The Graduate School Bulletin
Department of Political Science
237 Graham Building
(336) 334-5989
http://www.uncg.edu/psc
Graduate Programs:
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Nonprofit Management, 15 hours
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Urban and Economic Development, 18 hours
Master of Arts (MA) in Political Science, 30 hours
Master of Public Affairs (MPA), Community and Economic Development, Local Government Management, or Nonprofit Management optional concentration, 40 hours
Graduate Faculty
PSC Political Science Courses
Graduate Faculty
Professors
Linda P. Brady, PhD, American foreign policy, international negotiation, and arms control.
James Clotfelter, PhD, Southern politics, public policy (health, defense).
William Crowther, PhD, Comparative politics, political economy, Eastern Europe, inter-ethnic relations (Head of Department).
Ruth Hoogland DeHoog, PhD, Public administration, urban management, privatization, organization theory and behavior (Director of Graduate Study).
Charles L. Prysby, PhD, Research methods, elections, voting behavior, political parties, southern politics, contextual analysis.
Jerry Pubantz, PhD, International politics, Middle East politics, the United Nations, American foreign policy, and globalization.
Associate Professors
Susan J. Buck, PhD, Environmental policy and law, public policy, administrative law.
Robert J. Griffiths, PhD, Comparative and international politics, African politics, civil-military relations, politics of development.
David Holian, PhD, The presidency, legislative politics, mass media, public opinion, and political methodology.
Kenneth A. Klase, DPA, Public administration, public budgeting and finance, public financial management.
Fabrice Lehoucq, PhD, Comparative politics, Latin American politics, political economy of development.
Gregory E. McAvoy, PhD, Public policy, research methods, environmental policy, program evaluation.
Assistant Professors
Susan W. Johnson, PhD, American politics, judicial politics, Supreme Court decision making, Canadian Supreme Court.
Darlene X. Rodriguez, PhD, Nonprofit management, philanthropy and resource development, public administration.
Carisa Showden, PhD, Modern and contemporary political theory, feminist theory, women in U.S. politics.
Takashi Tsukamoto, PhD, Urban politics, community and economic development, urban development policy.
Lecturer
J. Alan Boyette, PhD, State politics, federalism and intergovernmental relations, public policy (environment, education, campaign finance).
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Nonprofit Management
The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Nonprofit Management requires 15 semester hours and is designed to meet the training needs of nonprofit professionals in the Triad region. Certificate graduates will be prepared for management positions in the nonprofit sector, including positions in human service agencies, foundations, or professional associations. The certificate program may be useful to government and business professionals who have significant voluntary or nonprofit agency responsibilities.
The program combines core courses and electives that allow a student some tailoring to specific interests. At least 9 hours must be taken in the MPA curriculum. A portfolio demonstrating skills and competencies acquired through course work in the program must be submitted and approved for completion of the certificate. If the portfolio is judged unacceptable, no more than one additional attempt to satisfy the requirement is permitted. If the student fails to meet the department’s minimum criteria for the portfolio on the second attempt, The Graduate School will be notified and will send the student a letter of dismissal.
Application and Admission
In addition to the application materials required by The Graduate School, applicants must submit a personal statement.
Certificate Requirements
Core Requirements (9 hours)
PSC 540 Nonprofit Management and Leadership (3)
PSC 550 Philanthropy and Resource Development (3)
PSC 545 Nonprofit Financial Management and Budgeting (3)
Choice Requirements (3 hours)
Students choose three of the following:
PSC 511B Problems in Public Management: Marketing for Public and Nonprofit Agencies (1)
PSC 511D Problems in Public Management: Strategic Planning (1)
PSC 511G Problems in Public Management: Grant Writing (1)
PSC 511N Problems in Public Management: Nonprofit Law (1)
PSC 511V Problems in Public Management: Volunteer Management (1)
Electives (3 hours)
Students must take 3 hours in a combination of one-hour courses (PSC 511): strategic planning, marketing, legislative relations, volunteer management, media relations, oral communication skills, grantwriting, nonprofit law; and/or a 3 hour course from the MPA curriculum or approved courses outside the department in human development and family studies, social work, public health, business administration, and/or counseling, etc.
