Politics and Global Affairs Frequently Asked Questions

No, although our degree includes many online and hybrid course options it is not set up for fully online students. Students will most likely need to take some in-person courses over the course of the degree completion. However, the minors in Political Science and International & Global Studies could be completed fully online with careful planning.

The following courses will transfer towards PSU requirements within PGA Majors. 

Notes and Benchmarks 
1. PS 101 or PS 102 is required, but not both
2. An additional 4 credits of lower-division Political Science electives are allowed for the major. 
3. Students interested in transferring to PSU can also take courses at their community colleges to satisfy the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science requirements (see Transfer and Returning Students Resources for more information).

While there is not one defined career path, graduates from our Political Science and International & Global Studies programs have a wide range of job prospects both locally and across the world. Completing an internship or obtaining a relevant part-time job can only boost your job prospects after graduation, and we offer a top-notch internship program that helps students find placements that fit their academic and career interests. 
International & Global Studies alumni have gotten jobs with:

• Private-sector employers, including multi-national businesses,
• Aid organizations such as the International Red Cross,
• Nonprofits and NGOs focused on issues ranging from health to education, environment, food systems, gender rights, sustainability, and more,
• Business incubators and trade organizations,
• Government agencies and grassroots organizations, with a focus on international affairs,
• Journalism and media organizations. 

Political Science graduates have found employment in: 

• Business, 
• All levels of government, 
• Political campaigns, 
• Nonprofits, 
• Social services, 
• The legal field, 
• Educational institutions.  

Many of our alumni also go on to graduate programs in various fields including Political Science, International Affairs, Business, Law, Urban Studies, Public Health, etc. To read more about PGA Career Paths, please visit the Political Science, International and Global Studies and Law and Legal Studies Careers Pages. 

The PSU Scholarship application opens annually in winter for next academic year scholarships. The best part? You don't need to be a PSU student yet in order to apply! Scholarships are available to incoming students who have submitted an admissions application, and to those who are already attending Portland State University. Various scholarships are available to undergraduate students, and we do have some department-specific scholarships just for students in Politics and Global Affairs! Explore Scholarship Opportunities here. 

Prospective students are welcome to contact our Academic Advisors with questions about the programs offered by Politics and Global Affairs, PSU degree requirements, and transfer courses. PSU Admissions counsellors can answer questions about the application and admission process to Portland State University and the various resources available to students on campus. PSU Financial Aid counsellors can help you understand the cost and financial aid options for your degree. Our department staff can be reached at pga@pdx.edu and can help you find more information. 

Current students who have questions about their coursework and degree completion should meet with their assigned Academic Advisor, and those who want to learn more about career and graduate school pathways are welcome to meet with a faculty member of their choosing. Questions about course waivers, substitutions, and exceptions are handled jointly by the Academic Advisors and the Department Chair. 

Yes. Our program is structured as a cohort model, typically students to start their Master's in Political Science degree in Fall quarter, however, it is possible to apply throughout the year. Our priority consideration date for Fall term applications is February 15th, the second round of applications is reviewed after April 15th, and after that applications are reviewed in the order they are submitted. Occasionally, we admit students that want to start in Winter or Spring terms on an ad hoc basis. Please speak with our Graduate Director if you have questions about this process. 

You should receive an email notification from the Office of Graduate Studies within 3 to 5 weeks of the application deadlines. For example, if you applied by February 15th, you should expect to be notified of the decision by the end of March, if you applied by April 15th you should expect to hear back by the end of May. The final decision to admit, however, is contingent on the receipt and verification of application materials by PSU's Office of Admissions and the Office of Graduate Studies.

Yes. If you are admitted to the Master's in Political Science graduate program but cannot attend during the term of admission, you may defer your admission for up to one calendar year. It is critical, however, that you contact the Department to request that your admission be updated to another term. If you do not request a deferral, PSU will cancel your admission and you will have to reapply the following year.

A limited number of previous graduate course credits can be considered for transfer. "Pre-admission credits" are those received for coursework taken prior to admission to the Master's in Political Science, including courses taken at PSU or another institution. "Transfer credits" are those received for course work taken at any institution at any time. The limit on pre-admission credits and transfer credits is 16, which is normally four courses. Students who would like to transfer credits from other programs are encouraged to meet with the Department’s Graduate Director prior to June 15th of the year of their admission into the program.

No, but this does not mean you will go without an introduction to PSU and our program! We view the orientation as critically important to student success; so important, in fact, that we made the orientation into an entire class: PS 590 Introduction to Graduate School. This required class offered in fall quarter is essentially an extended orientation. We've found that by spreading it out (rather than having it on a single day), students are both better able to absorb the information and it's a great way to build community among the incoming cohort. The Graduate School at PSU also holds a welcome event for new grad students every fall. 

