🔎 What This Paper Looks At

This article assesses the state of terminal master’s (MA) degree programs in political science in the United States to determine whether they prepare graduates for the workforce, especially those pursuing nonacademic careers.

📚 How Programs Were Examined and What Data Were Used

• Program features were reviewed across multiple dimensions to capture variation in design and purpose.
• Survey data were used to supplement the program review and to provide additional information about the stated purposes and expectations for terminal MA programs.

🔍 Key Findings

• The combined program review and survey evidence point to a mismatch between current MA program structures and the needs or expectations of students aiming for nonacademic employment.
• Overall results suggest that a reconceptualization of terminal MA degrees in political science is needed to better align programs with workforce pathways.

💡 Why This Matters

• Departments, curricular planners, and policy stakeholders should consider program redesign if MA degrees are intended to serve nonacademic career trajectories.
• The findings highlight the need for further research into specific program features and employer expectations to guide effective redesign.