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Home > News & Articles > MA Political Science Syllabus: Semester-wise, Year-wise, Entrance Exam Syllabus, Books 2023
Updated on 10th November, 2023 , 8 min read
The full form of MA Political Science is Master of Arts in MA Political Science. It is a two-year postgraduate course that focuses on the study of political systems, theories, ideologies, policies, and processes.
MA Political Science syllabus includes topics on Political Theory and Thought, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Institutions, Regional Studies, and Political Economy.
MA Political Science subjects include Public Policy and Administration, Contemporary Political Issues, Research Methodology, Human Rights and International Law, and Political Sociology.
Detailed Syllabus and Subjects:
MA Political Science is a social science discipline that deals with the theory and practice of politics, government systems, and political behavior. Given below is a general outline of the MA Political Science Syllabus in India:
MA Political Science focuses on the study of politics, governance, and political systems at an advanced level. The program typically spans two years and is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of various aspects of political science.
The first year of the MA Political Science program generally lays the groundwork and introduces students to the fundamental concepts and theories of political science. Some of the key subjects covered in the first year include:
Topics | Sub-topics |
Political Theory and Ideologies | Introduction to Political Theory Liberalism Conservatism Socialism Marxism Feminism Postcolonialism Postmodernism Environmentalism Multiculturalism |
Comparative Politics | Introduction to Comparative Politics State and Nation Political Culture and Political Socialization Political Institutions (Legislature, Executive, Judiciary) Political Parties and Electoral Systems Forms of Government (Democracy, Authoritarianism, Totalitarianism) Civil Society and Interest Groups Public Policy Analysis |
International Relations | Theories of International Relations State Sovereignty and Power International Organizations (UN, IMF, World Bank, etc.) Globalization and Its Impact Conflict and Security Studies International Political Economy Human Rights and Humanitarian Interventions Emerging Issues in International Relations |
Research Methodology | Approaches to Political Research Research Design and Data Collection Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods Survey Design and Data Analysis Case Studies and Comparative Methods Writing Research Papers and Reports |
The second year of the MA Political Science program typically offers more specialized and advanced courses. It allows students to explore specific areas of interest within the field of political science. Some of the subjects covered in the second year include:
Topics | Sub-topics |
Public Administration and Governance | Evolution of Public Administration Theories of Public Administration Bureaucracy and Administrative Behavior Public Policy Formulation and Implementation Decentralization and Local Governance E-Governance and Technology in Public Administration |
Political Economy
| Political Economy Theories Economic Policies and Political Outcomes Global Trade and Development Economic Development and Underdevelopment Political Economy of Specific Regions |
Specialization Courses (Electives) | International Law Human Rights Environmental Politics Conflict Resolution Political Sociology |
Dissertation or Thesis
| Students are required to conduct independent research on a topic of their choice within the field of Political Science. |
MA Political Science is typically divided into four semesters. In the first year, students are exposed to core subjects such as Introduction to Political Science, Comparative Politics, Political Theory, and Research Methodology. In their second year, students explore various subfields through elective courses, including International Relations, Public Administration, Political Thought, and Area Studies.
MA Political Science Syllabus: 1st Year | |
1st Semester | 2nd Semester |
Introduction to Political Science | Public Administration and Governance |
Comparative Politics | Political Thought (Ancient, Medieval, Modern) |
Political Theory and Ideologies | Texts of Philosophers |
Research Methodology in Political Science | Administrative Theory |
International Relations | Political Economy |
MA Political Science Syllabus: 2nd Year | |
3rd Semester | 4th Semester |
Political Institutions and Processes | Research Seminar or Thesis Proposal Preparation |
Area Studies | - |
Public Policy | - |
Political Sociology | - |
Interpreting Modern World | - |
MA Political Science Entrance Exam syllabus may vary slightly depending on the college or university. However, here are some common topics that are usually included in the syllabus:
Topic | Sub-topics |
Political Theory | Classical Political Thought Modern Political Thought Contemporary Political Thought Major Political Thinkers (Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Marx, etc.) Ideologies (Liberalism, Conservatism, Socialism, Feminism, etc.) |
