|
Purpose and Prerequisites: It is possible for students to obtain an
M.A. in Political Science simultaneously with, or shortly after, completion of
the baccalaureate program. Phase I of the Integrated Graduate Studies
(IGS) program alerts the Department and School of Graduate Studies to your
interest in the program and allows the monitoring of your junior year for
fulfillment of the undergraduate prerequisites to graduate study. Students
express their interest in IGS through a Phase I application that should occur
no later than the second week of classes at the beginning of the junior year.
By the end of the junior year, the student must: complete 90 undergraduate
hours; complete all general requirements for the B.A.; complete 21 hours in
the Political Science major; complete one minor program; and earn at least a
3.5 GPA in Political Science courses and a 3.3 overall GPA.
Phase II of IGS is graduate-level study during the senior year.
However, before enrolling for any graduate-level course work, the student must
be formally admitted to the School of Graduate Studies. Therefore, it is
mandatory that application to Phase II occur during the second semester of the
junior year, specifically no later than April 1 or November 1 (for graduate
status to begin the following semester). In addition to the appropriate forms,
the IGS Phase II application must include: three letters of recommendation
from CWRU professors the student has had in classes, at least two of which
must be from faculty in the CWRU Political Science Department; and an example
of the student's research and writing abilities, in the form of a paper
written for a CWRU Political Science class taken during the junior year.
Note that admission to both phases of IGS is competitive; and aside from
exceptional circumstances, no more than three qualified students will be
admitted in any academic year. Before applying to either phase, the student
must discuss the program and his or her qualifications with the Department
Chair, who also will provide the appropriate application forms and a separate
handout which describes the requirements and procedures in greater detail.
Requirements: If admitted to the IGS program, the student will take,
or begin to take, 30 hours of graduate-level Political Science courses during
the senior year, adhering to the departmental regulations governing the
Masters degree program, as detailed in the Department's graduate brochure; and
if completed successfully with maintenance of academic standing as pertains to
both the B.A. and M.A. programs, these hours will count simultaneously toward
both degrees in Political Science. The B.A. will be awarded upon completion of
all requirements for that degree, including total hours; the M.A. will be
awarded upon successful completion of the 30 hours of graduate-level Political
Science courses and the M.A. Examination. It is possible to obtain both
degrees by the end of the senior year, but the student may take longer to
complete the M.A. |
