Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice
Ruth Ann Strickland, Chairperson and Professor
Ph.D., University of South Carolina
American Politics
Jawad I. Barghothi, Professor
Ph.D., Southern Illinois University
International Relations
James F. Barnes, Professor
Ph.D., The Ohio State University
Comparative Politics, African Politics
Daniel B. German, Professor
Ph.D., Georgetown University
American Politics
Dennis O. Grady, Professor
Ph.D., Emory University
American Politics
Marvin K. Hoffman, M.P.A. Director and Professor
Ph.D., University of Georgia
Public Administration
Andrew M. Koch, Associate Professor
Ph.D., University of California at Santa Barbara
Political Theory
Kenneth L. Mullen, Associate Professor
Ph.D., State University of New York at Albany
Criminal Justice
Matthew B. Robinson, Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Florida State University
Criminal Justice
Curtis Ryan, Assistant Professor
Ph.D., University of North Carolina
Comparative Politics, International Relations
Renee G. Scherlen, Associate Professor
Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin
International Relations
Dragan Stefanovic', Associate Professor
Ph.D., University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Public Administration
Ronald Stidham, M.A. in Political Science Director and Professor
Ph.D., University of Houston
Criminal Justice
C. David Sutton, Professor
Ph.D., Indiana University
American Politics
Joel A. Thompson, Professor
Ph.D., University of Kentucky
American Politics
Barbara H. Zaitzow, Associate Professor
Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Criminal Justice
The Political Science/Criminal Justice Department prepares students for
professional and academic careers. The department offers graduate programs
leading to two advanced degrees:
(1) Master of Arts in Political Science (Major Code: 267*),
with four concentrations:
(a) American Government (Code: 267C)
(b) General/Theoretical (Code: 267B)
(c) International Relations/Comparative Politics (Code: 267E)
(d) Justice Studies (Code: 267D)
(2) Master of Public Administration (Major Code: 279*),
with three concentrations:
(a) Administration of Justice (Code: 279D)
(b) Public Management (Code: 279B)
(c) Town, City and County Management (Code: 279C)
Graduate programs in Political Science/Criminal Justice are supervised by the
departmental chairperson, the M.A. advisor, the MPA director, and the graduate
committee. Requirements for the two graduate degree programs are:
MASTER OF ARTS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE
Major Code: 267*
Concentrations: American Government (Code: 267C)
General/Theoretical (Code: 267B)
International Relations/Comparative Politics (Code: 267E)
Justice Studies (Code: 267D)
This program is designed to prepare persons for careers in a variety of public
and private settings, and to prepare students for further graduate work at the
doctoral level.
Prerequisites:
Baccalaureate degree with a major or minor in Political Science, Criminal
Justice or a related field from an accredited college or university.
Basic Criteria for Consideration:
(Undergraduate GPA X 400)+ GRE Verbal + GRE Quantitative = 2000
Other Criteria for All Applicants:
3 recommendations
Deadline:
1 July for Fall/ 1 November for Spring/ 1 April for Summer
Hours: 36 semester hours without thesis; 30 semester hours with thesis
Concentrations:
A. American Government (Code: 267C)
This concentration is designed to allow students to prepare for
careers, or further study, in fields related to politics in either the
national, state, or local levels of government.
Required Courses:
PS/CJ 5000 Research Methods.................................. 3
PS 5030 Seminar in American Government and Politics....... 3
Concentration Courses:........................................ 9
(Selected in Consultation with the MA Advisor)
PS 5010 Seminar in Political Philosophy
PS 5130 Appalachian Political Perspectives
PS/CJ 5180 Public Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation
PS 5330 Problems in State and Local Government
PS 5710 American Political Thought
PS 5530-5549 Selected Topics
CJ 5150 The American Justice System
SUBTOTAL HOURS............................................. 15
Options:
(Students must take at least one of the following:)
PS 5800 Directed Research.................................. 3
OR
PS 5900 Internship in Public Affairs....................... 3
OR
PS 5999 Thesis............................................. 4
SUBTOTAL HOURS.......................................... 3 or 4
Electives (Selected in consultation with the MA Advisor):
Thesis option...........................................11
Non-Thesis option.......................................18
TOTAL HOURS........................................... 30 or 36
B. General/Theoretical (Code: 267B)
This concentration is designed to prepare individuals for careers in
federal, state or local levels of government and to suit their specific needs
in areas such as budget analysis, personnel administration and so on.