Comparative Government | Political Systems (Democracy, Authoritarianism, Totalitarianism, etc.) Political Institutions (Parliament, Presidency, Judiciary, etc.) Political Processes (Elections, Political Parties, Interest Groups, etc.) |
International Relations
| Theories of International Relations International Organizations (UN, WTO, IMF, etc.) Global Governance Conflict and Cooperation among Nations International Security |
Indian Government and Politics | Indian Constitution Indian Political System Central and State Governments Indian Federalism Indian Political Parties and Electoral Politics |
Public Administration and Governance
| Principles of Public Administration Bureaucracy and Administrative Reforms Public Policy Formulation and Implementation Governance and Development |
Research Methodology
| Introduction to Research Methods in Political Science Research Design Data Collection Techniques (Qualitative and Quantitative) Data Analysis (Statistical and Non-Statistical Methods) |
International Political Economy
| Theories of International Political Economy Trade and Finance Globalization and Economic Interdependence |
Political Philosophy
| Ethics and Politics Justice and Equality Human Rights and Citizenship |
Environmental Politics and Sustainability
| Environmental Governance and Policies Climate Change and International Cooperation |
Contemporary Political Issues
| Current Affairs in Politics and International Relations |
Given below is the MA Political Science syllabus for Delhi University:
MA Political Science Syllabus: 1st Year | |
1st Semester | 2nd Semester |
Debates in Political Theory | Administrative Theory |
Comparative Political Analysis | Themes in Indian Political Thought |
Politics in India | Themes in World Politics and International Political Economy |
Theories of International Relations | Key Texts in Political Philosophy |
MA Political Science Syllabus: 2nd Year | |
3rd Semester | 4th Semester |
Interpreting Modern India | Democracy and Political |
Optional Paper | Optional Paper |
Optional Paper | Optional Paper |
Optional Paper | Optional Paper |
Given below is the MA Political Science syllabus for Jamia Millia Islamia:
MA Political Science Syllabus: 1st Year | |
1st Semester | 2nd Semester |
Political Theory | Western Political Thought |
Western Political Thought | Indian Political System: Constitution and Institutions |
Comparative Politics | International Politics: Themes and Issues |
International Politics: Concepts and Theories | India’s Foreign Policy |
Foreign Policy of Major Powers | Indian Political Thought |
MA Political Science Syllabus: 2nd Year | |
3rd Semester | 4th Semester |
Public Administration and Governance: Concepts and Theories | Political Development in South Asia |
Human Rights: Philosophical and Historical Foundations | Political Development in West Asia |
International Organization Compulsory | Global Political Economy and Governance |
State Politics in India | Government and Politics in Sub-Saharan Africa |
Research Methodology | Project and Viva-Voce |
Given below is the MA Political Science syllabus for IGNOU:
MA Political Science Syllabus: 1st Year (Compulsory Courses) | |
Political Theory | India: Democracy and Development |
International Relations: Theory and Problems | Comparative Politics: Issues and Trends |
MA Political Science Syllabus: 2nd Year (Optional Courses) | |
India and the World | State Politics in India |
State and Society in Latin America | Canada: Politics and Society |
Western Political Thought | The European Union in World Affairs |
Social and Political Thought in Modern India | State and Society in Australia |
State and Society in Africa | Australia's Foreign Policy |
Peace and Conflict Studies | Sustainable Development: Issues and Challenges |
Social Movements and Politics in India | Globalisation and Environment |
Gandhi’s Political Thought | Non-Violent Movements after Gandhi |
Civil Society, Political Regimes and Conflict | Human Security |
Conflict Management, Transformation & Peace Building | Gandhian Approach to Peace and Conflict Resolution |
Given below is the MA Political Science syllabus for Annamalai University:
MA Political Science Syllabus: 1st Year | |
1st Semester | 2nd Semester |
Principles of Political Theory | Indian Political Thought |
Western Political Thought | Dynamics of Indian Democracy |
Indian Constitution and Administration | International Politics |
Theories and Practices of Public Administration | Comparative Government and Politics |
Elective Course – 1 | Elective Course – 2 |
- | Elective Course – 3 |
MA Political Science Syllabus: 2nd Year | |
3rd Semester | 4th Semester |
Modern Political Analysis | Research Methodology |
Government and Politics of Tamil Nadu Since 1900 | Contemporary Political Theory |
Legislative Procedures | India in World Affairs |
Human Rights in India | Project and Viva-voce |
Soft Skills | - |
Elective Course – 4 | - |
Elective Course – 5 | - |
