Government and Politics BA, Political Science MA: combined degree

This program gives the students the opportunity and advantage to combine their undergraduate and graduate studies. With the approval of their academic advisor and the program director, students can take up to three (3) designated graduate courses that fulfill the requirements for both the undergraduate and graduate degrees, thus accelerating completion of their M.A. in Political Science in less time.

Students who would like to participate in this program during their junior year should meet with an advisor well in advance for approval of the appropriate courses taken during their undergraduate semesters. The program requires up to nine (9) graduate credits during the students’ undergraduate career.

Program Learning Objectives:

• Research and Analytic Method: Quantitative-including statistics-and qualitative methods for conducting and analyzing political science and international studies research in a manner appropriate for graduate students.
• Critical Thinking: Students will learn and demonstrate critical thinking, skeptical inquiry, and the scientific approach to problem solving by selecting and organizing information, identifying assumptions and causal relationships, distinguish between verifiable facts and value claims, determine the credibility of sources, distinguish between warranted or unwarranted reasons or conclusions, detect biases, and evaluate appropriate problem solving strategies, their feasibility and efficacy.
• Effective Communication: Students will be able to communicate effectively, in writing and verbally, the conventions of the English language in a clear, concise, articulate, literate, and professional manner consistent with those of college writing and those specific to the discipline international relations and political science.
• Information and Technological Literacy: Students will be able to demonstrate information literacy and technological competency utilizing the most current computer-based library computer systems and academic databases, governmental resources, and other bona-fide informational resources to facilitate the study of political science.
• Ethical and Professional Behavior: Students will learne to identify, evaluate, assess, and employ appropriate legal, ethical, and professional behaviors and practices within all aspects of their life, including, but not limited to an academic and political science environment.

Degree Plan

All students are required to complete the General Education Requirements of their campus in fulfillment of their Bachelor degree requirements.

Require major courses (15 credits)

• GOVT1000    American Government & Politics
• GOVT2130    International Relations
• GOVT2216    Problems in Politics
• GOVT2400    Politics & Ethics
• GOVT2500    Research Methods in the Social Sciences
• CRIM6025    Social Science Research Methods & Statistics
• GOVT7820    Models of Political Systems
• GOVT7826    Politics of Public Policy

Major electives (21 credits)

Select from 2000, 3000 and 4000 level courses in GOVT.  At least (6) credits from 3000 level or higher.

Master’s degree courses (24 credits)

• POLS6800  Graduate Independent Study
• GOVT____ Graduate Electives (3 credits)
• POLS____ Graduate Electives (18 credits)

21 credits of Graduate Electives may be selected from the following: CRIM 6010, CRIM 6015, CRIM 7020, CRIM 7025, CRIM 7030, CRIM 7080, CRIM 7084, CRIM 7085, HIST 6714, HIST 7712, POLS 6682, POLS 6711, POLS 6753, POLS 6871, POLS 7810, POLS 7815, POLS 7820, POLS 7821, POLS 7822, POLS 7825, POLS 7830, POLS 7831, POLS 7832, POLS 7833, POLS 7834, POLS 7835, POLS 7851, POLS 7853, POLS 7854, POLS 7863, POLS 7867, POLS 7868, POLS 7871, POLS 7874, POLS 7875

A minimum of 120 credits is required for the B.A. degree and a minimum of 144 credits is required for the combined B.A./M.A. degrees.  Up to 6 credits from the major and 6 credits from the minor may be applied toward the General Education requirements.