Report an accessibility problem

Political Science (Political Analytics), MA

Political Science (Political Analytics), MA

Academic programs / Graduate degrees / Political Science (Political Analytics), MA

American Politics, Analytics, Comparative Government, Global Affairs, International Relations, Political Science, government, politics

Turn political data into powerful insight. Learn how to interpret the data that drives policies, campaigns and strategies across government, advocacy, research and business.

Program description
Degree awarded: MA  Political Science (Political Analytics)

The Master of Arts program in political science with a concentration in political analytics prepares you to meet the rapidly growing demand for data-literate professionals in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. In an era when political decision-making, campaign strategy, policy development and public opinion research are increasingly driven and shaped by big data, you develop the skills to collect, analyze, interpret and communicate data in real-world political contexts.

GI Bill® benefits
This new program is not yet approved for use with GI Bill® benefits.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/.

At a glance
  • STEM-OPT extension eligible: No

Degree requirements

30 credit hours including the required capstone course (POS 597)

Required Core (3 credit hours)
POS 503 Empirical Political Inquiry (3)

Concentration (6 credit hours)
POS 602 Methods of Political Analysis (3)
POS 605 Political Data Wrangling and Visualization (3)

Other Requirements (3 credit hours)
POS 603 Polimetrics I (3)

Restricted Electives (9 credit hours)
POS 598 Special Topics (3)
PPS 506 Experimental Design (3)
PPS 514 Campaign and Elections (3)
PPS 598 Topic: Political Campaign Management (3)

Electives (6 credit hours)

Culminating Experience (3 credit hours)
POS 597 Capstone (3)

Additional Curriculum Information
For restricted electives coursework, students select three of the courses from the list in consultation with their program advisor. The program advisor can also provide a complete list of approved topics for POS 598.

Other requirements coursework may be substituted with approval by the program director. Substitutions are based on student interest in narrowing their focus with guidance.

Students should see the academic unit for a list of approved elective courses.

The capstone course allows each student to explore a research area, interest, theme or question. Final written products are individually developed based on consultation with faculty.

Admission requirements

General university admission requirements:

All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants | International applicants | English proficiency

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in political science or a related field from a regionally accredited institution.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = ''A'') in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = ''A'') in an applicable master's degree program.

Applicants are required to submit:

  1. graduate admissions application and application fee
  2. official transcripts
  3. letter of intent
  4. proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of current residency by scoring at least 4 on the Internet-based TOEFL (iBT)®, or a score of 80 if taken before January 21, 2026 in a testing center; 6.5 on the IELTS; or 105 on the Duolingo English test.

The letter of intent should describe the applicant's academic and professional interests to date, their reasons for pursuing a master's degree in political science with a concentration in political analytics, and how this advanced degree relates to their future goals.

Tuition information
When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.
Attend online
ASU Online

ASU offers this program in an online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. Applicants may view the program’s ASU Online page for program descriptions and to request more information.

Application deadlines
Session Modality Deadline Type
Session A/C Online 07/25 Priority
Session Modality Deadline Type
Session A/C Online 12/11 Priority
Session Modality Deadline Type
Session A/C Online 04/14 Priority
Career opportunities

This concentration is ideal for students pursuing research, policy or analytics careers that demand strong statistical and methodological skills, while still grounding their expertise in core political science concepts.

Graduates are prepared for research or applied careers in political science in government, nonprofits and the private sector. Career examples include:

  • campaign consultant
  • campaign strategist
  • data analyst
  • lobbyist
  • research specialist
Contact information

Program term definitions

Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.

Accelerated master's

These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).

Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.

Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.

Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.

ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.

ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.

The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.

click back to top