Required Courses:
PS/CJ 5000 Research Methods................................... 3
PS 5999 Thesis............................................. 4
Concentration Courses:........................................ 9
(Students will select 9 semester hours from the following:)
PS 5010 Seminar in Political Philosophy .............. 3
PS 5020 Pro-Seminar in International Relations ....... 3
PS 5030 Seminar in American Government and Politics .. 3
PS 5040 Pro-Seminar in Comparative Politics .......... 3
PS/CJ 5050 Seminar in Public Law and Judicial Behavior .. 3
PS 5060 Seminar in Public Administration ............. 3
SUBTOTAL HOURS.............................................. 16
Electives.................................................... 14
(Selected in consultation with the MA Advisor)
TOTAL HOURS................................................. 30
C. International Relations/Comparative Politics (Code: 267E)
This concentration is designed to allow students to prepare for
careers, or further study, in fields related to International or
comparative politics.
Required Courses:
PS/CJ 5000 Research Methods................................... 3
PS 5020 Pro-Seminar in International Relations............. 3
PS 5040 Pro-Seminar in Comparative Politics................ 3
Concentration Courses:........................................ 6
(Selected from the following in consultation with the MA Advisor)
PS 5010 Seminar in Political Philosophy
PS 5120 Readings and Research in International Relations
PS 5530-5549 Selected Topics
PS 5720 International Organization and Law
PS 5722 U.S. Foreign Policy
PS 5741 European Democracies
PS 5744 Government and Politics of the Middle East
PS 5748 Latin American Politics
SUBTOTAL HOURS.............................................. 15
Options:
(Students must take at least one of the following)
PS 5800 Directed Research.................................. 3
OR
PS 5900 Internship in Public Affairs....................... 3
OR
PS 5999 Thesis............................................. 4
SUBTOTAL HOURS.......................................... 3 or 4
Electives (Selected in consultation with the MA Advisor):
Thesis option...........................................11
Non-Thesis option.......................................18
TOTAL HOURS........................................... 30 or 36
D. Justice Studies (Code: 267D)
This concentration is designed to allow students to prepare for
careers, or further study, in fields related to the criminal justice
system. This concentration may be particularly attractive to individuals
who plan to attend law school, or to those who seek a Master's degree to
qualify for certain positions in criminal justice.
Required Courses:
PS/CJ 5000 Research Methods................................... 3
PS/CJ 5050 Seminar in Public Law and Judicial Behavior........ 3
Concentration Courses:........................................ 9
(Selected from the following in consultation with the MA advisor:)
PS/CJ 5180 Public Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation
PS/CJ 5530-5549 Selected Topics
PS/CJ 5550 Law and Society
PS/CJ 5661 Court Administration
PS/CJ 5680 Organized Crime
CJ 5060 Administration of Justice
CJ 5150 The American Justice System
CJ 5580 Private Security
CJ 5620 Contemporary Police Issues
CJ 5660 Crime Theory and Policy
CJ 5670 Crime Analysis and Criminal Justice Planning
CJ 5800 Decision Making in Criminal Justice
SUBTOTAL HOURS.............................................. 15
Options:
(Students must take at least one of the following:)
PS 5800 Directed Research.................................. 3
OR
PS 5900 Internship in Public Affairs....................... 3
OR
PS 5999 Thesis............................................. 4
SUBTOTAL HOURS.......................................... 3 or 4
Electives (Selected in consultation with the MA Advisor):
Thesis option...........................................11
Non-Thesis option.......................................18
TOTAL HOURS........................................... 30 or 36
Thesis: Required for General/Theoretical concentration, but optional for
other three concentrations.
Language Proficiency: Students must demonstrate a proficiency in reading a
foreign language or quantitative analysis as a research tool. The department
may determine the proficiency required.
Comprehensive: During the final semester of course work, candidates must pass
a written comprehensive examination.
Product of Learning: None required
MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Major Code: 279*
Concentrations: Administration of Justice (Code: 279D)
Public Management (Code: 279B)
Town, City and County Management (Code: 279C)
This program is designed to prepare individuals for management and policy
positions governmental and non-profit organizations.