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Urban and Economic Development
The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Urban and Economic Development requires 18 semester hours and is offered jointly by the departments of Political Science and Geography. It is designed to meet the training needs of those currently working in or who plan to work in urban planning or community and economic development in the Triad region.
This certificate requires courses emphasizing the knowledge and skills to prepare students to work in organizations focusing on urban planning and community economic development activities in government and nonprofit organizations.
Application and Admission
In addition to the application materials required by The Graduate School, applicants must submit a personal statement.
Certificate Requirements
Required Core Courses (12 hours)
GEO 502 Urban Planning (3)
GEO 533 Industrial Development: State and Local (3)
PSC 520 The Urban Political System (3)
PSC 630 Community and Economic Development Theory and Practice (3)
Electives (6 hours)
Select two from the following:
GEO 602 Regional Planning (3)
GEO 603 Understanding Geographic Information Systems (3)
GEO 622 GIS Applications in Urban Planning (3)
GEO 631 Transportation Planning (3)
PSC 613 Local Government Administration (3)
PSC 620 Urban Development Policy (3)
MPA - Master of Public Affairs
Community and Economic Development, Local Government Management, and Nonprofit Management Optional Concentrations
The Master of Public Affairs requires 40 semester hours and is intended for public service professionals in local, state, and federal agencies; private, nonprofit agencies and voluntary organizations; public affairs offices in private businesses; and legislative staff positions. It provides professional training designed to meet current demands in public service positions and build the foundation for long-term development and advancement in a public service career. The MPA program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA).
The program provides a foundation in the major substantive areas of public affairs: policy-making and policy analysis; administration, management and organizational behavior; quantitative analysis and evaluation; and the political context of public administration. Beyond these areas, students can develop a specialization in courses in political science and up to 9 hours in other departments (e.g., geography, social work, public health education).
Students with no work experience in public or nonprofit agencies must complete an additional 3 hour supervised internship.
The MPA degree is linked to the Bachelor of Arts in economics and the Bachelor of Arts in political science so that a student may earn both degrees in approximately five years. Undergraduates must be formally admitted to one of these programs. Please see the appropriate departmental listing in the Undergraduate Bulletin for the details of these accelerated programs of study.
Application and Admission
In addition to the application materials required by The Graduate School, applicants must submit a personal statement.
Degree Requirements
Prerequisite (3 hours)
The program requires students to have completed an undergraduate course in American government, politics, or public policy.
Core Courses (23 hours)
The eight required courses are to be taken in approximately the following order, when possible:
PSC 600 Public Administration and Management (3)
PSC 601 Politics of Public Policy (3)
PSC 602 Quantitative Analysis and Program Evaluation (3)
PSC 603 Budgeting and Fiscal Administration, with lab (4)
PSC 604 Public Personnel Management (3)
PSC 511J Problems in Public Management: Legal Issues in Public Administration (1)
PSC 612 Organizational Behavior and Leadership (3)
One applied research tools course chosen from 503, 504, 610, or 611 (3)
Electives (17 hours)
Regularly offered courses:
PSC 504 Public Management Information Systems (3)
PSC 510 Topics in Public Policy (1-3)
PSC 511 Problems in Public Management (1)
PSC 512 Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations (3)
PSC 516 Administrative Law (3)
PSC 520 The Urban Political System (3)
PSC 530 Administrative and Elected Leadership (3)
PSC 540 Nonprofit Management and Leadership (3)
PSC 550 Philanthropy and Resource Development (3)
PSC 560 Special Topics in Public Administration (1-3)
PSC 610 Public Policy Analysis (3)
PSC 613 Local Government Administration (3)
PSC 615 Human Resource Development and Performance Management (3)
PSC 620 Urban Development Policy (3)
PSC 630 Community and Economic Development Theory and Practice (3)
Students may take up to 9 hours from approved graduate courses in other departments.
Experiential Component
Students not having approved prior work experience will complete a supervised internship (PSC 695) in a public or nonprofit agency for 3-6 hours credit, depending on the duration of the placement, together with a directed field study (PSC 696). Students with prior work who desire experience in a new area of public affairs may choose to complete an internship as well.
