Master of Arts in Political Science

 Graduate Catalog | Master's

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)
  • POLS500 / PS500 - Research Methods in Social Science
  • POLS501 / PS502 - Political Philosophy
  • PADM530 / DM584 - Public Policy
  • PADM611 / PS503 - Law and Public Policy
  • POLS510 / DM613 - The U.S Presidency, Congress, and Bureaucracy
  • IRLS502 / PS535 - International Political Systems
Major Courses (12 semester hours)

General Concentration (Select 12 hours)

  • DEFM530 / DM531 - Defense Economics
  • EVSP501 / DM578 - Environmental Management
  • EVSP502 / DM631 - Environmental Economics
  • EVSP503 / DM632 - Environmental Policy, Regulation, and Law
  • EVSP610 / DM650 - Fundamentals of Environmental Systems
  • HIST556 / OC553 - U.S. Constitutional History
  • IRLS503 / PS585 - International Organizations
  • IRLS506 / MS604 - History of American Foreign Policy
  • IRLS600 / MS674 - Strategic Geography and Geopolitics
  • IRLS631 / NS546 - Government and Security in Korea
  • IRLS660 / NS556 - Seminar in Middle East Politics and Security
  • IRLS661 / NS553 - Politics and Security in the Persian Gulf
  • IRLS662 / NS551 - Middle Eastern Culture
  • IRLS663 / NS552 - Islam
  • IRLS655 / NS565 - Latin American Security Issues
  • NSEC501 / NS503 - Institutions of National Security
  • PADM550 / PS550 - Public Policy Issues
  • PADM615 / DM53 - Program Appraisal
  • PBHE502 / DM555 - Health Policy
  • PBHE600 / DM554 - Health Care Finance and Economics
  • PBHE602 / DM553 - Medical Care Concepts and Analysis
  • POLS511 / PS504 - Political Parties and Interest Group Behavior
  • POLS514 / PS506 - Gender and American Politics
  • POLS524 / PS556 - Homeland Security Policy
  • POLS620 / PS510 - Legislatures and Legislative Behavior
  • POLS630 / PS512 - The Presidency: Institution and Performance
  • POLS640 / PS511 - Judicial Politics, Process, and Policy Making
  • POLS650 / PS650 - Federalism: The American Governance Process

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 (Select 12 hours)

  • HIST556 / OC553 - U.S. Constitutional History
  • POLS511 / PS504 - Political Parties and Interest Group Behavior
  • POLS514 / PS506 - Gender and American Politics
  • POLS620 / PS510 - Legislatures and Legislative Behavior
  • POLS630 / PS512 - The Presidency: Institution and Performance
  • POLS640 / PS511 - Judicial Politics, Process, and Policy Making
  • POLS650 / PS650 - Federalism:  The American Governance Process

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 (12 semester hours)

Select 9 hours from the following:

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, appropriate Cabinet Departments and the separated armed services in the formulation of security and domestic policy.

Concentration Requirements (12 semester hours)


Graduate Electives (Select 6 semester hours for COMP EXAM Program Option or 3 semester hours for CAPSTONE Program Option)

From courses not taken to fulfill core or major requirements.


End of Program Requirement - Comprehensive Exam
  • POLS698 / PS701 - Separate Comprehensive Examination [0 semester hours] - Taken once all other degree requirements have been met.
  • POLS699 / PS704 - Master's Capstone in Political [3 semester hours] - The Master's capstone will satisfy 3 hours of the elective requirement


Total Hours: 36 semester hours



 Graduate Catalog | Master's

 

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