2017-2018 Augusta University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Department of Political Science
|
|
 Return to: Katherine Reese Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
About the Department and Programs
In its undergraduate and graduate programs, the Department of Political Science focuses on the study of politics, governmental systems, and the making of public policy as well as the skills necessary to think about political life in a sophisticated, critical, and independent manner. Along with the general B.A. degree in Political Science, the department offers concentrations in International Studies, Legal Studies, Security Studies, and Secondary Teacher Certification. The department also offers minors in Political Science, International Studies, and Nonprofit Management as well as an undergraduate certificate in European Union Studies.
Students who wish to continue their education beyond an undergraduate degree can apply to the department’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) program, which is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA). Along with the general MPA degree, the program offers a concentration in Criminal Justice and a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Leadership. Qualified undergraduates can complete their B.A. and MPA in five years through the department’s accelerated BA-to-MPA Program. For more information, see Graduate Programs below.
With its strong liberal arts approach, an undergraduate degree in Political Science helps students develop and strengthen their analytical and problem solving skills as well as improve their written and oral communication skills. The program’s liberal arts approach helps prepare students for careers in a wide range of sectors including public administration and international affairs, business and finance, nonprofits and non-governmental organizations, journalism and media, law and advocacy, and academic teaching and research. The degree also provides an excellent foundation for graduate education in Law, Public Administration, Political Science, and other social science fields.
The Master of Public Administration graduate degree is designed to provide a broad education for individuals entering government and nonprofit organizations in administrative positions and to enhance the capabilities and performance of individuals currently serving in related management positions. The program prepares individuals for career service in national, state, or local government; regional planning agencies; and nonprofit or voluntary organizations.
Experiental Learning, Activities, and Organizations
The department strongly believes in and, therefore, offers several experiential learning opportunities. Students with at least 60 credit hours are eligible for internships with the US Congress, Georgia General Assembly, state and local government agencies, election campaigns, nonprofits and interest groups, private corporations, law firms, and a variety of other organizations. Students may also take part in our National Model United Nations study-away program, in which they join students from other countries, usually in New York City or Washington, DC, in a realistic simulation of United Nations proceedings to address major global concerns. Students may participate in the department’s Mock Trial program, where they learn about the law and a legal career as well as take part in inter-collegiate competitions. Finally, the department offers several extra-curricular opportunities including the Political Science Club and MPA Student Association as well as active chapters of the undergraduate Political Science Honor Society of Pi Sigma Alpha, graduate Public Administration Honor Society of Pi Alpha Alpha, and International City/County Management Association.
Undergraduate Programs
General Undergraduate Curriculum Information
The general B.A. degree offers broad training in the discipline’s traditional subfields of American government, comparative politics, international relations, political philosophy, and political methodology. All majors in Political Science must complete a minimum of 30 hours in upper division courses with a grade of C or better. Before graduation, all majors are required to take a standardized exit exam and to submit to the department a minimum of three graded essays or research papers for their departmental portfolio.
The general political science major gives students a broad view of political science through classes in the discipline’s traditional subfields of American government (at least 6 hours), comparative politics/international relations (at least 6 hours), and political theory (at least 3 hours).
The major with a concentration in International Studies is designed to enable and encourage students to think about global affairs in a sophisticated, critical, and independent manner. The course of study includes two required introductory classes in International Relations and World Politics (6 hours); at least five related, advanced Political Science classes (at least 15 hours); and two related, advanced electives from other departments (at least 6 hours).
Bachelor of Arts with a major in Political Science and a concentration in Legal Studies
The major with a concentration in Legal Studies is designed to prepare students for careers in law-related fields. Students learn about legal actors, processes, and institutions as well as explore questions of power, justice, and the role of law in everyday life through the perspectives and methods of Political Science. This concentration also provides a foundation for the ongoing study of law or for graduate study in Political Science. The course of study includes at least four advanced Political Science classes related to legal studies (at least 12 hours); one advanced class related to political theory (at least 3 hours); and at least one related, advanced elective from other departments (at least 3 hours).
The major with a concentration in Security Studies is designed to provide students with a practical and theoretical understanding of current and future security challenges facing the nation and world. The concentration helps students understand and analyze traditional and non-traditional security issues confronting the world’s most dynamic and volatile regions. During the 30-hour course of study, students focus on the causes and effects of interstate and intrastate conflict, the sources of terrorism, the implementation of counter-terrorism strategies, and the development of security issues that affect national, regional, and global security. This concentration also provides a foundation for students considering a graduate degree in a security-related field.
Bachelor of Arts with a major in Political Science and a Secondary Teacher Certification
The secondary teacher certification concentration combines the Political Science major (at least 30 hours) with the appropriate courses from the College of Education (at least 34 hours) for students who wish to teach Social Studies in Georgia.
Graduate Programs
The MPA is a two-year, 36-hour program that encourages post-baccalaureate students to use their education as a foundation upon which to build organizational and managerial skills that are highly valued in the public and nonprofit sectors. It is a graduate degree designed to help prepare individuals for career service in national, state, or local government; regional planning agencies; and nonprofit or voluntary organizations.
The Master of Public Administration program enhances the performance of public and nonprofit organizations in our region and the nation by preparing a new generation of public service leaders to competently and ethically lead public and nonprofit organizations. As an interdisciplinary professional degree program, we seek to:
- provide a broad education for individuals entering government and nonprofit organizations in administrative positions
- enhance the capabilities and performance of individuals currently serving in management positions in our region
- produce relevant public administration research
- provide active public service to support and improve the quality and delivery of public services in our region
Admissions Procedures and Requirements
Please see the Office of Academic Admissions website for specific admissions information:
http://www.augusta.edu/pamplin/mpa/admissions.php
Career Information/Opportunities for the MPA
The Master of Public Administration graduate degree is designed to provide a broad education for individuals entering government and nonprofit organizations in administrative positions and to enhance the capabilities and performance of individuals currently serving in related management positions. The program prepares individuals for career service in national, state, or local government; regional planning agencies; and nonprofit or voluntary organizations.
Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Criminal Justice
The MPA with a concentration in Criminal Justice is designed to address topics relevant to students who are interested in advancing their careers in law enforcement and/or social activism in the area of criminal justice. Through community partners, students have the opportunity to work with local law enforcement agencies and nonprofits with a criminal justice mission.
Certificates
Certificate in European Union Studies
The undergraduate Certificate in European Union Studies is designed for students interested in international relations, business, and education. It is a six-course, 18-hour program offered collaboratively by this university, the University System of Georgia, and the University of Munich, Germany. The program is open to students with any academic major who have a minimum 2.75 cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA).
Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership
This is a four-course, 12-hour graduate certificate program. It is designed for individuals in the nonprofit field holding a bachelor’s degree and seeking to develop the knowledge and abilities needed to manage and lead sustainable nonprofit organizations. The certificate is open to students enrolled in the department’s Master of Public Administration Program or the university’s Master of Business Administration Program.
Minors
There are many good reasons to declare a college minor. A minor is a way for students to complement or enhance their major, build their professional credentials, and enjoy a set of personally fulfilling classes. The Political Science Department offers three minors, each of which can be earned with 18 credit hours of designated classes:
- International Studies
- Nonprofit Management
- Political Science
Return to: Katherine Reese Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
|