Prerequisites:
Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
Basic Criteria for Consideration:
(Undergraduate GPA X 400)+ GRE Verbal + GRE Quantitative = 2000
Other Criteria for All Applicants:
3 recommendations
Deadline:
1 July for Fall/ 1 November for Spring/ 1 April for Summer
Hours: 40 semester hours
Required Courses:
P S 5000 Research Methods......................................3
P S 5060 Seminar in Public Administration......................3
P S 5180 Public Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation.........3
P S 5260 Organization Theory and Behavior......................3
P S 5360 Public Personnel Administration.......................3
P S 5460 Budgeting and Fiscal Administration...................3
P S 5559 Capstone in Public Administration.....................1
SUBTOTAL HOURS.................................................19
CONCENTRATIONS:
A. Administration of Justice (Code: 279D)
This concentration is designed to prepare persons for administrative/management
positions in a variety of law enforcement, court, and correctional agencies at
the local, state and federal levels.
Required Courses ......................................................19
P S 5000 Research Methods..............................3
P S 5060 Seminar in Public Administration..............3
P S 5180 Public Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation.3
P S 5260 Organization Theory and Behavior..............3
P S 5360 Public Personnel Administration...............3
P S 5460 Budgeting and Fiscal Administration...........3
P S 5559 Capstone in Public Administration............ 1
Required Concentration Courses.................................9
Students must take three of the following (9 hours):
C J 5050 Seminar in Public Law and Judicial Behavior...3
C J 5060 Administration of Justice.....................3
C J 5150 The American Justice System...................3
C J 5620 Contemporary Police Issues....................3
C J 5660 Crime, Theory and Policy......................3
AND
Elective Courses (Selected in consultation with the MPA Director........6
1 required elective outside of the Political
Science/Criminal Justice department................3
Choose ONE of the following electives (3 hours)
C J 5180 Public Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation.3
C J 5500 Independent Study.............................3
C J 5580 Private Security..............................3
C J 5661 Court Administration..........................3
C J 5670 Crime Analysis and Criminal Justice Planning..3
C J 5680 Organized Crime...............................3
C J 5800 Decision-Making in Criminal Justice...........3
SUBTOTAL HOURS............................................34
Options:
(For pre-service students:)
P S 5900 Internship in Public Affairs.....................6
OR
(For in-service students:)
Supervised field-based research course....................3
AND
Additional course.........................................3
SUBTOTAL HOURS.............................................6
TOTAL HOURS...............................................40
B. Public Management (Code: 279B)
This concentration is designed to allow individuals to develop a program
to suit specific needs in such areas as budget analyst, personnel
administration, etc., or to prepare students with a generalist background
in public administration.
Required Courses (see list)...................................19
Electives.....................................................15
(Selected in consultation with the MPA director)
SUBTOTAL HOURS.................................................34
Options:
(For pre-service students:)
P S 5900 Internship in Public Affairs.....................6
OR
(For in-service students:)
Supervised field research course..........................3
AND
Additional course.........................................3
SUBTOTAL HOURS..................................................6
TOTAL HOURS....................................................40
C. Town, City and County Management (Code: 279C)
This concentration is designed to prepare persons for managerial roles in
towns, cities and county governments or in organizations and agencies
related to towns and counties.
Required Courses (see list)...................................19
Concentration Courses..........................................9
(Selected from the following:)
GHY 5400 Planning Process..............................3
P S 5330 Problems in State and Local Government........3
P S 5560 Local Government Administration...............3
P S 5665 Public Management.............................3
PLN 5700 Project Management............................3
Electives......................................................6
(Selected in consultation with the MPA director)
SUBTOTAL HOURS............................................34
Options:
(For pre-service students:)
P S 5900 Internship in Public Affairs.....................6
OR
(For in-service students:)
Supervised field research course..........................3
AND
Additional course.........................................3
SUBTOTAL HOURS.............................................6
TOTAL HOURS...............................................40
Thesis: None required
Language Proficiency: Students must demonstrate a proficiency in reading a
foreign language or quantitative analysis as a research tool. The department
may determine the proficiency required.
Comprehensive: None required
Capstone Experience: During the final semester of course work, candidates
must complete the Capstone Experience in Public Administration which includes a
participation in a capstone conference as well as completion of a formal
written and oral presentation of management research problem that integrates
the theoretical and practical aspects of public administration.
Product of Learning: None required
NOTES:
After the completion of one semester of successful graduate course work,
students may be considered for admission to candidacy.
The Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice participates in a
program leading to a Master of Arts degree in Social Science, Education (Major
Code: 282*) with three concentrations: 1) Community College/Political Science
(Code: 282P), 2) Secondary School (Advanced Licensure)/Political Science
(Code: 282V) and 3) Community College/Criminal Justice (Code: 282Y).
For detailed requirements, see the Social Science description.
(For a description of the course abbreviations used in the following list of
courses, see pages 46.)