MA in Political Science - Political Theory in Davis United States | University of California Davis

This advanced degree program delivers comprehensive training in both substantive knowledge and research methods within political science, fostering close faculty-student collaborations. The curriculum offers five specialization areas: American government, comparative political systems, global relations, political philosophy, and research methodology. Participants can alternatively design a customized interdisciplinary track. With intentionally limited Ph.D. admissions, the program emphasizes joint faculty-student engagement in teaching and research, preparing graduates for scholarly careers across political science and related fields. Alumni have secured positions at prestigious research institutions, undergraduate-focused colleges, government agencies, and political strategy firms. The program actively supports student research initiatives through both financial resources and collaborative opportunities.

Within the political philosophy specialization at Davis, we emphasize close textual examination of influential thinkers spanning ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary periods. Our approach combines rigorous textual interpretation with attention to philosophical frameworks and historical settings. While covering the full spectrum of political philosophy - including intensive seminars on individual theorists - our program demonstrates particular strengths in early modern thought and the intersections of legal/ethical studies with political theory. The political philosophy community maintains exceptional vitality, featuring not only regular graduate seminars but also a departmental reading group where students and faculty collectively examine shared theoretical interests.