MA Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield MA facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which of the following is the central claim of philosophical anti-realism about science? → We should remain agnostic or instrumentalist about unobservable theoretical entities
2. Which major work by Adam Smith, published in 1776, laid the foundation for modern economics? → The Wealth of Nations
3. In economics, what does the term 'opportunity cost' refer to? → The value of the next-best alternative foregone
4. What is the primary concern of New Criticism as a school of literary theory? → Close reading of the text itself, without outside context
5. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) was originally developed to treat which condition? → Borderline Personality Disorder
6. In Aristotle's ethics, eudaimonia is best translated and understood as: → Flourishing or living and faring well in accordance with virtue
7. Which ideological framework argues that economic class struggle is the primary driver of historical change? → Marxist historiography
8. In the context of graduate admissions, what does a 'writing sample' submitted with an MA application typically demonstrate? → The applicant's capacity for scholarly argumentation and analysis
9. Which American poet is known for the collection Leaves of Grass and poems celebrating democracy and the individual? → Walt Whitman
10. Which act of 1830 authorized the forced removal of Native American tribes from their eastern homelands? → The Indian Removal Act
11. Stanley Milgram's obedience experiments primarily demonstrated that: → Ordinary people can inflict harm on others when directed by an authority figure
12. Which concept refers to the danger of judging past events by present-day moral standards? → Presentism
13. The Harlem Renaissance was primarily a cultural movement centered on which art form alongside literature? → Jazz music
14. What is the central concern of postcolonial theory in literary and cultural studies? → Examining the legacy of colonialism on culture, identity, and power
15. The concept of 'framing' in communication theory refers to: → How information is presented to influence how audiences interpret it
16. The 'Strange Situation' procedure developed by Mary Ainsworth assesses which psychological construct? → Attachment style
17. Which approach to therapy focuses on the client's subjective experience, personal growth, and the therapist providing unconditional positive regard? → Person-Centered Therapy
18. In Plato's theory of Forms, what is the relationship between particular things and their corresponding Form? → Particulars participate in or imitate Forms
19. What does 'deviance' mean in sociological terms? → Any behavior that violates social norms, ranging from minor infractions to serious crimes
20. The 'Thomas theorem' in sociology states that: → If people define situations as real, they are real in their consequences
21. According to Abraham Maslow's hierarchy, which need must generally be met before 'esteem needs' can be addressed? → Love and belonging
22. What was the primary purpose of the Marshall Plan (1948)? → To rebuild Western European economies after WWII
23. What does earning a Master of Arts degree involve? → Deepening knowledge of a subject in the humanities, social sciences, and arts
24. Which position in philosophy of mind holds that mental states are identical to brain states? → Type identity theory
25. The concept of 'learned helplessness,' foundational to cognitive models of depression, was originally demonstrated by: → Martin Seligman
26. In cognitive psychology, 'working memory' is best described as: → A system for temporarily holding and manipulating information
27. What is 'cognitive dissonance' in communication and persuasion research? → The psychological discomfort experienced when holding contradictory beliefs or behaviors
28. The philosophical problem of personal identity over time is most directly concerned with which question? → What makes a person the same individual across different moments
29. The term 'Cold War' describes the geopolitical tension between which two powers? → The United States and the Soviet Union
30. In historical analysis, what is a 'primary source'? → An original document or artifact from the period being studied