Graduate Program

Graduate Advisor
Timothy B. Krebs

Application Information
Fall admission only.

Priority for admission and financial aid will be given to applications received by January 15. Applications accepted until May 1.


Degrees Offered

M.A. in Political Science
Ph.D. in Political Science

Concentrations: American politics, comparative politics, international relations, methodology, and public policy.

All applicants for admission to the graduate program must take the Graduate Record Examination aptitude test. The Graduate Committee of the department, following policies established by the faculty, makes all decisions on equivalence to the master’s degree.

The M.A. is offered under both Plan I and Plan II under the regulations described earlier in this catalog. General requirements for completion of the Ph.D. are given on earlier pages of this catalog.

Work for the M.A. and the Ph.D. is offered in six areas: American politics, comparative politics, international relations, methodology, political theory and public policy. Students will concentrate in one field of specialization at the M.A. level and two fields of specialization at the Ph.D. level. (Early in the second semester of residence, the graduate student chooses a committee on studies that meets with the student to work out a program of study based on his or her background and interests). Each Ph.D. student must demonstrate proficiency in applied research methods. Advancement to candidacy for the Ph.D. follows upon successful completion of comprehensive examinations and a field research paper.

In addition to the application materials required by the University of New Mexico Office of Graduate Studies, the following items are required for admission to the Department of Political Science: 1) an official report of the student’s Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical Graduate Record Examination scores; 2) a short writing sample illustrating analytical ability and stylistic mastery; and 3) a letter of intent; 4) three letters of recommendation. The GRE scores must be mailed directly to the Political Science Department by Educational Testing Services.

Master’s (M.A.) Degree Requirements – Plan I (Thesis)

Entrance Requirements: In addition to UNM entrance requirements, the general GRE examination, a writing sample, a letter of intent and three letters of recommendation are required.

Exit Requirements: In addition to UNM exit requirements, Master’s (Thesis) students must choose one field of concentration and complete a minimum of 25 credit hours of course work including POLS 580, 581, 582; three pro-seminars (including one in the chosen field of concentration); one research seminar in the chosen field of concentration; and one written comprehensive examination in the chosen field of concentration. All required course work must be completed with a grade of “B” or better, with the exception of 582, which is offered for Credit/No Credit only.

Also required are a minimum of six credit hours of thesis; an oral and written thesis presentation; and degree completion within five years.

Master’s (M.A.) Degree Requirements – Plan II (Non-Thesis)

Entrance Requirements: In addition to UNM entrance requirements, the general GRE examination, a writing sample, a letter of intent and three letters of recommendation are required.

Exit Requirements: In addition to UNM exit requirements, Master’s (Non-Thesis) students must choose one field of concentration and complete a minimum of 32 credit hours of course work including POLS 580, 581, 582; three pro-seminars (including one in the chosen field of concentration); one research seminar in the chosen field of concentration; and one written comprehensive examination in the chosen field of concentration. All required course work must be completed with a grade of “B” or better, with the exception of 582, which is offered for Credit/No Credit only. Degree must be completed within five years.

Doctoral (Ph.D.) Degree Requirements

Entrance Requirements: In addition to UNM entrance requirements, the general GRE examination, a writing sample, a letter of intent and three letters of recommendation are required.

Exit Requirements: In addition to UNM exit requirements, Doctoral students must choose two fields of concentration and complete a minimum of 18-24 post-Master’s hours of course work including POLS 580, 581, 582, 681; three pro-seminars (including one in each of the chosen fields of concentration); one research seminar in the primary field of concentration and one additional course in the secondary field of concentration; and two written comprehensive examinations (one in each of the chosen fields of concentration). All required course work must be completed with a grade of “B” or better, with the exception of 681, and 582 which is offered for Credit/No Credit only.

Also required are a written and oral presentation of a field research paper; a minimum of 18 hours of dissertation; a dissertation-proposal presentation; a written and oral defense of the final dissertation; and completion of the degree within five years following field paper requirements and advancement to candidacy.

Concentration Course Work Requirements

American Politics: POLS 510, Pro-seminar in American Politics, and POLS 511, Research Seminar in American Politics

Comparative Politics: POLS 520, Pro-seminar in Comparative Politics, and POLS 521, Research Seminar in Comparative Politics

International Relations: POLS 540, Pro-seminar in International Relations, and POLS 541, Research Seminar in International Relations

Methodology: Completion of two additional Methodology courses over and above the Methodology sequence (580-581, 681), and one research seminar employing advanced research methods.

Public Policy: POLS 570, Pro-seminar in Public Policy, and one research seminar with significant policy content.


Undergraduate courses in Political Science (POLS) are categorized in content areas.  The category for each course appears in parenthesis at the end of the course description according to the following legend:

Introductory and General (I); Core (C); American Politics (AP); Comparative Politics (CP); International Politics (IP); Political Theory (PT); Public Policy (PP).


