< < Online Programs
Flags in front of the Georgia State Capitol.

What does it cost?

Learn more about the cost of an online graduate certificate, or use Georgia State’s Cost Calculator to get an idea of the investment required for your path of study. For information on how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and to determine eligibility, visit the FAFSA tips page.

Georgia State is dedicated to providing affordable and accessible programs for all prospective students because we value the investment each student makes in their education. We understand that the path to a student’s future shouldn’t be blocked due to finances and we pride ourselves on offering financial assistance and scholarships that can support students through their education.

How long will it take?

The M.A. in Political Sciences (Professional Politics concentration) requires 30 course hours and can generally be completed in 3 to 4 semesters.

All required classes to earn a degree can be completed online.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall: Rolling Admissions.
    Final Deadline is July 1.
  • Spring: Does Not Normally Admit.
    Contact Program Director to see if exceptions are available.
  • Summer: Does Not Normally Admit.
    Contact Program Director to see if exceptions are available.

View Admissions Requirements

Online Political Science, M.A. - Concentration in Professional Politics

Political Science

Talk to enrollment coach
404-413-4393
[email protected]

Talk to a faculty member
Louis-Alexandre Berg
M.A. Program Director
[email protected]
404-413-6169

Your drive and ambition will mix with our expertise in political science and public service. Together, we’ll prepare you for a career in politics or the public sector with this unique online political science master’s degree in professional politics.

Learn with experts: Studying with the Georgia State University Political Science Department means you’ll learn alongside lobbyists, campaign managers, communication specialists, information technologists and elected representatives at various levels. Our students and faculty are active in the industry and you’ll often hear our faculty as expert sources on issues facing international, national, state and local governments.

Online classes with your schedule in mind: Our schedule, which offers most classes in a seven-week minimester format, typically allows you focus on just one or two topics at a time before moving on to the next class. Finish your online master of arts degree in political science in just 15 months while you work full time and put to use the concepts discussed each week in class.

All courses are taught by full-time faculty and emphasize interaction among students and professors.

This concentration is offered as a terminal degree with a non-thesis option. Many of our students have successful consulting projects with organizations that affiliate with the Georgia Municipal Association among other groups throughout the state.

Program Highlights

Why should you join us at Georgia State?

  • Mentorship and professional socialization. Our faculty members are active scholars and researchers who frequently coauthor with students on papers and participate in numerous events and colloquia.
  • Strong placement record. Our graduates go on to work at places like the Georgia Legislature and the Carter Center while our new Ph.D.s routinely secure tenure-track or high-level analyst positions.
  • Diversity. Our 29 full-time faculty members cover every region of the globe and every subfield in political science.
  • Methodological diversity. Students are trained in a broad mix of methods, from qualitative interviewing to experimental survey designs to hierarchical modeling.
  • Geographically diverse student population. Our students hail from across the U.S. and the globe.
  • Location in the heart of Atlanta. Numerous opportunities are available nearby to enrich your studies. Georgia State's downtown campus is within blocks of the Georgia Legislature, every level of state and federal courts in addition to the U.S. Supreme Court, numerous state and federal agencies, and the city is home to the headquarters of international organizations including CARE, Habitat for Humanity and the Carter Center.

The Political Science Department In The News:

  • Dr. Chipo Dendere, a 2016 Political Science PhD graduate of GSU, has been appointed as an Assistant Professor at Wellesley College. Chipo was also elected… more »
  • Dr. Andrew Wedeman offered his testimony to the United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) on Xi Jinping’s battle with corruption… more »
  • GSU Political Science 4+1 alumna, Martha Revelo, was among the team that led to a presidential electoral victory ending almost three decades of two-party rule… more »
  • GSU PhD Candidate in Political Science, Claudio Sandoval, has been appointed as the Ambassador of the Venezuelan Government in exile to Honduras. The appointment was… more »
  • Dr. Jennifer McCoy has been making several recent media appearances on national and international media outlets to analyze the Venezuelan ongoing crisis.… more »
  • Dr. Lakeyta M. Bonnette-Bailey finds a significant positive impact for the exposure to political rap on the agreement with Black feminist attitudes in a… more »
  • Amelia Hawkins, a former Political Science intern and ’16 alum at Georgia State University, has been named as Gov.-elect Brian Kemp’s Director of Executive Operations.… more »
Program Details

