The MA program in Public Affairs & Policy serves the needs of students who are employed in public or private sector organizations in which the principles and practices of public policy formation, implementation, and evaluation, as well as the political dynamics that shape domestic or international policies, are relevant. The program also serves the needs of students who have recently completed an undergraduate program and wish to enhance their academic experience or further their educational objectives.
The Master of Arts in Public Affairs and Policy requires 33 semester hours of approved graduate coursework from the following courses.
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Courses 1 | 9 | |
| THE AMERICAN POLITY | ||
| THE PUBLIC POLICY PROCESS | ||
| PROGRAM EVALUATION AND METHODS | ||
| Political Science Electives | 21 | |
| Select 18 semester-hours from the following: | ||
| FEDERALISM & INTERGOV RELATION | ||
| REGIONAL STUDIES | ||
| LAW, COURTS & PUBLIC POLICY | ||
| ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | ||
| DECISON-MAKING FORGN & SEC PLY | ||
| AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY | ||
| NATIONAL SECURITY STRGY & PLY | ||
| ISSUES IN SECURITY POLICY | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN POLITICAL SC | ||
| PUBLIC MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONS | ||
| PUBLIC PERSONNEL ADMINIS | ||
| BUDGETARY PROCESS | ||
| SPEC TOPICS IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS | ||
| PUBL VALUES/PUBL POLICY | ||
| INTERNSHIP IN GOVERNMENT | ||
| DIRECTED READINGS & RESEARCH | ||
| MASTER'S THESIS | ||
| Capstone Course 2 | 3 | |
| CAPSTONE | ||
| Other Options 3 | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 33 | |
- 1
Although these courses are required, they are not strictly prerequisites for other courses in the program. However, it is advised that students complete them as early in their program as practical.
- 2
The Capstone course is required and should be taken during the last year of the program.
- 3
Students may take or transfer a maximum of nine hours of coursework from outside of the department, including from other universities. Students must consult with the department chair to determine the appropriate coursework from other departments.
International Security Policy (ISP) Certificate
The International Security Policy (ISP) Certificate program provides students who are working, seeking to work, or interested in the field of International Security Policy with a shorter graduate program experience. The ISP Certificate program focuses on the political forces in the international environment that contribute to how policymakers define their national interests and form policies to strengthen their national security. Students complete the program with an enhanced understanding of the dynamics of U.S. national security policymaking, including the political actors and institutions that make such policies.
- If a student does not have at least three courses in Political Science as an undergraduate (including American Government), prior to taking the required coursework he or she must take PSC 600.
The ISP Certificate is awarded upon the completion of 12-15 semester-hours of graduate coursework from the following courses:
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses: | ||
| PSC 540 | REGIONAL STUDIES | 3 |
| PSC 562 | DECISON-MAKING FORGN & SEC PLY | 3 |
| PSC 566 | NATIONAL SECURITY STRGY & PLY (Electives (Choose one):) | 3 |
| or PSC 564 | AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY | |
| Electives (Choose one): | ||
| PSC 564 | AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY | 3 |
| PSC 566 | NATIONAL SECURITY STRGY & PLY | 3 |
| PSC 570 | ISSUES IN SECURITY POLICY | 3 |
| PSC 601 | THE PUBLIC POLICY PROCESS | 3 |
Courses completed in the ISP Certificate Program may also be applied to the MA program in Public Affairs and Policy.