Master of Arts in Political Science

Provides insight into the democratic process of government in the U.S. Topics include all three branches of government, as well as freedoms protected by the Constitution, the role of women in changing public policy, and the division of power between federal and state governments.

Upon successful completion of this concentration the student will be able to:

• Interpret the philosophical theories of constitutional democracy and federalist principles that form the basis of the U.S. political structure.
• Analyze the three institutions of government that create and implement federal policy.
• Assess why the American system of local, state, and federal government and their intergovernmental relations is an invitation to struggle.
• Evaluate the evolution of interest groups in the United States and their various roles assumed in both historical and modern democratic processes.
• Analyze the perspectives of political parties and their impact on federal, state, and local government.
• Judge the emerging impact of gender, race, language, ethnic traditions, sexual orientation, and moral principles on federal, state, and local government.

Uses the comparative method of analysis to study democracies, monarchies, dictatorships, and authoritarian forms of government. Topics include Al Qaeda, the relationship between military and government affairs, mediation between opposing factions, and economics, including the readings of Karl Marx.

Upon successful completion of this concentration the student will be able to:

• Evaluate the "national interest" and how it is formulated through a comparative studies approach.
• Assess the role of culture, politics, economics, the defense establishment, and domestic constraints in decision making and policy making in various political regimes.
• Analyze the impact of foreign policy on domestic decisions as well as domestic considerations on foreign policy.
• Critically assess the unique principles, structure, and organization of the major international organizations.
• Evaluate the role of international organizations in addressing issues of economic development, free and unrestricted trade, capital investment, conflict resolution, threats to international order, terrorism, and war crimes.
• Assess the economic and political processes in international development; diagnose social issues in international development; appraise the need for sustainable international development.
• Examine the prospects of governance by international organizations.
• Evaluate the multidimensional effects of globalization.
• Assess alternatives to current policies in the post-Cold War era and examine their impact on the United States, its allies, regional powers, and the international system.

Discusses various international issues through coverage of international organizations like the Red Cross and the United Nations, as well as the governments of Latin America, Korea, and the Middle East and the use of modern statistical methods and models to solve problems.

Upon successful completion of this concentration the student will be able to:

• Construct a theory about the distinct nature of conflict in the post-Cold War era.
• Assess the norms and purposes of international structures and regimes.
• Critique the political, economic, military, and cultural differences between the Northeast Asian, Latin American, and Middle Eastern regions.
• Analyze global military developments since the mid-twentieth century.

Discusses a variety of security, economic, foreign, and domestic policy issues at the national, state, and local levels. Topics include budgeting and expenditures, data analysis through statistics, management of large bureaucracies, and the Department of Homeland Security.

Upon successful completion of this concentration the student will be able to:

• Assess the prioritization of American domestic, economic, and foreign policy issues.
• Evaluate the policy-making environment and the role of economic, political, cultural, and organizational factors that affect decision making in the United States.
• Analyze the role of the Executive Branch, Congress, the Department of Defense, appropriate Cabinet Departments and the separated armed services in the formulation of security and domestic policy.