Whether you’re preparing to apply to a top-ranked Ph.D. program or aiming to kickstart a career in government, law, or the non-profit sector, our Master's Degree program in Political Science (MS) is designed to help you advance your future goals in the world of politics.
The program has been intentionally and thoughtfully designed to be a safe place for students to explore graduate level political science scholarship and is customizable to meet individual interests and needs. For those pursuing the PSMS as a terminal degree, or for students who simply want to add real-world political experience to their graduate education, we have a top-notch internship program that has long-standing relationships with city, regional, state, and federal offices, as well as many local, national, and international NGOs. Our graduate students have the option of doing internships for credit during their second year—professional opportunities that often lead to full-time jobs after graduation.
For students who aspire to earn their doctorate and become political science professors, our program excels and specializes in preparing students to be admitted to and succeed in a top-ranked Ph.D. program. From day one, you will receive instruction in the discipline’s key theories and research methods, learn the realities of the academic profession, and begin developing expertise in one or several political science subdisciplines: American Politics, International Relations, Comparative Politics, and Political Theory. Because the program is relatively small, our top-notch faculty are able to give personalized attention to each graduate student, offering advice and lending insight as needed.
We are proud to have alumni of our MS in Political Science accepted with full funding at numerous prestigious doctoral programs, including Northwestern University, University of Michigan, Emory, Cornell, and the University of Washington. In addition, our alumni have gone on to thrive in full-time jobs at Mercy Corps, the Portland City Council, the U.S. State Department, and Senator Jeff Merkley's office, just to name a few.
Even if you don’t have a perfect academic record, Portland State University’s political science master’s program is a place where you can explore, grow, and learn from top-notch faculty in a welcoming environment. Simultaneously, it’s a place for real scholarship and academic rigor. Make no mistake, this program will challenge you and hold you to a high standard, but we’ll be with you every step of the way.
We have a welcoming environment for you to experiment with academia to decide if a career as a political science professor is your dream job. No other university is currently offering what we're offering.
We are the only Master's degree in political science in the United States offering a graduate program explicitly designed for students to be in the practice of being a faculty member. You will learn the realities of teaching political science, receive instruction in the most advanced theories and methods of the discipline today, and then get one-on-one guidance for submitting successful applications to top-ranked Ph.D. programs.
If you discover that being a professor is not for you, we connect you with some of the best political internships in the state through our long-term relationships with the Portland City Council, Oregon legislature, and NGOs such as Mercy Corps, just to name a few.
Best of all, our campus is located in the heart of the city of Portland, a vibrant, fascinating city full of delicious restaurants, interesting people, and world-class public transportation.
The city of Portland is Oregon’s largest and most politically active city. Studying political science in Portland presents a unique opportunity to see how a mid-sized metropolitan city addresses issues such as gentrification, homelessness, police engagement, and social justice from a public policy, legal, political theory, and American political perspective.
Our faculty are enthusiastic and committed to helping students discover if a career as a political scientist will bring them fulfillment. Our faculty have graduated from the best political science Ph.D. programs in the country, such as Yale, University of Michigan, UC San Diego, and Cornell University, and are experts in their discipline. Best of all, our faculty understand what it takes to be admitted and successful in a Ph.D. program, as well as how to guide students who have chosen political careers outside of academia.
Several of our alumni have been admitted to Ph.D. programs with full-funding due to the quality of their scholarship and applications. With our training and guidance, partnered with their hard work and commitment, our alumni were highly-qualified applicants that are not paying ANY tuition for the Ph.D. Program and are earning money as teaching and research assistants.
We are proud to have alumni of our MS in Political Science accepted with full-funding at: Northwestern University, University of Michigan, Emory, Cornell, and University of Washington, to name a few. In addition, we proud to have alumni with successful full-time jobs at Mercy Corps, the Portland City Council, the U.S. State Department, and Senator Jeff Merkley's office, to name a few.
Obtaining a Master of Science in Political Science from Portland State University will give you the skills, connections, and knowledge to find and thrive in a career that makes you happy and successful.