About

Appalachian’s Master of Arts in Political Science program is designed to prepare students for a variety of careers – in government, non-profits and the private sector – as well as further graduate work at the doctoral level.

Students in our program may choose from one of three concentrations:

• American Government – Promotes student understanding of the institutions of American politics and the behavior of public and political actors.
• International Relations/Comparative Politics – Promotes student understanding of the institutions and behaviors of foreign countries and transnational actors, as well as the dynamics of global politics.
• Environmental Politics and Policy Analysis – Promotes student understanding of the interaction between policy, politics, and economics in the environmental realm.

With a student/faculty ratio of nearly 2 to 1, students receive the individual attention they expect and deserve. We accept students with many different undergraduate degrees; a political science bachelor's degree is NOT a requirement for the program. While we have three basic curriculums, the interests and aspirations of our students are quite diverse and therefore we allow each student, in consultation with the program director, to develop a program of study that meets his or her unique interests and aspirations.

More Information

People

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  Alumnus Profile: Dr. Justin Kirkland ’07

  An associate professor of politics and policy in the University of Virginia’s Woodrow Wilson Department of Politics and Frank Batten School for Leadership and Public Policy, Dr. Justin Kirkland says, “my two years at App were essential to all my educational and professional successes.”

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  Alumna Profile: Dr. Summer Forester ’12

  Since earning her master’s degree at Appalachian, Summer Forester has finished her Ph.D. at Purdue University, received a Fulbright fellowship to study in Jordan and published papers in three journals: Security Dialogue, Feminist Review and Environmental Politics. She attributes much of this success to Appalachian’s M.A. program and its faculty.

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  Alumna Profile: Christina Wiegand ’13

  With a background in marine biology, Christina Wiegand came to Boone to study environmental politics. In the M.A. program, she developed policy analysis techniques and has worked for the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries and Marine Recreational Information Program. She is now a social scientist with the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC).

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  Alumnus Profile: Tyler Steelman ’16

  Tyler Steelman is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, specializing in American politics and political psychology. He credits his Appalachian faculty and the research he conducted under their supervision with preparing him for a career in academia.

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  Alumna Profile: Courtney Bradway '15 '16

  Courtney Bradway completed her bachelor’s degree in pre-legal studies and continued her education at Appalachian through the Accelerated Admissions Program. After moving to Washington, D.C., she held positions in three congressional offices and is now director of congressional liaison in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Legislation at the Department of Health and Human Services.

  Meet more alumni and students

Application Essentials

Required Entrance Exam: GRE (score must be no more than 5 years old)

Required number of references to specify in the online form: 3

Supplemental Information: Resume (Required upload for application submission); essay addressing academic and professional goals, as well as reasons for applying.

Basic Conditions for Consideration of Admission: Meeting or exceeding the conditions below does NOT guarantee admission. All applications for a given entry term will be weighed based upon the number of seats available and the quality of the complete application packages. With special permission from the Graduate School, a program may admit a limited number of students with exceptional circumstances who do not meet the graduate school minimums.

Graduate School: 3.0 GPA in the last earned degree and official scores from the appropriate admission test(s), OR 2.5 GPA in the last earned degree and official scores at the 25th percentile level from the appropriate admission test(s).

Admission to Political Science: Both qualitative and quantitative aspects of applications are reviewed in comparison to the current applicant pool.

Employers

• American Political Science Association
• Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation
• Department of Health and Human Services
• Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Government
• John Tyler Community College
• Lanier Law
• RTI International
• Peace Corps
• Prometric
• South Atlantic Fishery Management Council
• United States Senate
• University of Virginia