If students maintain full-time enrollment, taking 9 or more credit hours per term, the Master's in Political Science thesis track can be comfortably completed in two years, and the nonthesis track in 12 months. If you attend part-time, it is important to enroll in and pay for at least one credit hour per academic year (three-terms) in order to maintain your enrollment status. Students should also keep in mind that after seven years, credits are considered out-of-date and cannot be applied toward the Master's degree.

The Department’s Graduate Director Professor Safia Farole and our faculty advisors will help steer you to courses that fit your interests, meet the degree requirements, and provide a good understanding of the discipline. Portland State University provides an online tool called DARS to assist you in tracking your progress toward the degree.

To maintain full-time status, graduate students should enroll in 9 or more credit hours per term. Most graduate classes in the Political Science master's program are 4 credits. Therefore, students should plan to take between 3 and 4 courses per term. Students must enroll in at least 1 credit hour in the term that they defend their thesis, field project, or portfolio.

Graduate students must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and a term GPA of at least 2.7 in order to remain in good academic standing. A student failing to meet these GPA requirements is placed on “academic probation” and must meet the minimum requirements after the next 9 credits of coursework taken. Students on academic probation may not hold graduate assistantships. Disqualification happens when a student on academic probation fails to achieve a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher once they have completed the next 9 graduate credits after beginning probation status; or when a student becomes subject to academic probation for a second time.

The final requirement for the Master's of Political Science thesis track is to complete a Master’s Thesis—an investigation demonstrating mastery of a topic in political science and the capacity to formulate an original argument, effectively communicated to an audience of one's peers. The thesis topic is chosen during the Spring term of the first year in consultation with the student's thesis advisor, who supervises the drafting of a thesis prospectus. The completed thesis is defended during the Spring term of the second year in an oral presentation laying out the purpose, implementation, and findings of the project, and making a case for its contribution to political science scholarship.

The Graduate Director initially advises all new students, in the academic year 2026-27 this position is held by Professor Safia Farole. Students are assigned a faculty advisor after the completion of their first quarter in the program. Faculty advisors normally serve as the main source of information about the requirements of the program, how best to achieve your educational goals, and will serve as advisor for their thesis project. New students receive additional guidance from other faculty as well as they proceed through the program. Our staff in Politics and Global Affairs are a great source of information regarding administrative questions and can be reached at pga@pdx.edu.

Portland State University awards hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships to students each year through the online Scholarship Application which closes on March 1st. The PSU scholarship platform is open to everyone who applies for admission to the university, 48 hours after receipt of the completed admissions application. The Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC) is another great resource for information and opportunities to help finance your education. Additionally, we encourage students to seek out third party scholarships and fellowships, and fill out a FAFSA every year to determine which financial aid programs they may be qualified for. 

Graduate Assistant opportunities occasionally become available through the College of Urban and Public Affairs and Hatfield School of Government. These opportunities are few and competitive, and thus not many students are able to secure these positions. Keep an eye out for announcements, check PSU's Handshake platform, and be sure to let your advisor and other faculty members know if you are interested in these types of opportunities. Students interested in applying for graduate assistantships must have regular admission status and maintain good standing in the graduate program. GA positions also require that students be registered for, and satisfactorily complete, a minimum of nine graduate credits each term with the exception of summer term. Graduate assistants usually receive tuition remission and a stipend.

• In-state tuition for residents of Western States: If you are a resident of participating Western states, you may qualify for an exciting opportunity to save money and earn a graduate degree from Portland State. The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) allows Political Science Master’s, students who are residents of the WICHE member states to pay tuition at the same rate as Oregon residents. Learn more about WICHE/WRGP.
• Student Employment: Thousands of PSU students have campus jobs and many more students work for local employers. There are a variety of opportunities to earn money to help pay for school, get work experience, and build skills to help you in your career while you’re studying at PSU. Search for Work Study jobs and other job opportunities. The Political Science Master's program offers courses both during the day and in the evenings, in person and online to make it easier to balance your work and education. Please note that the program cannot be completed fully online.
• Veteran Benefits: PSU can help you receive your full education benefits in a clear and efficient way. Connect with our Veteran Certification Office located within the Office of the Registrar to process and certify your benefits, including the GI Bill. You should start submitting your forms at least one month before registering for classes at Portland State. 
• Employer Benefits: Many companies offer benefits that cover education costs, so it’s worth your time to ask if your employer will cover tuition and other educational costs. Employer Tuition Assistance or Reimbursement Programs are designed to help you advance your skills and career. Follow this link to a list of essential questions to ask your Human Resources (HR) or Training/Professional Development department to understand your organization's tuition assistance program.

Prospective students who have additional questions about our Political Science Master's program can contact our department at pga@pdx.edu, or contact our Graduate Director Professor Safia Farole. Our Graduate School Admissions office is also ready to answer your questions about the admissions process. Current Political Science Master's students should contact their assigned faculty advisor or our Graduate Director Dr. Farole with questions. Our staff in Politics and Global Affairs are a great source of information regarding administrative questions and can be reached at pga@pdx.edu.