Given below is the MA Political Science syllabus for Himachal Pradesh University:
MA Political Science Syllabus: 1st Year | |
1st Semester | 2nd Semester |
Western Political Thought: From Plato to Bodin | Western Political Thought: From Hobbes to Marx |
Government and Politics in India | Recent Trends in Indian Politics |
Comparative Politics | Comparative Politics and Political Analysis |
International Politics (Theories, Approaches & Concept) | Emerging World Order |
MA Political Science Syllabus: 2nd Year | |
3rd Semester | 4th Semester |
Indian Political Thought OR Theories, Approaches and Concepts | Democratic Theory or Modern Indian Political Thought |
Regional Politics in India | Politics in South Asia |
Theories of Nationalism and processes of Nation Building | Society, Economy, and Politics in Himachal Pradesh |
India’s Foreign Policy and Relations | Public International Law/ Marxism after Marx/ Political Economy of Development |
Given below is the MA Political Science syllabus for Pondicherry University:
MA Political Science Syllabus: 1st Year | |
1st Semester | 2nd Semester |
Debates in Political Theory | Themes in Indian Political Thought |
Theories of International Relations | Comparative Political Analysis |
Western Political Thought | Issues in Indian Politics |
Issues and Ideas in Public Administration | - |
MA Political Science Syllabus: 2nd Year | |
3rd Semester | 4th Semester |
Debates in Political Economy | Public Policy Analysis |
Research Methods in Political Science | Contemporary Political Theory |
India’s Foreign Policy | Dissertation |
Applied Political Science | Internship and Report Writing |
Given below is the MA Political Science syllabus for the University of Calcutta:
MA Political Science Syllabus: 1st Year | |
1st Semester | 2nd Semester |
Western Political Thought and Theory | Public Administration (Continued) |
Enlightenment and Liberalism | Public Policy Analysis and Indian Administration |
Enlightenment: Lineages and Critiques | International Relations |
Modern India: Ideas, Governance, Politics | Theories, Concepts, and Issues |
Ideational Trajectories and Movements | Political Economy and India's External Relations |
State, Society and Economy | Political Sociology |
Public Administration | State and Society: Key Concepts |
Theories, Concepts and Organization | Conflicts, Development and Communication |
MA Political Science Syllabus: 2nd Year | |
3rd Semester | 4th Semester |
Politics of Development | Urban Governance in India |
Concepts, Theories and Contexts | Human Rights in India |
Themes and Issues | Globalization and Politics |
Optional Papers | Optional Papers |
Given below is the MA Political Science syllabus for the University of Lucknow:
MA Political Science Syllabus: 1st Year | |
1st Semester | 2nd Semester |
Political Theory and Ideologies | Indian Political Thinkers |
Western Political Thought | Western Political Thought |
Modern Political Systems | Modern Political Systems |
Indian Political System | Indian Political System |
State Politics in India | International Relations |
Local Self-Government in India | An Introduction to Public Administration |
- | Fundamentals of Information Technology |
MA Political Science Syllabus: 2nd Year | |
3rd Semester | 4th Semester |
Contemporary Political Thought | Contemporary Political Thought |
International Relations | Regional Politics of West Asia |
Methods and Techniques of Research | Regional Politics of South Asia |
Public Policy Analysis | Indian Foreign Policy |
Contemporary Issues in Indian Politics | Contemporary Issues in World Politics |
Summer Internship | International Political Economy |
- | Master Dissertation |
The evaluation process for MA Political Science in India focuses on assessing students' subject-specific knowledge, comprehension, and analytical skills. The program's assessment structure typically combines theory, internals, and dissertation to evaluate students' academic development.
Assessment Criteria | Weightage |
Theory Examination | 70 |
Internal Assessment | 30 |
Dissertation | 100 |
Total | 200 |
Given below are the names of some recognized books along with their authors in the field of Political Science that a candidate must read to gain further knowledge in the course:
Name of the Book | Author’s Name |
The Republic | Plato |
The Discovery of India Jawaharlal Nehru | Jawaharlal Nehru |
Why I am an Atheist and Other Essays | Bhagat Singh |
Democracy in America | Alexis de Tocqueville |
The Prince | Niccolò Machiavelli |
The Origins of Totalitarianism | Hannah Arendt |
The Argumentative Indian | Amartya Sen |
The Accidental Prime Minister: The Making and Unmaking of Manmohan Singh | Sanjaya Baru |
The Social Contract | Jean-Jacques Rousseau |
The Road to Serfdom | Friedrich Hayek |
India After Gandhi | Ramachandra Guha |
The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order | Samuel P. Huntington |
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MA Subjects and Syllabus: Semester wise, Year Wise, Books, Colleges
By - Lipi Kaushik 2023-11-03 05:56:46 , 8 min read
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