Department of Political Science

Chair and Professor Foster
Professors Adler, Bowen, Hjelm
Associate Professors Maughan, Nilson
Assistant Professors Anderson, Gabardi, Hogan, McBeth
Affiliate Faculty Pulling, Winmill

Doctor of Arts in Political Science

This program is intended for students interested in careers teaching political science in a variety of higher education settings from community colleges to universities. Doctor of Arts recipients are prepared to teach a variety of political science courses including those in American politics and in two additional specialties selected from among the fields of public law, political theory, comparative/international politics, and public administration. The program features an interdisciplinary component with nine credit hours of coursework required from Economics and nine credit hours from Sociology. Two required interdisciplinary seminars further strengthen the interdisciplinary orientation of the program.

The D.A. in political science is generalist in nature. The emphasis is on a thorough grounding in political science supported by work in two other social science disciplines. The program places emphasis on teaching political science rather than on the development of a narrow research specialty. A nine-credit-hour component of the program includes the development of pedagogical skills as well as sustained experience in the classroom.

Admission

For full admission to the Doctor of Arts program, the applicant must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 for the last two years of undergraduate study, an average score in the 50th percentile or above on the aptitude section of the GRE and a 3.5 GPA in all previous graduate study. At the time of application, the candidate must submit to the Department of Political Science three letters of recommendation and a statement of his/her personal goals.

A candidate entering with a B.A. or B.S. degree must fulfill a minimum of 79 credit hours including the teaching internship and up to a maximum of six dissertation credits. No more than nine credit hours in Sociology and nine credit hours in Economics (exclusive of interdisciplinary seminars) count toward the 79 credit hour minimum requirement. Candidates have the option of completing the M.A. or M.P.A. in political science en route to the D.A.; if they choose the non-thesis M.A. or M.P.A. program, only 30 hours of course work from the M.A. or M.P.A. will apply to the Doctor of Arts program. Candidates entering the Doctor of Arts program with M.A. degrees must complete a minimum of 49 credit hours, including two full-time consecutive semesters in residence, including a maximum six hours of dissertation credit. The total length and number of credit hours of a student's program, above the minimum, is dependent upon the student's academic preparation and his/her committee's recommendations.

Requirements Political Science

Doctoral student are examined in three fields of political science. For all doctoral students the major field of American politics is required.

  1. American Politics, and
  2. Any two of the following fields:
    a. Public Law
    b. Political Theory
    c. Comparative/International Politics
    d. Public Administration

Doctor of Arts students are required to take nine hours of 600-level seminar courses (not including POLS 694) selected from the following courses: POLS 611, POLS 612, POLS 613, POLS 614 and POLS 615 plus a methodology course, POLS 519, 519L. Doctor of Arts students are also required to take POLS 699, Dissertation, for a minimum of 3 credits.

Doctor of Arts students write a doctoral dissertation which may deal with either substantive disciplinary issues or pedagogical innovations or techniques. A prospectus and review of the literature chapter must be approved by each D.A. candidate's committee before sitting for comprehensive examinations. Faculty and students are invited to the formal presentation of the dissertation.

Pedagogy

Students must complete a nine-credit component of pedagogy to include POLS 694, POLS 702, and POLS 703.

Economics

Nine graduate credits (specific courses to be determined in consultation with each candidate's graduate committee).

Sociology

Nine graduate credits (specific courses to be determined in consultation with each candidate's graduate committee).

Interdisciplinary Classes

A minimum of six credits in interdisciplinary classes which integrate concepts from political science, economics, and sociology. Three credits must be selected from among the following courses: POLS 620, ECON 620, or SOC 620; three credits must be selected from among the following courses: POLS 621, ECON 621, or SOC 621. Interdisciplinary courses taken as Sociology or Economics do not count toward the nine (9) credit hour requirement in those disciplines.

Examinations

A comprehensive written and oral examination is administered at the conclusion of the program which tests the candidate's knowledge of three fields of political science.