Political Science (Political Analytics), MA
Degree Awarded: MA Political Science (Political Analytics)
The Master of Arts program in political science with a concentration in political analytics prepares you to meet the rapidly growing demand for data-literate professionals in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. In an era when political decision-making, campaign strategy, policy development and public opinion research are increasingly driven and shaped by big data, you develop the skills to collect, analyze, interpret and communicate data in real-world political contexts.
GI Bill® benefits
This new program is not yet approved for use with GI Bill® benefits.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/.
Degree Requirements
Curriculum Plan Options
- 30 credit hours including the required capstone course (POS 597)
Required Core (3 credit hours)
POS 503 Empirical Political Inquiry (3)
Concentration (6 credit hours)
POS 602 Methods of Political Analysis (3)
POS 605 Political Data Wrangling and Visualization (3)
Other Requirements (3 credit hours)
POS 603 Polimetrics I (3)
Restricted Electives (9 credit hours)
POS 598 Special Topics (3)
PPS 506 Experimental Design (3)
PPS 514 Campaign and Elections (3)
PPS 598 Topic: Political Campaign Management (3)
Electives (6 credit hours)
Culminating Experience (3 credit hours)
POS 597 Capstone (3)
Additional Curriculum Information
For restricted electives coursework, students select three of the courses from the list in consultation with their program advisor. The program advisor can also provide a complete list of approved topics for POS 598.
Other requirements coursework may be substituted with approval by the program director. Substitutions are based on student interest in narrowing their focus with guidance.
Students should see the academic unit for a list of approved elective courses.
The capstone course allows each student to explore a research area, interest, theme or question. Final written products are individually developed based on consultation with faculty.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in political science or a related field from a regionally accredited institution.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = ''A'') in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = ''A'') in an applicable master's degree program.
Applicants are required to submit:
- graduate admissions application and application fee
- official transcripts
- letter of intent
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of current residency by scoring at least 4 on the Internet-based TOEFL (iBT)®, or a score of 80 if taken before January 21, 2026 in a testing center; 6.5 on the IELTS; or 105 on the Duolingo English test.
The letter of intent should describe the applicant's academic and professional interests to date, their reasons for pursuing a master's degree in political science with a concentration in political analytics, and how this advanced degree relates to their future goals.
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Application Deadlines
Fall
Spring
Summer
Career Opportunities
This concentration is ideal for students pursuing research, policy or analytics careers that demand strong statistical and methodological skills, while still grounding their expertise in core political science concepts.
Graduates are prepared for research or applied careers in political science in government, nonprofits and the private sector. Career examples include:
- campaign consultant
- campaign strategist
- data analyst
- lobbyist
- research specialist
Attend Online
ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program description and request more information.
Program Contact Information
If you have questions related to admission, please click here to request information and an admission specialist will reach out to you directly. For questions regarding faculty or courses, please use the contact information below.
- [email protected]
- 480/965-8563