Accelerated Master’s Degree in Political Science
This accelerated program lets undergraduate students begin taking graduate-level courses during their final years of undergrad, saving time and money while deepening expertise and advancing careers sooner.
Accelerated Master’s Degree in Political Science
Undergraduate students at UM that are interested in graduate study in Political Science can get a head start through the accelerated Master’s Degree Program in Political Science.
Undergraduate students that would like to qualify for the Accelerated Master’s Program must meet the following requirements:
- 3.0 minimum GPA
- 90 completed credit hours as an undergraduate
Students enrolled in the Accelerated Master's Degree Program in Political Science can earn 15 credit hours towards their graduate degree while completing their undergraduate studies.
Courses students in the Accelerated Master’s Degree Program in Political Science can take to earn credit towards the graduate degree:
- POLS 5510: Research in Politics
- POLS 5520: Empirical Political Analysis
- POLS 5530: Applied Political Research
- POLS 5600: Seminar in American Politics
- POLS 5700: Theories of Comparative Political Analysis
- POLS 5800: Seminar in International Relations
- POLS 5999A: Special Topics in Political Science
Remember: For students who participated in the accelerated program prior to fall of 2026, 500-level courses for graduate credit required the student to reserve the course for graduate credit. A student who did not do so will be unable to use the 500-level course for the graduate degree and it will be considered the same as a course between 5000 and 5499 in the new course-numbering system.
Students enrolled for the graduate credit in a 5500- to 5999-level course must complete the graduate work. Should they decide they do not wish to do so, they need to work with the instructor, their dean's office, and the Registrar to change their enrollment to the appropriate undergraduate course number. Otherwise, they will be graded based on the criteria for the graduate course number.
Meet the Graduate Program Coordinator
If you have any questions about the Accelerated Master's Degree in Political Science, don't hesitate to get in touch! I'm always happy to help!
Ben Jones
Associate Professor of Political Science and Graduate Program Coordinator