Bachelors to Masters (BAM) Degree Pathway

The Department of Political Science offers a combined Bachelors to Masters Degree (BAM) Pathway for highly motivated undergraduate majors who wish to complete both degrees in five years. This is done by double-counting graduate course work (up to 3 courses) at the undergraduate tuition rate.

BAM Timeline

Year One

• Complete undergraduate courses in POLS
• Complete the prerequisite 100 level class in the first semester
• Complete one 300+ core course in the second semester

Year Two

• Complete two more core courses
• The gateway class (POLS 390: Political Inquiry and Analysis) must be passed with B+ or better

Year Three

• Complete the final core course
• Complete elective requirements
• Apply to MA program (January deadline)
• Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0

Year Four

• Complete BA and begin graduate courses (at undergraduate tuition)
• Complete POLS Caption (400+)
• Begin graduate course work with POLS 600: Scope and Methods of Political Science
• Complete additional nine credits of graduate courses (at undergraduate tuition rates)
  • POLS 610 Political Theory and Analysis or POLS 620 Introduction to Indigenous Politics
  • POLS 630 International Relations or POLS 640 Comparative Politics
  • POLS 660 Law and Politics or POLS 680 Asian and/or Pacific Politics
• BA degree conferred

Year Five

• Complete graduate course work (at graduate tuition rates)
• Complete two POLS 600+ electives
• Complete one POLS 700+ elective
• Complete remaining three POLS 600+ electives or equivalent 600+ courses in other departments
• MA degree conferred

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For more information, see manoa.hawaii.edu/bam.