Comprehensive Examination (Capstone Experience)
The required exam consists of two parts: (1) a written essay examination (based on core courses) when halfway through the graduate program, and (2) a summary of learning paper completed near the end of graduate work.
Community and Economic Development Concentration
This concentration combines the MPA core requirements with courses emphasizing the knowledge and skills to prepare students to work in organizations focusing on community and economic development activities. The prerequisite, comprehensive exam, and the experiential component are the same as for the MPA.
Required Courses (35 hours)
Students must complete all of the MPA core courses including the required research tools course. They must also complete 15 hours of course work related to community and economic development skills and knowledge. Required courses are:
PSC 520 The Urban Political System (3)
PSC 620 Urban Development Policy (3)
PSC 630 Community and Economic Development Theory and Practice (3)
PSC 511J Problems in Public Management: Legal Issues in Public Administration (1)
Plus one of the following courses:
GEO 502 Urban Planning (3)
GEO 533 Industrial Development: State and Local (3)
Electives (5 hours)
With the approval of the Director of Graduate Study, students may select additional course work from political science or other departments, such as geography, sociology, business administration, or economics.
Internship (3 hours)
An internship (PSC 695) is required for students who have no prior experience in a professional or management position in community and economic development.
Local Government Management Concentration
This concentration combines the MPA core requirements with courses emphasizing the knowledge and skills to prepare students to work as local government managers. The prerequisite, comprehensive exam, and experiential component are the same as for the MPA.
Required Courses (29 hours)
Students must complete all of the MPA core courses including the required research tools course (23 hours). For the concentration, they must complete 6 hours of required course work related to local government management skills and knowledge.
PSC 520 Urban Political Systems (3)
PSC 613 Local Government Administration (3)
Electives (11 hours)
Students complete an additional 11 hours of elective course work. Nine of these elective hours together with the 6 hours of required concentration courses listed above complete a 15 hour concentration in local government management.
Recommended courses include:
PSC 560F Special Topics in Public Administration: Public Financial Management (2)
PSC 512 Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations (3)
PSC 530 Administrative and Elected Leadership (3)
PSC 510K Topics in Public Policy: Ethics in Public Policy (3)
With the approval of the Director of Graduate Study, students may select additional course work from political science or other departments, such as geography, sociology, business administration, or economics.
Internship (3 hours)
An internship (PSC 695) is required for students who have no prior experience in a professional or management position in a government agency.
Nonprofit Management Concentration
This concentration combines the MPA core requirements with courses emphasizing the knowledge and skills to prepare students to work in or with the nonprofit sector. The prerequisite, comprehensive exam, and the experiential component are the same as for the MPA.
Required Courses (31 hours)
Students must complete all but one of the MPA core courses (PSC 511N substitutes for PSC 511J). The research tools requirement in the MPA core will be met by PSC 611. They must also complete 15 hours of course work related to nonprofit management skills and knowledge. Required courses are:
PSC 540 Nonprofit Management and Leadership (3)
PSC 550 Philanthropy and Resource Development (3)
Plus three of the following four one-hour Problems in Public Management:
PSC 511B Marketing for Public and Nonprofit Agencies (1)
PSC 511D Strategic Planning (1)
PSC 511F Financial Management (1)
PSC 511G Grant Writing (1)
Electives (9 hours)
With the approval of the Director of Graduate Study, students may select courses from political science or up to 9 hours in other departments, such as social work; recreation, tourism, and hospitality management; or sociology.
Internship (3 hours)
An internship (PSC 695) is required for students who have no prior experience in a professional or management position in a nonprofit agency.
MPA with Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Gerontology
Students with an interest in public service work related to the elderly and meeting the needs of an aging society may complete elective course work in the MPA degree by jointly completing the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Gerontology.
MA - Master of Arts in Political Science
The MA in Political Science requires 30 semester hours and is for persons who wish to teach in community colleges and secondary schools or continue graduate study in a doctoral program or a professional school.
Course offerings and the thesis focus on public administration and policy.
