Professional Politics Concentration

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Concentration Requirements (Minimum of 30 Credit Hours)

This concentration provides the professional skills needed by those pursuing career paths in public service, politics, lobbying and advocacy. It is offered as a terminal degree with a non-thesis option and can be undertaken in a traditional classroom setting, fully online, or hybridized.

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 Course

POLS 6100 - Seminar in American Politics 3 Hours

Select One Course

POLS 8110 - State Politics 3 Hours
POLS 6158 - Campaigns and Elections 3 Hours
POLS 6139 - Separation of Powers 3 Hours

Select One Course

Necessary substitutions can be made with the advance permission of the Director of Graduate Studies.

POLS 6200 - Comparative Politics Analysis 3 Hours
POLS 6400 - International Politics 3 Hours

Additional Graduate Courses (9 Hours)

Three additional graduate Political Science courses (9 hours) for students on the regular methods track. One additional graduate Political Science course (3 hours) for students on the advanced methods track. These should be selected to strengthen knowledge of practice areas related to a student’s professional goals.

Experiential Learning Project (6 Hours)

Students must complete one experiential learning project for 6 credit hours; students may choose to find an internship with an organization or political campaign or create another experiential learning project related to their main practice area. All experiential learning projects must receive the advance permission of the Director of Graduate Studies before students will be allowed to register for POLS 8995 - Administrative/Policy Internship hours. Student progress will be monitored by a faculty member through regular reports and a final paper. Students may choose to take an additional 3 hours of experiential learning as a substitute for one graduate course with the advance permission of the Director of Graduate Studies.

Up to Two Courses (6 Hours)

Up to two courses (6 hours) in departments outside of Political Science may be used if relevant and with advance permission of the Director of Graduate Studies.

Capstone Course, Practicum, or Directed Reading

A capstone course, practicum, or directed reading in which the student will complete a project under the supervision of one or more faculty members (3 hours).

Non-thesis Research Paper

A non-thesis research paper completed according to departmental guidelines is required. Students interested in completing a thesis may substitute it for six hours of course or experiential learning credit with the advance permission of the Director of Graduate Studies.