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Best Practices and the Need for Research on MA Degree Programs in Political Science

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 October 2024

Jennifer L. De Maio Open the ORCID record for Jennifer L. De Maio [Opens in a new window]  and
Alexandra Macias Open the ORCID record for Alexandra Macias [Opens in a new window]
Jennifer L. De Maio
Affiliation:
California State University, Northridge, USA
Alexandra Macias
Affiliation:
California State University, Northridge, USA
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Abstract

Recent research suggests that master’s (MA) education in the United States could be restructured to better meet the expectations of students who seek nonacademic careers. This article considers the state of terminal MA degree programs in political science to assess whether they are preparing students to enter the workforce. We examine programs across various dimensions and supplement this analysis with survey data to gain additional information about the purpose of terminal MA degree programs. The results suggest that their reconceptualization is needed in the discipline of political science.

Type
Article
Information
PS: Political Science & Politics , Volume 57 , Issue 4 , October 2024 , pp. 545 - 551
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of American Political Science Association

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De Maio and Macias Dataset

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https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/FZK6MW
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