Master's Program

Welcome to the M.A. Program

Our M.A. program is a stand-alone program. It offers professional training alongside more traditional instruction in the study of politics. We aim to produce professionals who are well-equipped to wrestle with the enduring questions of everyday political life but we do so by providing a very sound theoretical background. Although many of our students embark on successful professional careers, a significant number of them choose to pursue a Ph.D. or a law degree, a clear indication of our commitment to provide our M.A. students with practical skills and sound theoretical knowledge.

Our M.A. program is committed to methodological pluralism. We emphasize the understanding of political phenomena and processes through a variety of perspectives, from philosophical analysis, to construction of theoretical models, to the empirical description and analysis of social phenomena. We promote awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of different methodological approaches so that our students can evaluate and select the methods most suited to their research objectives and useful for the solution of practical problems.

Within NYU, the department is affiliated with numerous institutes, centers, and organizations which specialize in regional and area studies helping our student gain invaluable insights in world affairs. We work very closely with other departments, schools and centers to bring together the best NYU has to offer to your education.

NYU’s rich resources support advanced professional training and education. Students and faculty in the M.A. program and in the department also participate in a wide range of seminars, workshops, and colloquia, making for a vibrant intellectual and professional community.

In addition to NYU, New York City is a most exciting place to study. New York City is home to many influential national and international institutions. Here you will find the United Nations, numerous foreign missions and representations, as well as an extraordinarily high number of think-tanks and other organizations that are committed to political and social causes. New York City has a vibrant social and cultural life of which our students take full advantage. The city is home to the headquarters of major private firms, cultural institutions, TV networks, major newspapers, book publishers, and political journals.