Welcome to our Two-year MA Program in Politics at CEU! Each academic year, we admit around 20 passionate students who are eager to dive deep into the world of political science.
Program Structure
- Duration: 2 years
- Total Credits: 120 ECTS
- Courses: 4 or 8 ECTS each
- Thesis: 20 ECTS (including Thesis Writing module and defense)
Explore the sample study plan for a detailed overview of our curriculum.
Student Experience
My time at CEU was both academically challenging and rewarding. Everything was new to me, but just a few months after starting, I quickly felt integrated into the community. I actively engaged with the Romani Studies program, took several courses, and earned an Advanced Certificate.
I greatly appreciated how approachable and open-minded the faculty were, always willing to learn from their students. The research methods classes I took were particularly valuable, exposing me to a variety of methodologies.- Maria Atanasova MA'24, Bulgaria
Core Requirements
- Mandatory Courses: All students must complete the mandatory courses. No exemptions are allowed.
- Academic Writing: Required for all students.
- Thesis Writing Courses: Essential for successful completion of the MA thesis.
Specializations
Students must choose and specialize in a field of their choice:
- Comparative Politics: Study political institutions, social structures, and behavior from a global perspective. Perfect for roles in international organizations, think-tanks, and government.
- Political Economy: Explore the intersection of economics and politics. Ideal for careers in civil service, business sectors, and policy analysis.
- Research Methods and Techniques: Gain advanced skills in statistical methods and research techniques. Suitable for roles in research, consultancy, and academia.
- Social and Political Theory: Dive into normative political theory, justice, and democracy. Prepare for Ph.D. studies, policy analysis, and roles in NGOs.
- Political Behavior: Understand political psychology, public opinion, and voting. Excellent for data-driven roles in non-profits and for-profit organizations.
- Democracy and Social Change: Examine democratic institutions and social dynamics. Ideal for careers in policy analysis, social movements, and doctoral studies.
The specialization is a critical part of the program and requires:
- 28 ECTS in specialization-related courses.
- MA Thesis: Approximately 15,000 words on a topic related to the chosen field.
Remedial Classes
For students without a political science background, remedial classes are required in the first year to ensure a solid foundation in the discipline.
Electives
Students can broaden their knowledge by taking elective courses, which can be selected from:
- MA or PhD courses offered by the Political Science Department.
- Cross-listed MA courses from other CEU departments and programs.
MA Thesis
The MA thesis is a significant component of the program, culminating in:
- Submission: The thesis must be approximately 15,000 words.
- Thesis Writing Module: Comprehensive support through the writing process.
- Oral Defense: The program concludes with an oral defense of the thesis.
For more information on thesis deadlines, please refer to the 2024/25 Deadlines for the Submission of MA Theses.
Resources
- Student Handbook: For detailed degree requirements, program structure, and policies, please refer to the Student Handbook for Two-year MA Program.
- Departmental Presentation: Download the departmental presentation for more insights into our program.
- Cross-listed Courses: explore the available cross-listed courses