DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
Course Descriptions
The graduate programs in Political Science and Public Administration are designed to expand students’ knowledge and to develop their skills of analysis and professional communication. The programs are of value to both recent college graduates and those seeking to advance their careers. Among those it serves are students preparing for doctoral work or law school, school teachers seeking to improve their professional competence, promising scholars wanting to teach in community colleges, present and prospective public administrators, and those preparing for careers or advancement in nonprofit organizations, international organizations, the military, and private business. In addition to being public servants at the local, state, and national level, graduates have served in the state legislature, the White House, and the Pentagon; directed a state agency; and worked as professional lobbyists and campaign consultants.
The department offers both the Master of Arts (MA) in Political Science and the Master of Public Administration (MPA).
Admission Requirements
Students seeking admission to the graduate programs in Political Science must meet the following requirements:
1. Submit a Graduate Studies Application for Admission with the application fee to Graduate Studies.
2. Submit official transcripts of all college-level work, including the transcript that shows the date the undergraduate degree was conferred.
3. Submit GRE scores.
4. Submit two letters of recommendation that discuss the applicant’s suitability for graduate study.
5. Submit a writing sample of scholarly work.
6. Optional: You may submit a two word-processed page statement explaining your background and/or potential that would make you a good choice for our program.
A holistic review of each student’s application file will be completed on a competitive basis.
Degree Requirements: MA in Political Science
The department offers two degree plans: thesis and non-thesis. The thesis degree plan is designed for students who plan to pursue a doctoral degree. The non-thesis degree plan is designed for students who plan to pursue careers in teaching, government, and other areas related to the study and practice of government and politics.
Political Science students take two core courses (POL 577 and POL 562) and then focus on the areas of concentration appropriate to their needs. The department offers three areas of concentration: American politics, comparative politics and international relations, and public administration and public policy. With graduate advisor approval students may take a concentration in an appropriate area from one or more other departments. Students must complete and pass comprehensive exams in their areas of concentration. Comprehensive exams are administered during the fall and spring semesters. Students take their comprehensive exams during their last semester of coursework. Students must be enrolled in the University the semester or summer session in which the comprehensive exam is administered.
Master of Arts, Non-Thesis. Under this plan, the student takes six hours of core coursework (POL 577 and POL 562) and 30 hours of coursework in political science (total 36 hours).
Master of Arts, Thesis. This degree plan is designed for students planning to pursue a doctoral degree. Under this plan, the student takes six hours of core coursework (POL 577 and POL 562), six hours of thesis coursework, and 18 hours of coursework in political science (total 30 hours)
Degree Requirements:
Master of Public Administration (MPA)
This program is designed for those seeking a career in public service and those wanting to enhance their current career. The program prepares professionals for work in government at the local, state, or national level; nonprofit organizations; and many areas of business.
The MPA degree requires a total of 39 hours of coursework: 24 hours of core coursework taken by all students, 12 hours of coursework in a concentration selected by the student in consultation with the graduate advisor, and 3 hours of internship. Students must complete and pass comprehensive exams in public administration. Comprehensive exams are administered during the fall and spring semesters. Students take their comprehensive exams during their last semester of coursework. Students must be enrolled in the University the semester or summer session in which the comprehensive exam is administered.
Core Courses: Twenty-four semester credit hours of required core courses:
PA 581 Dynamics of Public Administration (3 hours)
PA 583 Program Evaluation (3 hours)
PA 584 Organizational Theory and Behavior (3 hours)
PA 586 Leadership and Human Resource Management (3 hours)
PA 587 Government and Non-Profit Budgets and Financial Management (3 hours)
PA 588 Ethics in Government (3 hours)
POL 577 Scope and Methods of Political Science (3 hours)
POL 586 Grant Research and Writing (3 hours)
Internship: Students who lack professional experience will be required to take 3 hours of internship. Students who have full time professional experience may credit their experience toward the 3 hour internship requirement.
Areas of Concentration: Students will select and complete a concentration of 12 hours in State and Local Government or Comparative and International Relations. Courses appropriate to each concentration are listed below. With graduate advisor approval students may take a concentration in an appropriate area from one or more other departments
Concentration in State and Local Government: Students will choose 12 semester credit hours from the following graduate courses. None of these courses require stem work.
POL 530 American Political Institutions (3 hours)
POL 531 American Political Behavior (3 hours)
POL 560 Seminar in American National Politics (3 hours)
POL 562 Seminar in Political Theory (3 hours)
POL 585 Public Policy Formulation and Implementation (3 hours)
POL 730 Public Policy and the School District (3 hours)
*POL 582 Seminar in Public Administration
*POL 578 Problems and Internships in Political Science
*Topics addressed in POL 582 and POL 578 vary across semesters. Thus POL 582 and POL 578 may count towards a student’s concentration hours only when the course topic is relevant to the student’s area of concentration.
Concentration in Comparative and International Relations: Students will choose 12 semester credit hours from the following lists. None of these courses require stem work.
POL 567 Seminar in International Relations (3 hours)
POL 571 Comparative Political Analysis (3 hours)
POL 572 Seminar in Comparative Politics (3 hours)
POL 573 Theory and Method of International Relations (3 hours)
*POL 582 Seminar in Public Administration
*POL 578 Problems and Internships in Political Science
*Topics addressed in POL 582 and POL 578 vary across semesters. Thus POL 582 and POL 578 may count towards a student’s concentration hours only when the course topic is relevant to the student’s area of concentration.