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Politics

Program Director

Dr. Richard J. Dougherty

Faculty

Professors Dougherty,  Harold,  Parens (Philosophy); Associate Professors Burns, Culp, Miller and Upham; Distinguished Emeritus Professor de Alvarez; Distinguished Research Scholars Shah and Wolfe.

About the Masters Programs in Politics

The highest mission of the Department of Politics is to teach students to examine politics from the comprehensive perspective of political philosophy. Through its course of study, it also seeks to educate its students for leadership in public affairs. The graduate programs of the Department reflect these dual emphases. It offers a Ph.D., through the Willmoore Kendall Program in Politics of the Institute of Philosophic Studies and either a Master of Arts in Politics or a Master of Politics.

The Doctoral Program with Concentration in Politics

For a description of this interdisciplinary program see the Institute of Philosophic Studies.

The Master’s Programs

The program leading to the Master’s or Master of Arts in Politics is a concentrated course of study in political philosophy designed especially for students who intend to pursue careers in law, journalism, business, government, or other non-college teaching professions. It aims to develop and solidify the capacity of students for truly independent and rigorous thinking about political and moral questions.

The course of study allows students to study political philosophy free of many extraneous requirements. Most of the small and informal seminars characteristic of the program involve a close reading of the texts of the Great Tradition of discourse on political order. The program is designed to enable the students to complete its requirements in a year of full-time study.

Admission Requirements

Application for admission to the Master’s programs in Politics includes a completed application, two letters of reference, a statement of purpose, an intellectual autobiography, a sample of academic writing, official transcripts of previous college work and GRE General Test scores that are not more than five years previous to the date of application. Possession of a bachelor’s degree is a prerequisite.

Degrees

Master of Arts in Politics

Master of Politics