Plan B Non-Thesis Option (6 hours)

Two papers and an Oral Defense

The Department offers a Plan B option for those students who expect the M.A. to be their terminal degree. The Plan B option requires two papers and an oral defense.

Students completing the Plan B are required to:

  • complete 6 additional hours of graduate coursework (in lieu of 6 hours of Thesis Writing).

  • submit two research papers as evidence of scholarly achievement. These papers must be prepared in connection with a seminar, an independent research course, or a graduate-level course in the Department of Political Science.

 

Accordingly, before a student's final semester, the student shall form a Plan B Paper Committee, including a Chair and two additional members. This Committee shall determine whether the submitted papers, normally after revisions, are satisfactory for permanent filing. In addition, students will be required to complete an oral defense of each of these papers before the Committee. A minimum of 15-20 pages for each paper is suggested.

Total: 30 semester hours

 

MA Students' Plan B Non-Thesis Papers

  • (1) The Effectiveness of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists on Influencing the Founding Principles of the United States
    (2) The Impact of Rational Choice Theory and Graham Allison's Conceptual Models
    by Laura M. Ricker 8/09

  • (1) Environmental Rules, Regulations and Standards and a Democratic South Africa: Is there an Improvement from 40 years of Apartheid? 
    (2) The Transformation of Environmental Regulations from the Department of Natural Resources to the Newly Created Department of Environmental Quality: Did a Political Appointee Highjack Environmental Quality? 
    by Stella Webster 12/08

  • (1) Executive Prerogative: The Evolution from Theory to Implementation
    (2) The Bush Doctrine and its Effects on Terrorism 
    by Timothy J. Burger 6/08

  • (1) Chile: Back to Democracy 
    (2) Economic Voting Behavior in the 2000 Presidential Election
    by Jon W. Mahaffey 5/08

  • (1) A Changing Tide: The Reinvention of U.S. Fishery Policy and Programs 
    (2) Environmental Justice Movement
    by Tyler Parson 4/08

  • (1) Title IX and Collegiate Athletics: Has Equality of Opportunity Been Achieved? 
    (2) Should Michigan Tax Services Correct Declining Revenue?
    by Gregory N. Schroeder 1/08

  • (1) Analysis of Appropriations to Michigan's Public Four-Year Universities, with Recommendations 
    (2) Analyzing Michigan House Voting Records using the "Michiganvotes.org" Database
    by John P. McHugh 11/07