2005-06 - Office of the Registrar - Duke University

The terminal degree of Master of Arts, for those who do not intend to continue with
doctoral studies, is awarded following successful completion of: (1) eight one-semester
courses of 3 units each, at least half of which must be in political science; (2) two other
courses of 3 units each or 6 units of ungraded research; 3) complete and defend an M.A.
thesis. In addition, candidates for the M.A. degree must demonstrate competence in one
foreign language or in statistics.
These requirements for the M.A. degree apply both to students enrolled in the terminal
M.A. program and to students originally enrolled in the Ph.D. program who decide to end
their involvement in the Ph.D. program with a terminal M.A. degree.
Further details on the graduate program in political science, the departmental facilities,
the staff, and available financial aid may be obtained from the Director of Graduate Studies,
Department of Political Science.
Related Course Work In The School Of Law
Students at the School of Law earning an M.A. degree in Political Science along with
the J.D. degree may take four courses (twelve credits) in Political Science as part of their
required 84 credits for the J.D. To be eligible to receive the M.A., they must complete four
additional courses in Political Science, for a total of eight, and complete and defend an M.A.
thesis. The courses chosen must be approved by the director of graduate studies. Further
details on the M.A. program in political science may be obtained from the director of
graduate studies, Department of Political Science.
For Seniors and Graduates
203S. Politics and Media in the United States. The impact of the media of communication
and new technologies on American political behavior, government, politics, issues and
controversies. Development of critical interpretive skills and arguments as students write
research papers assessing the media's political influence and effects. Instructor: Paletz. 3
units.
205S. Collective Action, Property Rights, and the Environment. The rational choice
tradition (public goods, collective action, game theory, property rights, new institutionalism)
as applied to environmental problems, resource exploitation, environmental justice,
and the design of an environmentally sound society. Instructor: McKean. 3 units.
206S. Political Participation: Comparative Perspectives. The study of political participation
through development of an understanding of relevant research methods. The effects of
political culture on political participation. Popular participation and mobilization systems in
liberal democracies and developing countries. Instructor: Shi. 3 units.
209. Computational Political Economy. Introduction to the field of computational
modeling. Emphasis on conducting formal replicable investigations of political phenomena
with clearly defined assumptions and hypotheses. Study of current literature in cognitive
psychology, political psychology, and experimental economics. Instructor: DeMarchi. 3
units.
211S. Current Problems and Issues in Japanese Politics. Sources of strength and
weakness in the Japanese economy, the rise of new issues and strains in postindustrial
society, changes in the party system and decision-making process, the possible transfer of
power, the challenge of Japan's new world role. Instructor: McKean. 3 units.
212S. Politics and Markets. Seminar on classics of political economy, exploring the
relationship between economic markets and politics as treated in the works of Adam Smith,
Marx, Polanyi, Schumpeter, Lindblom, and Hirsch, as well as contemporary works on
globalization and its effects on domestic politics. Open only to seniors and graduate students.
Instructor: Staff. 3 units.
213S. Theories of International Political Economy. Issues include politics of trade,
finance, economic development, conflict and cooperation in the world economy, and causes
and consequences of economic globalization. Both advanced industrialized and developing
countries. Open to qualified seniors with consent of instructor. Instructor: Buthe. 3 units.
Political Science (POLSCI) 225