Department of Politics

Master of Arts in Politics

The Brandeis master's degree in politics is a one-year program that aims to help prepare students for work involving politics and policy, or for doctoral study. The program offers training in a range of research methods, with particular strength in qualitative methods, political theory, and comparative case analysis. 

Why Brandeis?

Our highly selective program immerses you in the research and analysis of political ideals, attitudes, institutions and processes as a foundation for future professional work or graduate study. 

Our faculty includes world-renowned experts with a range of interests, from political theory and contemporary American politics, to the study of terrorism, international organizations and the politics of the Middle East.

Students benefit from the best of a Brandeis education: small classes, dedicated mentoring by distinguished faculty, intellectual diversity and easy access to the wealth of academic and cultural resources only Boston can offer. You may attend courses in local institutions that are part of the Boston Area Graduate Consortium, such as Tufts, Boston College, and Boston University.

Careers and Alumni

Recent alumni have gained positions as legislative aides, survey researchers, political consultants, program managers and media contributors. Others have moved on to doctoral work in political science or related fields at Brandeis, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Texas A&M, American University, Harvard University and the University of California-Los Angeles.

Curriculum

Over the course of two semesters, you will take at least two core field graduate seminars, three specialized courses and one directed study course culminating in a master's project. You will also participate in the Departmental Proseminar, a forum for students and faculty to discuss their research, methodological approaches to the study of politics, and professional development.  

Financial Aid and Scholarship

Brandeis offers an array of tuition scholarships, fellowships, and loan opportunities. Master's students are eligible to apply for need-based aid and will be considered for merit scholarships. Details can be found on the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences website.

Some students may be eligible for the Diversity, Excellence and Inclusion Scholarship (DEIS), which is designed to enable U.S. citizens and permanent residents from non-traditional backgrounds—including first generation college graduates—to benefit from a world-class Brandeis education.