MA in Political Science

Produce an original contribution to the field, incorporating theory, methods, coursework and research into your Master’s Project or Master's Thesis. Showcase your ability to design, manage and report on topics typically required for professional employment, highlighting your competence across several areas within political science.

Examples of recent Master's Projects and Thesis include:

• Suppressing Interest: How High Stakes Testing has Impacted Education and Political Participation
• Leveraging War: How Pro-Government Militias Affect Civil Conflict Duration to Negotiated Settlements

Graduate students can apply for up $1,500 in support for research-related projects through the Mark Diamond Research Fund. 

Enhance your skills to speak and write with clarity and concision about the issues, methods and processes of government, not only in the U.S. but around the world. Research papers, essays and presentations are requirements of most political science coursework. Further hone your skills outside of the classroom through department, university, student and professional organization opportunities.

For example, the Department of Political Science offers a series of Professional Seminars ("Prosems") in which faculty and advanced graduate students discuss aspects of becoming a successful political scientist. These informal seminars address very practical aspects of the profession that may not be directly raised in graduate courses. 

Recent topics include: 

• Professional Conference Participation
• Job Search and Interview Process
• Writing a Dissertation
• Journal Manuscript Submission

Review data in detail, observe patterns, perform advanced calculations and draw logical conclusions. Compile, analyze, and report data to explain social, economic and political phenomena and forecast trends, applying mathematical models and statistical techniques.

Learn the advances concepts and tools required of the very best political scientists such as: descriptive statistics, probability distributions, sampling theory, sample estimation, hypothesis testing, bivariate and multivariate data analysis, linear regression models, dimensional analysis, covariance structures, time-series analysis, limited dependent variables, bayesian principles, gaming theory, aggregate data analysis and more. 

Apply your skills through complex projects, case studies and research papers in core and elective courses:

• 502 Graduate Research Methods (required)
• 508 Basic Statistics for Social Science (required)
• 531 Intermediate Statistics for Social Science
• 631 Advanced Statistics for Social Science
• 632 Field Research Methods in Social Science
• 633 Advanced Topics in Political Inquiry
• 633 Advanced Topics in Political Inquiry
• 731 Empirical Political Frontiers

Gain insight into the demands and expectations of employers including the ability to be dependable, punctual, dressing properly and displaying self-confidence through a multitude of volunteer and activism opportunities in Western New York political, non-profit and business community. Students displaying knowledge, professionalism and a solid work ethic are oftentimes offered full-time positions.

Explore some local volunteer opportunities:

• Erie County Democratic Committee
• Erie County Republican Committee
• The Service Collaborative of WNY
• Volunteer WNY
• LinkedIn
• Volunteer Match

Engage with diverse and thought-provoking industry leaders who will challenge you to think outside your cultural and professional norms at professional conferences. Our students regularly present their papers and meet with scholars who share their academic interests at national and international conferences and conventions organized by renowned academic associations, including:

• American Political Science Association (APSA)
• Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA)
• Southern Political Science Association (SPSA)
• Northeastern Political Science Association (NEPSA)
• New York Political Science Association (NYPSA)
• International Studies Association (ISA)
• Peace Science Society

When possible, the department offers financial support to help students cover the expenses of the conference participation. The UB Graduate Student Association is also a source for conference funding.

Expand your world view and prepare to work in the world's interconnected political spheres, economies and global systems.

National and international scholars frequently come to campus to present guest lectures and partake in conferences to expose students to a multitude of world views. Recent topics and guests include:

• Elections in India, a panel discussion led by Om Prakash Rawat, Chief Election Commissioner of India 
• The Myth of the Short Sighted Voter, Professor Richard Jankowski, SUNY Fredonia
• Maggie Haberman, New York Times White House Correspondent and Pulitzer Prize WinneJ
• Jeff Corwin, Host of “Ocean Mysteries,” Renowned Conservationist and Environmental Journalist
• Joe Biden, 47th Vice President of the United States (2009-17)
• Condoleezza Rice, U.S. Secretary of State (2005-09)

Rise to the challenge by gaining experience and leadership skills in some of the hundreds of University at Buffalo extracurricular and governance organizations, civic groups and volunteer activities.

Join like-minded peers in the UB Graduate Student Association and other student associations and clubs and participate in poster competitions, travel to conferences, network and have some fun with colleagues. Keep up with the latest political science student, department and alumni news and events through the Department of Political Science Facebook page. 

Acquire the knowledge and skills to initiate, plan, execute, control and complete the work to achieve specific goals and meet specific success criteria at the specified time. Negotiate reasonable and achievable deadlines and milestones across teams and stakeholders. In short, gain hands-on experience delivering projects that meet the organization’s goals on time and on budget.

When completing your Master's Project or Thesis you will learn how to manage diverse groups and viewpoints effectively, make adjustments as your project evolves and incorporate best practices and recognized principles into your work. Examples of recent student projects include:

• Government Response to Protest and the Effectiveness of Democracy
• Peacekeeping for Profit: Is the United Nations' Peacekeeping Reimbursement System Motivating Voluntary Troop Contributions?

Work independently, with peers or with faculty members on major research projects, helping them identify issues and produce groundbreaking and publication-worthy scholarship and applied research.

UB faculty members have well-defined strengths in four subfields of political science:

• American Politics: One of our department’s strengths is in the study of the domestic politics of the U.S.A., alone and in comparative perspective.  We focus on the organization of legislative bodies at the national and state level, the study of public opinion, the electoral process and political campaigns, political communication, election administration, Presidential-legislative relations and voting behavior.
• Comparative Politics: Our research programs focus on, among other things, comparative political economy, civil unrest and political violence, conflict management, comparative political behavior, political parties and elections and the politics of subnational diversity. Europe and Anglo-American democracies (especially Canada) are among the geographic areas of particular interest in the department.
• International Relations: Our department is well-known for its contributions in the field of international relations including international conflict and conflict processes, deterrence, terrorism, international organizations, international political economy, and trade, sanctions and foreign aid. Several faculty members have interests in formal modeling and game theory.
• Public Law: Several members of our faculty have active research programs in the field of public law and judicial politics. Of particular interest are applications of computational text analysis to the study of legal and judicial reasoning, civil rights and housing policy. Adding to our capabilities in the field is our close relationship with UB’s Law School and the Baldy Center for Law & Social Policy.

Gain an in-depth understanding of the issues surrounding diversity and culture and its profound impact on political groups, policies and international relations. Develop cultural self-awareness and learn to appreciate and value diverse views through in-depth research and projects.

Examples of recent Master's Projects and Thesis include:

• Political Islamization and the Welfare State
• Collective Action Failure in the UN Security Council

In addition to exploration of these topics in political science courses and projects, below is just one example of an opportunity to open your mind to a multitude of world views through participation in interdisciplinary groups that bring together faculty members, graduate students and thought leaders from throughout the University and the world:

• Graduate Group in Cultural Studies (GGCS) is an interdisciplinary group of graduate students and faculty members dedicated to cultural studies research and instruction. Members share their work at regular monthly meetings and formal Works-in-Progress Symposia. The group sponsors visiting speakers and events to strengthen connections among cultural studies scholars at the University at Buffalo and in the field in general.