Thinking about applying to a Masters-only program. Worth it or a waste?

I am currently thinking about applying to a Masters-only program in Political Science. Note that this isn’t the discipline I majored in as an undergrad, but I did minor in it. It’s also important to note that I am not looking at this program as a way to springboard into a PhD later, but rather as something that could get me into a career as a politico, lobbyist, or think tanker. I also wouldn’t be going up on the academic ladder in terms of university prestige, but merely transitioning from one podunk CSU (i.e., my undergrad school) to a sister CSU (due to cost and convenience).

The thing is, as an undergrad I tended to view Masters-only programs as rackets because they didn’t fund their students in the way that PhD programs do. Well, after my dreams of PhD life crashed and burned (review my post history for a thorough accounting of that experience), and given that I’ve had fuck-all luck in terms of finding a better job than the dead-end one I’ve had since I was 19 (and that I worked all through undergrad), I find myself turning to the possibility of an MA-only program. And indeed, it would cost me - about $16,000 for two years - but I’m more and more finding myself asking whether such costs would be worth the trade-off.

What do you guys think I should do?

Would a master’s in Political Science actually help you get those jobs? It doesn’t seem particularly required, meaning you’d be spending $16k and two years to do something that you probably qualify for doing now.

Definitely agreed. I’d suggest doing some research on the types of jobs you think interest you, and whether a Master’s degree is required (or even seen as a significant asset). My suspicion is that they’d be looking for a Bachelor’s degree, and probably some form of related job experience.

I’d also suspect that, if there’s any postgraduate degree that’d be seen as useful for a career in the political arena, it’d be a law degree.

The program is master’s only because CSU was traditionally “forbidden” from offering doctorate programs. I believe some are offering EdD now though. So the fact that they don’t offer a PhD is not a red flag.

You should really only do any graduate degree because you have passion for it. If the goal is to increase your earning potential, there are better uses of your time and money. The benefits might be an added bonus, of course.

Oh, I know. I personally don’t look down on the CSU system - I did manage to get a four year undergrad degree without any debt, after all! - but I know that other people generally do. Hell, I’d guess that most people outside of CA don’t even know that the CSU system even exists; they just figure that the UC system is all that CA has in terms of state universities.

And I am extremely passionate about Political Science, in many ways more so than my actual major as an undergrad. When I was still ensconced in the whole PhD pursuit, I was actually aiming to do a program of study that combined Poli. Sci. with my undergrad discipline (Communication), though that obviously didn’t pan out.

I have the equivalent of an MPP Master’s in Public Policy. I don’t use mine but it might be worth researching for your goals.

There are also master’s programs in government administration, which is sorta kinda the MBA for bureaucrats.

The punchline being this or the MPP are explicitly vocational degrees for going into the vocation of government. A masters in poli sci is a somewhere between an undergrad intro and a PhD prep school. It’s academics, not vocational.

Your problem is your employability. You’ve said that in umpteen threads. Fix it with vocationally focused education, getting your personality and your networking focused right for job hunting, and get your rump off the dime.

That is much, much, much easier for me to write than for you to do. I get that. But the fact you’re talking about a 2-year non-vocational degree says you don’t get it yet.

Absolute waste of time, particularly in regard to the first two. If you want to be a “politico”, volunteer on a campaign and/or start sending resumes to every office holder that you can stomach. Be prepared to start on the ground floor, block walking, stuffing/opening mail, answering phones, etc. Grab every opportunity you can to make yourself useful and work your way up the ladder. Maybe, once you’ve established yourself, a mid-career masters may provide a boost. But honestly, it’s your reputation and connections that will advance your career.

If you want to be a lobbyist, do all of the above until you have the reputation and connections to make yourself valuable. Then cash in.