Application and Admission
In addition to the application materials required by The Graduate School, applicants must submit a personal statement.
Degree Requirements
Required Courses (6 hours)
Two courses must be taken in the first 18 hours:
PSC 601 Politics of Public Policy (3)
PSC 602 Quantitative Analysis and Program Evaluation (3)
Electives (24 hours)
Students select from departmental offerings. Up to 6 hours may be taken as independent study courses.
Thesis
See the Director of Graduate Study for details.
PSC 699 Thesis (3-6)
Comprehensive Examination (Capstone Experience)
A written comprehensive examination is required when 18 hours of course work have been completed.
PSC Political Science Courses
501 Selected Topics in Political Science (1-3)
Pr. major in political science or permission of instructor
Opportunity for advanced students to study in depth a topic of special interest. May be repeated for credit when topics vary.
503 Survey Methods for Policy Research (3:3)
Theoretical and practical issues involved in designing and using sample surveys for political and policy research. Emphasis on survey methods used by the government and others in the public sector.
504 Public Management Information Systems (3:3)
Overview of management information systems in public and nonprofit organizations, covering broad questions of design, management, training, utilization, and impact of decision making.
505 Problems in Politics (3:3)
Seminar in research and study in political science. Attention also on problems of methodology and alternative conceptions of field of political science as a scholarly discipline.
510 Topics in Public Policy (1-3)
Intensive analysis of a major area of public policy. Examination of the sources of policy making, the policy-making process and the impact of policy. Students may repeat the course but not the same topic. 510a, Politics of Education; 510b, Criminal Justice; 510c, Labor Relations; 510d, Foreign and Defense Policy; 510e, Environmental Policy; 510f, Urban Development Policy; 510g, Health and Social Policy; 510h, Global Challenges; 510i, Press and Politics; 510j, Industrial Policy; 510k, Ethics in Public Policy.
511 Problems in Public Management (1)
Intensive examination of important current problems related to the management of public institutions. 511J, Legal Issues in Public Administration, is a required course. Students may repeat the course when topics vary for a maximum of six credit hours.
512 Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations (3:3)
Pr. permission of instructor or 210, or 310; or graduate standing
Focuses on changing relationships of local-state-federal agencies, expanding role of regional cooperation and recent developments in sub-national governments.
516 Administrative Law (3:3)
The law, practice, and procedure in federal administrative agencies: agency rulemaking; administrative adjudication; judicial review; informal process and administrative discretion.
520 The Urban Political System (3:3)
Examination of major topics in the study of urban government and politics, including citizen participation, interest groups, parties, types of elections, forms of government, community power, and racial politics.
530 Administrative and Elected Leadership (3:3)
Recruitment, selection, and roles of executives and legislators; organization and activities of the offices; and relationships among executive offices, administrative offices, and legislative bodies.
535 Citizen Participation in Policy Making (3:3)
Political participation and citizen involvement in governmental policy making. Both citizen-initiated and government-sponsored efforts to increase popular input will be analyzed. Assessment of the impact of citizen participation on policy-making in specific areas of policy and on the performance of government in general.
540 Nonprofit Management and Leadership (3:3)
Pr. senior or graduate standing
Overview of major concepts and concerns of nonprofit organizations, including tax-exempt status, incorporation, nonprofit-government relations, board-director-staff relations, volunteers, service and program planning, implementation, resource development.
545 Nonprofit Financial Management and Budgeting (3:3)
Pr. graduate standing or permission of instructor
Nonprofit financial management and budgeting concepts, techniques and practices, including management control, budgeting, cost accounting, long-term financing, nonprofit accounting and financial reporting, financial analysis, cash management, and accountability and control.
550 Philanthropy and Resource Development (3:3)
Pr. 540 and senior or graduate standing
Major concepts, strategies, issues, and approaches to resource development and philanthropy in nonprofit and educational organizations.
560 Special Topics in Public Administration (1-3)
Pr. permission of MPA Program Director or instructor
Specific topic identified by extension to basic title: e.g., Special Topics in Public Administration: Public Financial Management; Financial Analysis Techniques; Grants and Contract Administration. Students may repeat three credit hour courses when topics vary. One credit hour courses may be repeated for a maximum of three credit hours when topics vary.
