ma Constitution: Pressures and Presidential Term Limits” , 2011 Barry Farrell Prize for Academic Achievement
• Jeffrey Paller:  “Where are the people? The Relationship between Government and Civil Society in South Africa” , 2006 Janda Prize Co-Winner for Best Honors Thesis
• Samir Mayekar:  “The Piquetero Effect: Examining the Argentine Government’s Response to the Piquetero Movement” , 2006 Janda Prize Co-Winner for Best Honors Thesis 


Janda PRIZE for DISTINGUISHED Honors Thesis REcipients

The Kenneth F. Janda Prize for Distinguished Honors Thesis in Political Science  is awarded annually for the best undergraduate Honors thesis of the year.

Program codes: MA_267C and MS_304D

CIP Codes: 45.1001 and 11.0802

Program of Study for the Master of Arts in Political Science and the Master of Science in Applied Data Analytics

Admission Requirements: Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university; complete application to the Graduate School   ; official general GMAT or GRE exam scores, unless waived.

Additional MS in Applied Data Analytics Requirements: Evidence of knowledge in statistics, economics, and domain specific knowledge for the concentration through course work, work experience or completion of the accelerated prerequisite program before taking graduate course work in those subjects.

To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the criteria for admission to the Graduate School   . Meeting these criteria does not guarantee acceptance.

Location: Boone Campus

Course Requirements for the Dual Master of Arts in Political Science - American Government Concentration and Master of Science in Applied Data Analytics - Interdisciplinary Analytics Concentration

Total required (minimum 54 hours), ma in political science required courses (12 hours).

• P_S 5001 - Scope and Methods (3)
• P_S 5030 - Seminar in American Government and Politics (3)
• P_S 5150 - Seminar in Public Policy (3)

Select One of the Following Courses (3 Hours)

• P_S 5010 - Seminar in Political Philosophy (3)
• P_S 5020 - Pro-Seminar in International Relations (3)
• P_S 5040 - Pro-Seminar in Comparative Politics (3)
• P_S 5670 - Advanced Environmental Politics (3)

MS in Applied Data Analytics Required Courses (21 Hours)

• CIS 5450 - Project Management and Visualization (3)
• CIS 5630 - Data Management (3)
• CIS 5685 - Programming for Business Analytics (3)
• CIS 5845 - Unstructured Data Analytics (3)
• MBA 5660 - Web Analytics, Data Privacy and Security (3)
• MBA 5820 - Executive Skills (0)

Take any two of the following three courses (6 Hours):

• ECO 5720 - Applied Econometrics (3) [DL]
• ECO 5740 - Forecasting and Time Series Models (3) [DL]
• PSY 5050 - Advanced Quantitative Methods (3)

Shared Required Courses (6 or 9 Hours)

Choose one of the following (3 hours).

• P_S 5002 - Research Methods and Statistics (3)
• MBA 5200 - Problem Analysis and Quantitative Methods (3)

Internship or Thesis (3 or 6 Hours)

• P_S 5900 - Internship in Public Affairs (3-9) (3 or 6 Hours) with analytics focus
• P_S 5998 - Thesis Preparation (3) and
• P_S 5999 - Thesis (3) with analytics focus , when appropriate, with permission of the graduate program directors.

Elective Courses (12 or 15 Hours)

Graduate electives approved by MA in Political Science and MS in Applied Data Analytics directors. Students are required to work with both program directors each semester to determine appropriate program of study and course scheduling.

MS in Applied Data Analytics Differential Tuition

Students enrolled in the dual degree will pay an additional tuition amount above the regular tuition assessed for graduate students on those courses that satisfy the requirements of the MS in Applied Data Analytics degree. For more information about differential tuition, please refer to http://studentaccounts.appstate.edu/tuition-and-fees

Other Requirements for the Dual MA in Political Science and MS in Applied Data Analytics

Thesis: Optional

Proficiency: For MA in Political Science, students must demonstrate a proficiency in reading a foreign language or quantitative analysis as a research tool. The department may determine the proficiency required. Not required for the MS in Applied Data Analytics.

Candidacy: Required for MA in Political Science students with the thesis option only; awarded upon approval of thesis committee and prospectus. Required for the MS in Applied Data Analytics.

Comprehensive: Required for MA in Political Science students: During their last semester of coursework, candidates must submit an ePortfolio and earn a passing grade. Not required for the MS in Applied Data Analytics.

Product of Learning: Not required