Applicants need to have received a B.A./B.S. degree. The Department of Political Science asks applicants to submit the following:

  • Complete Online Graduate Application
  • Acceptable GRE scores (students who have completed degrees in political science or a closely related field with a GPA of 3.5 or better can receive a waiver.)
  • Two letters of recommendation from persons who can authoritatively comment on your academic abilities
  • Transcripts from all graduate and/or undergraduate institutions attended
  • Statement of your research interests and how Georgia State University's Political Science Department will help you meet your career and educational goals
  • Writing sample

The department seeks applicants with a history of strong academic achievement, clear interests and potential for excellence at the graduate level.

The degree program requires 30 credit hours. To fulfill these, most students will take seven 3-credit-hour courses, 6-credit-hours of experiential learning (which can be an internship, a consulting project, a study abroad opportunity, or something else), and 3-hours of a capstone project.

For their coursework, students can choose to take between one and four methods courses, with the rest in substantive areas. Generally, the degree can be completed in 3 semesters, including summer, and it can be done either fully online or as a mix of online, hybrid, and in-person courses. View more details.

For up-to-date curriculum requirements, please visit the catalog.

Affording Your Online Political Science, M.A. - Concentration in Professional Politics Degree
Georgia State is dedicated to providing affordable and accessible programs for all prospective students because we value the investment each student makes in their education. We understand that the path to a student’s future shouldn’t be blocked due to finances, and we pride ourselves on offering financial assistance and scholarships that can support students through their education.

Learn more about the cost of an online master’s degree, or use Georgia State’s Cost Calculator to get an idea of the investment required for your path of study.

Contact Student Financial Services
We are here to help you understand the cost of your program, the payment schedule and financing opportunities.

Use the Student Financial Services Guided Paths to walk you through the Financial Aid Process and learn about all our options for financing your education.

Corporate Assistance
Consult your employer about the availability of tuition reimbursement or tuition assistance programs.

Military Assistance
Active duty military, veterans and military families should visit Veterans Educational Benefits to take full advantage of available financial assistance and educational benefits. Download our guide to How to Start Your VA Benefits.

University System of Georgia Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)
The purpose of TAP is to foster the professional growth and development of eligible employees. For more information, see TAP Tuition Assistance.

The goal of this program is to prepare students for careers in politics and government. To that end, the program provides advanced training in American, Comparative, and International Politics, as well as opportunities to build skills in cutting-edge quantitative and qualitative methodologies.

In addition, our extensive relationships across metro Atlanta, the United States, and the world provide students with meaningful experiential learning opportunities.  These can include consulting projects with local governments and NGOs, internships with law firms, the Georgia Legislature, and Carter Center and similar organizations, and study abroad opportunities.

Description

Careers

The professional politics concentration can lead to a wide variety of careers in politics and government.  These include jobs in government relations and lobbying, local, state, and federal administration, journalism and non-governmental organizations.

View a list of some of our recent M.A. graduates.
View profiles of some of our B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. graduates. 

Contacts

Online Programs

LaToya & Moisés
Enrollment Coach
404-413-4393
[email protected]

VISIT GEORGIA STATE ONLINE

Admissions and Curriculum Inquiries

Louis-Alexandre Berg
M.A. Program Director
[email protected]
404-413-6169

Dr. Ryan Carlin
Associate Professor and Graduate Director
404-413-6190
[email protected]

College of Arts & Sciences Logo140 Decatur Street SE
Atlanta, GA 30303

The information shared here provides an overview of Georgia State’s offerings. For official details on admissions requirements, tuition, courses and more, refer to the university catalogs.

START YOUR APPLICATION
REQUEST INFORMATION
BACK TO TOP
START YOUR JOURNEY HERE
BACK TO TOP