589 Experimental Course
This number reserved for experimental courses. Refer to the Course Schedule for current offerings.
600 Public Administration and Management (3:3)
Pr. admission to the MPA program or permission of instructor
Political environment, structure and process of public bureaucracies; organizational theory; professional ethics; and administrative functions including management, budgeting, and personnel.
601 Politics of Public Policy (3:3)
Pr. admission to the MPA program or permission of instructor
Public policy process from agenda-setting to policy formation, legitimation, and implementation.
602 Quantitative Analysis and Program Evaluation (3:3)
Pr. admission to the MPA program or permission of instructor
Basic principles of research design, measurement, data analysis, and computer usage for research in politics and public policy.
603 Budgeting and Fiscal Administration (3:3)
Pr. 600 or permission of instructor
Purposes of budgets. The political and economic environment that surrounds the budgetary process in government. Budget preparation, enactment, execution, and decision making at the federal, state, and local levels. Must be enrolled in PSC 603 and PSC 603L at the same time.
603L Budget Analysis Laboratory (1:1)
Pr. 600 or permission of instructor
Problems and exercises designed to assist students in understanding public budgeting. Emphasis on analyzing and communicating budget data. Must be enrolled in PSC 603 and PSC 603L at the same time.
604 Public Personnel Management (3:3)
Pr. 600 or permission of instructor
Employment practices as applied in the public sector; merit and merit systems, position management, equal employment opportunity and affirmative action, unionization, employee rights, and representative bureaucracy.
610 Public Policy Analysis (3:3)
Pr. 602
Approaches to analyzing public policy; cost-benefit analysis, decision-analysis, and other analytical methods used in policy development and evaluation.
611 Program and Policy Evaluation (3:3)
Pr. 602 or permission of instructor
Structure of program evaluation; identification and measurement of program outcomes; use of experiments and quasi-experiments in evaluation; development of performance measures; analysis of program evaluation data.
612 Organizational Behavior and Leadership (3:3)
Pr. 600 or permission of instructor
Behavior of public and nonprofit organizations. Problems of leadership, group dynamics, conflict resolution, and organizational change.
613 Local Government Administration (3:3)
Pr. permission of MPA program director
Administrative process, management, personnel, budget and finance, and intergovernmental relations in local government.
615 Human Resource Development and Performance Management (3:3)
Public and nonprofit employee performance evaluation and development: theories of motivation, workforce trends, training techniques and trends, career development, employee performance and evaluation techniques. Workshop format with group exercises.
620 Urban Development Policy (3:3)
Examines nature and evolution of U.S. urban development policy, including urban renewal, the war on poverty, and empowerment zones.
630 Community and Economic Development Theory and Practice (3:3)
Pr. permission of MPA program director or instructor
Critical analysis of community and economic development theory and practice and its historical and theoretical roots, methods, strategies, and tactics.
690 Public Affairs Seminar (3:3)
Role of the public official in organizations and policy making. Analysis of position and responsibilities in the context of literature on organizations, administration, management, and policy making. Open to advanced students in public affairs who have had work experience or internships in public agencies.
695 Public Affairs Internship (3-6)
Pr. 600, 601, 602, at least three other graduate level courses in political science, and permission of instructor
A full-time work and learning experience in a public or nonprofit agency of approximately three months duration designed to provide the graduate student with practical experience in the ongoing operations of an agency of government or an organization engaged in public affairs activities.
696 Directed Field Research (3-6)
Pr. 600, 601, 602, three other graduate level courses, and permission of instructor
Field research on selected problems and issues in public policy, including research design, data collection, data analysis, and interpretation of results. Open to advanced graduate students in the Master of Public Affairs program.
697, 698 Special Problems in Political Science (1-3), (1-3)
Independent study or research in political science. Prior consent of faculty member with whom student wishes to work.
699 Thesis (1-6)
711 Experimental Course
This number reserved for experimental courses. Refer to the Course Schedule for current offerings.
801 Thesis Extension (1-3)
803 Research Extension (1-3)