I am currently an undergraduate looking into graduate schools for Political Science. However, I only want a Master’s Degree, not a Phd. All the top graduate schools only offer a Phd in my field. What’s up with that?
Do I really have to go to a second tiet school just to get the degree I want?
If anyone has any input or advice, please share.
Maybe!
Political science is an academic field - by which I mean, most people in it or preparing to go into it are interested in doing academic research. Many departments are very research-focused, not professional-focused; therefore, they may only admit doctoral students because they only want students who are also focused on a research career (as opposed to a professional one). Relatedly, many departments want students who will be there for some longer period of time to assist with research studies.
That said, there are several great departments that offer an MA in political science: Columbia, George Washington, MIT, Duke, NYU are some of them.