Academic Catalog

• To receive a master’s degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject areas, consisting of at least 30 units of graduate-level courses. (Many master’s degree programs require more than 30 units.)
  
  You must additionally complete:

  • All requirements for your specific academic plan(s). This may include a thesis.
  • All graduate work with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.
  • All work toward the master’s degree must be completed within six consecutive years. The six years begins with the semester and year of admission to the program.
  The full policy can be viewed here.
  

   

In addition to University Requirements:

• Complete individual plan requirements.

Additional Admission Requirements

• • NAU Graduate Online application is required for all programs. Details on admission requirements are included in the online application.
  • Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A"), or the equivalent. 
  • Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Graduate College.
  • Transcripts
  • For details on graduate admission policies, please visit the Graduate Admissions Policy
  • International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy 

  
  Individual program admission requirements include:

• • A bachelor’s degree in a closely related discipline
  • Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above or  6 units of subsequent coursework at the graduate level with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better

• • GRE® revised General Test

• • 3 letters of recommendation
  • Writing sample
  • Personal statement or essay

• • Resume or curriculum vitae

Master's Requirements

• Take the following 36 units:
  
  Politics and International Affairs core courses (6 units):

  • POS 600, POS 601
  Core coursework in your field (6 units):
  

• • American Politics and Public Administration
    Select two courses from the following:
    • POS 610, POS 612, POS 641
    Comparative Politics and International Relations
    Select one group from the following:
    • POS 670 and POS 680; or

• • • (POS 670 or POS 680) and (POS 676 or POS 683)
    Public Policy
    
    • POS 671
    Select one course from the following:
    • POS 552, POS 643
    • Another political economy course approved by your advisor

• NON-THESIS
  • Additional POS courses related to your field (12-15 units)
  • An interdisciplinary concentration, selected from anthropology, economics, environmental politics, history, psychology, public administration, sociology, or an appropriate area or cognate approved by your plan advisor (9-12 units)
  • A final oral exam, with satisfactory performance

• Please note that you choose all courses in consultation with your plan advisor.
  
  You may count up to two 400-level courses toward this academic plan if they haven't previously been counted toward a bachelor's degree.
  
  

• Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also take. For prerequisite information click on the course or see your advisor.