Specializations

Unlock Your Potential with a Specialization

At the Department of Political Science, we offer our MA students the opportunity to specialize in a sub-discipline within Political Science. This specialization highlights your focus and expertise in a particular field during your studies, making you stand out in your career path.

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Choose Your Path: Mandatory Specialization

All MA students are required to select a field of specialization. This ensures a deep, focused academic experience and enhances your qualifications in the professional world.

Fields of Specialization

Comparative Politics

Gain advanced knowledge in comparative politics, studying national political institutions, social structures, political development, and political behavior. This specialization prepares you for careers in academia, international organizations, government positions, think tanks, and political advisory roles.

Political Economy

Delve into the economic determinants of politics and policy, studying capitalism, welfare states, economic development, democracy, and autocracy. Graduates are equipped for roles in civil service, international organizations, think tanks, and the business sector, or for pursuing doctoral studies.

Research Methods and Techniques

Acquire advanced skills in social science methodologies, including statistical methods, qualitative research techniques, and game theory. This specialization prepares you for careers in applied research, consultancy, NGOs, international organizations, and for pursuing doctoral studies.

Social and Political Theory

Explore contemporary normative political theory, including justice, democracy, human rights, and political authority. Graduates are well-positioned for Ph.D. studies, policy analysis, research roles in government, international organizations, NGOs, advocacy groups, and media.

Political Behavior

Study the micro-level phenomena of politics, such as public opinion, political psychology, voting, and political communication. Graduates are prepared for roles in organizations relying on data to study political outcomes, and for jobs involving data analysis.

Democracy and Social Change

Understand democracy and social change, studying democratic institutions, democratization, and social dynamics. Graduates acquire skills for roles as policy analysts, democracy analysts, and in social movements and think tanks, or for further doctoral studies.

One-Year MA Program: Certificate Requirements

To obtain a certificate of specialization in the One-Year MA Program, you must:

Fulfill all requirements for the MA degree in CEU's Political Science program.
Earn 6 credits in courses related to your chosen field, with a grade of B+ or better in each course.
Write your MA thesis on a topic related to your field of specialization.

Two-Year MA Program: Certificate Requirements

For the Two-Year MA Program, the requirements are:

Fulfill all requirements for the MA degree in CEU's Political Science program.
Earn 28 ECTS in courses related to your chosen field, with a grade of B+ or better in each course.
Write your MA thesis on a topic related to your field of specialization.
Consult the course lists for both academic years.

Course Lists by Academic Year

Courses are distributed to specific fields of specialization each academic year. Please refer to the current lists:

Additional Opportunities

Students are encouraged to apply for university-wide advanced certificates offered across several departments, providing even more opportunities for specialized learning and career advancement.