The Master of Arts in Political Science degree program is designed to offer the graduates of diversified undergraduate programs an opportunity to obtain proficiency in traditional fields of study within political science. Topics include: American government theory and process, comparative politics, contemporary political institutions, defense and security policy, foreign policy analysis, international law, international organizations, legislative behavior, policy analysis, political philosophy, and regional and transnational organizations.

Degree Program Objectives
In addition to the institutional and degree level learning outcomes objectives, the Masters of Arts in Political Science seeks the following specific learning outcomes of its graduates:

• Analyze the fundamental theories and philosophies of government, governance, economy, and civil society and apply them to contemporary political systems.
• Evaluate the political elements of representative democracy and compare and contrast those elements with other political systems.
• Assemble and evaluate the appropriate information and data used in the social, economic, foreign affairs and security policy-making realm.
• Assess the actors and processes involved in policymaking and evaluate policy implementation outcomes in various sectors to include the social, economic, foreign policy and security policy domains

Degree Program Requirements

Core Courses (18 semester hours):
Select six (6) out of the seven courses from the following list
PS500 / POL 500 - Research Methods in Social Science  [Required]
PS535 / INR 500 - International Political Systems
PS501 / INR 501 - Comparative Political Systems
PS502/ POL 501 - Political Philosophy
DM584 / PUB 530 - Public Policy
PS503 / PUB 611 - Law and Public Policy
DM613 / POL 510 - The U.S Presidency, Congress, and Bureaucracy 

Major Courses (12 semester hours):
Select four (4) courses from the lists below.  If a concentration is desired, select 4 courses within the same area.

Concentration in American Politics and Government 
Concentration Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration the student will be able to:

• Interpret the philosophical theories of constitutional democracy and federalist principles that form the basis of the U.S. political structure.
• Analyze the three institutions of government that create and implement federal policy.
• Assess why the American system of local, state, and federal government and their and its intergovernmental relations is an invitation to struggle.
• Evaluate the evolution of interest groups in the United States and their various roles assumed in both historical and modern democratic processes.
• Analyze the perspectives of political parties and their impact on federal, state, and local government.
• Judge the emerging impact of gender, race, language, ethnic traditions, sexual orientation and moral principles on federal, state, and local government.

Concentration Requirements
OC553 / HIS 571 - U.S. Constitutional History
PS504 / POL 511 - Political Parties and Interest Group Behavior
PS533 / POL 513 - Urban Politics
PS506 / POL 514 - Gender and American Politics
PS510 / POL 620 - Legislatures and Legislative Behavior
PS511 / POL 640 - Judicial Politics, Process, and Policy Making
PS650 / POL 650 - Federalism:  The American Governance Process
PS512 / POL 630 - The Presidency: Institution and Performance   

Concentration in Comparative Government & Development 
Concentration Objectives
Upon successful completion of this concentration the student will be able to:

• Evaluate the "national interest" and how it is formulated through a comparative studies approach.
• Assess the role of culture, politics, economics, the defense establishment, and domestic constraints in decision making and policy making in various political regimes.
• Analyze the impact of foreign policy on domestic decisions as well as domestic considerations on foreign policy.
• Critically assess the unique principles, structure, and organization of the major international organizations.
• Evaluate the role of international organizations in addressing issues of economic development, free and unrestricted trade, capital investment, conflict resolution, threats to international order, terrorism, and war crimes.
• Assess the economic and political processes in international development; diagnose social issues in international development; appraise the need for sustainable international development.
• Examine the prospects of governance by international organizations.
• Evaluate the multidimensional effects of globalization
• Assess alternatives to current policies in the post-Cold War era and examine their impact on the United States, its allies, regional powers, and the international system.

Concentration Requirements
NS546 / INR 631 - Government and Security in Korea
NS551 / INR 662 - Middle East Culture
NS552 / INR 663 - Islam
NS553 / INR 661 - Politics and Security in the Persian Gulf
NS556 / INR 660 - Seminar in Middle East Politics and Security
NS565 / INR 655 - Latin American Security Issues
MS674 / INR 600 - Strategic Geography and Geopolitics
PS585 / INR 503 - International Organizations 

Concentration in Public Policy 
Upon successful completion of this concentration the student will be able to:

• Assess the prioritization of American domestic, economic and foreign policy issues.
• Evaluate the policy making environment and the role of economic, political, cultural and  organizational factors that affect decision-making in the United States
• Analyze the role of the Executive Branch, Congress, the Department of Defense, and the separated armed services in the formulation of security policy
• Analyze the role of the Executive Branch, Congress, and the appropriate Cabinet Departments and agencies in the formulation of domestic policy.

Concentration Requirements
PS550 / PUB 520 - Public Policy Issues
DM530 / PUB 615 - Program Appraisal
DM555 / HCM 502 - Health Policy
DM554 / HCM 600 - Health Care Finance and Economics
DM553 / HCM 602 - Medical Care Concepts and Analysis
PS506 / POL 514 - Gender and American Politics
DM578 / EVS 501 - Environmental Management
DM631 / EVS 502 - Environmental Economics
DM632 / EVS 503 - Environmental Policy, Regulation and Law
DM650 / EVS 610 - Fundamentals of Environmental Systems
MS604 / INR 506 - American Foreign Policy
PS555 / POL 522 - American Defense Policy
PS556 / POL 524 - Homeland Security Policy
DM531 / DEF 530 - Defense Economics
NS503 / NSS 501 - Institutions of National Security

Graduate Electives
(6 semester hours) From other courses not taken to meet required, core, or major requirements.
PS701 / POL 790 - Separate Comprehensive Examination: Taken upon completion of all other requirements.

Total Hours: 36 semester hour