Political Science, M.A., Professional Politics Concentration

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Required for concentration in Professional Politics

POLS 6100 /POLS 8100 Seminar in American Politics (3)
Select one course:
1. POLS 8110 State Politics (3)
2. POLS 6158 Campaign Organization and Management (3)
3. POLS 6139 Interbranch Politics (3) Necessary substitutions can be made with the advance permission of the Director of Graduate Studies.
Select one course:
1. POLS 6200 /POLS 8200 Seminar in Comparative Politics (3)
2. POLS 6400 /POLS 8400 Seminar in International Politics (3)
  Necessary substitutions can be made with the advance permission of the Director of Graduate Studies.
Additional graduate Political Science courses in at least two sub-fields to complete 30 total hours of coursework. The number of courses needed will vary depending on the student’s methods track and completion of experiential learning or thesis hours. The courses should be selected to strengthen knowledge of practice areas related to a student’s professional goals.
A capstone project under the supervision of two faculty members (3 hours).
1. This project should include a “deliverable,” which may be a research paper, a policy memo, an innovation teaching strategy, or something else.
2. Students undertaking this project should register for POLS 8990 : Capstone Project.

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 Credit Hours

Advanced Methods Track

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

Choose One

Either

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

Required Course

POLS 6100 - Seminar in American Politics 3 Credit Hours

Select One Course

POLS 8110 - State Politics 3 Credit Hours
POLS 6158 - Campaigns and Elections 3 Credit Hours
POLS 6139 - Separation of Powers 3 Credit 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 Credit Hours
POLS 6400 - International Politics 3 Credit 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 (up to 9 Hours)

Students must complete one experiential learning project for up to 9 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.