What is the difference between SIPA and Political Science?
A. The Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Political Science are offered through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Although there is obvious overlap in the subject areas of the degree programs of SIPA and the Political Science Department, and in practice quite a bit of overlap as well (students in each program can and do take classes in the other), the two institutions and their respective programs are wholly separate. Generally speaking (and for this you’d be best served by contacting an admissions counselor at SIPA), the MIA, MPP, and other degree programs at SIPA are professional degree programs for people who intend to work on policy, whether for the US or foreign governments, inter-governmental organizations, non-government organizations, think tanks, etc. The courses taken by MAO students in the political science department focus on theoretical and research approaches in the discipline and the program is geared towards training students for a future in acad