Courses

POLS 110. The Political World. (3)



POLS 150. Introduction to Latin America. (3)



POLS 200. American Politics. (3)



POLS 220. Comparative Politics. (3)



POLS 240. International Politics. (3)



POLS 260. Political Ideas. (3)



POLS 270. Public Policy and Administration. (3)



POLS 280. Introduction to Political Analysis. (3)



POLS 291. Internship. (1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



POLS 299. Introductory Political Topics. (3, no limit Δ)



POLS *300. Political Topics. (3, no limit Δ)



POLS 301. The Government of New Mexico. (3)



POLS *302. Comparative State Politics. (3)



POLS 303. Law in the Political Community. (3)



POLS *305. Public Opinion and Electoral Behavior. (3)



POLS *306. Political Parties. (3)



POLS *307. The Politics of Ethnic Groups. (3)



POLS *308. Hispanics in U.S. Politics. (3)



POLS 309. Black Politics. (3)



POLS *311. The Legislative Process. (3)



POLS *312. The American Presidency. (3)



POLS 313. Women and the Law. (3)



POLS 314. Women’s Contemporary Legal Issues. (3)



POLS *315. Constitutional Law: Powers. (3)



POLS *316. Constitutional Law: Liberties. (3)



POLS 317. Constitutional Law: Rights. (3)



POLS 318. Civil Rights Politics and Legislation. (3)



POLS *320. Topics in Comparative Politics. (3, no limit Δ)



POLS *321. Comparative Politics: Developing Countries. (3)



POLS 322. Human Rights and Political Violence. (3)



POLS 329. Introduction to African Politics. (3)



POLS *340. Topics in International Politics. (3, no limit Δ)



POLS 341. International Conflict and Cooperation. (3)



POLS *342. American Foreign Policy. (3)



POLS *345. Inter-American Relations. (3)



POLS 346 / 512. International Political Economy. (3)



POLS *350. Public Finance. (3)



POLS 354. Introduction to Latin American Society I: Social Sciences. (3)



POLS *355. Central American Politics. (3)



POLS *356. Political Development in Latin America. (3)



POLS *357. Russian and Eurasian Government and Politics. (3)



POLS *361. Ancient and Medieval Political Theory. (3)



POLS *362. Modern Political Theory. (3)



POLS 372. Urban Politics. (3)



POLS 376. Health Policy and Politics. (3)



POLS 377. Population Policy and Politics. (3)



POLS *400. Advanced Political Topics. (3, no limit Δ)



POLS *410. U.S. Campaigns and Elections. (3)



POLS 441. Civil Wars. (3)



POLS 442. International Peacekeeping and Conflict Resolution. (3)



POLS 443. International Politics of Climate Change. (3)



POLS 446. Trade Law and Policy. (3)



POLS 453. Asian Studies Thesis. (3)



POLS *455. Political Economy of Latin America. (3)



POLS *475. Environmental Politics. (3)



POLS *478. Seminar in International Studies. (3)



POLS 491. Internship. (1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



POLS 495. Junior Honors Seminar. (3)



POLS 496. Undergraduate Seminar. (3, no limit Δ)



POLS 497. Senior Thesis. (3)



POLS 499. Independent Study. (1-3)



POLS 510. Pro-Seminar in American Government and Politics. (3)



POLS 511. Research Seminar in American Government and Politics. (3, no limit Δ)



POLS 512. Topics in Government and Politics. (3, no limit Δ)



POLS 520. Pro-Seminar in Comparative Politics. (3)



POLS 521. Research Seminar in Comparative Politics. (3, no limit Δ)



POLS 525. Pro-Seminar in Latin American Politics. (3)



POLS 530. Pro-Seminar in Health Policy. (1 to a maximum of 10 Δ)



POLS 540. Pro-Seminar in International Relations. (3)



POLS 541. Research Seminar in International Relations. (3, no limit Δ)



POLS 551-552. Problems. (1-3, 1-3, no limit Δ)



POLS 570. Pro-Seminar in Public Policy. (3)



POLS 580. Introduction to Empirical Research. (3)



POLS 581. Statistics for Social Research. (3)



POLS 582. Survey of Political Science as a Discipline and a Profession. (1)



POLS 584. Interdisciplinary Seminar on Problems of Modernization in Latin America. (3)



POLS 585. Introduction to Game Theory Research in Political Science. (3)



POLS 599. Master’s Thesis. (1-6, no limit Δ)



POLS 681. Advanced Statistical Analysis for Social Science Research. (3)



POLS 699. Dissertation. (3-12, no limit Δ)



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Office of the Registrar

MSC 11 6325
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131

Phone: (505) 277-8900
Fax: (505) 277-6809