American Politics Concentration

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Concentration Requirements (Minimum of 30 Credit Hours)

Methods Sequence

Students may choose between a regular and an advanced methods track.

Regular Methods Track

POLS 6800 - Research Design 3 Hours

Advanced Methods Track

POLS 6800 - Research Design 3 Hours
or
POLS 8800 - Elements of Research Design 3 Hours
POLS 8805 - Introduction to Quantitative Analysis 3 Hours

Choose One

Either

POLS 8810 - Uses of Intermediate Statistical Methods in Political Science Research 3 Hours
or
POLS 8840 - Qualitative Research Methods 3 Hours

Required Courses

POLS 6100 - Seminar in American Politics 3 Hours
POLS 8100 - Seminar in American Politics 3 Hours

Additional Graduate Courses (18 Hours)

Six additional graduate Political Science (18 hours) courses for those on the regular methods track. Four additional graduate Political Science courses (12 hours) for those on the advanced methods track. These must be chosen from general American, Public Law, American Institutions, or American Political Behavior offerings (POLS 6100 to POLS 6180, POLS 8100 to POLS 8180 ). One course may be taken in a different political science concentration with the advance approval of the departmental Director of Graduate Studies. Two of these courses may be taken in another department or may be taken as experiential learning hours with the advance approval of the departmental Director of Graduate Studies.

Thesis Option

A minimum of six hours of POLS 8999 - Thesis Research .
A thesis, written following successful defense of proposal before three-member faculty committee.
A thesis defense.

Non-Thesis Option

(Students wishing to pursue a doctoral degree should not choose this option):

Six additional hours of graduate courses in American politics (POLS 6100 -POLS 6180,POLS 8100 -POLS 8180 )
A research paper completed according to departmental guidelines