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NOTICE - This edition of the Catalog of Studies is provided as a courtesy to students who may be attending classes under these degree requirements. If you are a prospective student, or are attending class under a different set of degree requirements, please visit http://catalogofstudies.uark.edu/ to find your class year catalog. |
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POLITICAL SCIENCE (PLSC) Todd G. Shields, Department Chair, 428 Old Main, (479) 575-3356 Margaret F. Reid, Graduate Coordinator, (479) 575-3356 Professors Kelley, Waligorski •
Associate Professors Kerr, Miller, Reid, Ryan, Shields • Assistant
Professors Conge, Ghadbian, Degrees Conferred: M.A. (PLSC) M.P.A. in Public Administration (PADM) J.D./M.P.A. (Dual Degree)
Areas of Concentration: American politics, comparative politics, international politics, political theory, public administration.
Political Science (PLSC) Prerequisites to the M.A. Degree Program: Applicants for graduate study in political science must be admitted to the Graduate School and also meet the following requirements: (1) satisfactory GRE scores, (2) submission of a written essay, and (3) three letters of recommendation from persons competent to judge applicant's potential for graduate studies. Students from all academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Students who have had few political science courses at the undergraduate level may be required to enroll in several undergraduate courses at the beginning of their course of graduate study. Requirements for Master of Arts Degree: Thesis Option - Thirty semester hours of course work at the graduate level, 24 hours of which must be distributed over three of the fields listed above. Ordinarily, 18 of the 24 hours must be fulfilled by two seminars in each of the three fields, following which the candidate takes comprehensive examinations in two of the fields studied. In exceptional circumstances, these field requirements may be waived. However, students selecting some alternative option will be required to stand for comprehensive examinations in two fields. At least three of the 30 hours of the M.A. degree must be in methodology. All M.A. candidates in this plan are required to write and defend an acceptable thesis. Non-thesis Option - Thirty-six semester hours of course work at the graduate level. Ordinarily, a minimum of 18 of the 36 hours must be fulfilled by two seminars in each of three fields. In exceptional circumstances, these field requirements may be waived. However, students selecting some alternative option will be required to stand for examinations in three fields. At least three of the 36 hours must be in methodology. All 5000-level courses except those with variable credit are graduate seminars. Concentration in Community College Teaching (6-9 hours). For students interested in teaching in a community college, the Department of Political Science offers a concentration in Community College Teaching. In addition to departmental requirements, the student takes two 3-credit hour courses focusing on theories and strategies of effective community college teaching. The student's program may also include a 3-hour internship in a community college setting. Courses to be taken: HIED 699V, Community College Teaching I HIED 699V, Community College Teaching II HIED 674V, Internship
Public Administration (PADM) The Master of Public Administration program is administered by the Department of Political Science. The major objectives of the program are: 1. to provide a broad flexible program to prepare students for careers in public service and nonprofit management; 2. to afford opportunities to practicing administrators for improving their career and services through advanced education and training; and 3. to prepare scholars for further graduate study in the field of public administration. Prerequisites for Admission to the M.P.A. Degree Program: 1. Admission to the Graduate School 2. Minimum total score of 1,000 on the verbal and quantitative portions of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE). (GRE scores may be waived under certain circumstances at the discretion of the PLSC Admissions Committee. Examples of possible exceptions include the successful completion of a master's degree or the submission of GMAT or LSAT scores in lieu of GRE scores). 3. 3.20 minimum grade-point average in the last sixty hours of undergraduate course work. 4. Students deficient in (2) or (3) above may be admitted if they score a minimum number of points according to the following formula: A total of at least 1600 points from (200 x GPA) + GRE score on verbal and quantitative sections; GPA based upon the last 60 hours of undergraduate work. 5. A written essay, submitted in accordance with standards set by the PLSC Admissions Committee. 6. Three letters of recommendation from persons competent to judge the applicant's academic/work experience. 7. Academic prerequisites: The PLSC Admissions Committee may require appropriate course work related to an understanding of governmental processes and activities to cover deficiencies in past education. 8. All requirements listed above must be completed and reported before the beginning of the student's second semester or the student will not be admitted to courses that semester. Requirements for the Master of Public Administration Degree: The MPA requires a total of 42 semester hours of which 27 hours are to be 5000-level courses or above. Required Courses (9 semester hours)
Select five (5) from the following ten (10) courses:
Special Interest Concentrations Twelve to 18 graduate semester hours, depending on exercise of the internship, may be chosen in PLSC/PADM and other disciplines with approval of the M.P.A. Program Director. The M.P.A Program Director, in consultation with the student, will develop a set of relevant graduate courses that will help the student in meeting career objectives. Concentrations may be developed for students interested in fields such as local and state government management, nonprofit management, community development, information and technology management, health services administration, human resource management, environmental policy management, and cultural resource management. Other concentrations may be exercised with the consent, advice, and approval of the M.P.A. Program Director.
Internship: (1-6 semester hours). The internship is recommended but not required. It will be offered on a credit/non-credit basis only. The number of semester hour credits depends on the length and full/part-time nature of the internship. All students will be required to take a written comprehensive examination covering their M.P.A. program. This exam will be graded by at least a three person faculty committee selected by the M.P.A. Program Director. In addition to the successful completion of all course requirements and a passing grade on the written comprehensive examination, each student must present a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.00.
J.D/M.P.A. Program The Department of Political Science, the Graduate School, and the School of Law cooperate in offering a dual degree program that allows a student to pursue the M.P.A. and the J.D. degrees concurrently. Students must be admitted to the M.P.A. program and the School of Law. If a student seeks to enter the dual degree program after enrolling in either the Law School or the M.P.A. program, he or she must obtain admission to the other degree program and the dual program during the first year of study. The School of Law accepts 9 (nine) semester hours of MPA courses to satisfy requirements for the J.D. degree. Fifteen hours of law school courses may be counted toward the M.P.A degree. To qualify for J.D. credit, the M.P.A. courses must come from a set of core courses and must be approved by the law school. Students must earn a grade of B or higher in any M.P.A courses offered for credit toward the J.D. For purposes of the M.P.A. degree, fifteen hours of elective courses may be taken in the law school, provided they are not required for the J.D. degree and are in an area of concentration approved by the director of the M.P.A. program. Students admitted to the dual degree program may commence their studies
in either the law school or the M.P.A. program, but must complete first
year course requirements before taking courses in the other degree program.
If they do not maintain the academic or ethical standards of either degree
program, students can be terminated from the dual degree program. Students
in good standing in one degree program but not in the other may be allowed
to continue in the other program in which they have good standing and
must meet the degree All students will be required to take a written comprehensive examination covering their M.P.A. program. This exam will be graded by at least a three person faculty committee selected by the M.P.A. Program Director. In addition to the successful completion of all course requirements and a passing grade on the written comprehensive examination, each student must present a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.00.
COURSES: POLITCAL SCIENCE (PLSC) PLSC400V Special Topics (1-3) (IR) Topics in political science not usually covered in other courses. May be repeated. PLSC4053 Political Sociology (FA) Analysis of political institutions and movements in relation to power, social class, ideology, and related variables. (Same as SOCI 4053) PLSC4193 Administrative Law (SP) Legal aspects of the administrative process and the effect of legal principles and processes upon administrative decision-making. Emphasis is given to the limitation of administrative discretion and the judicial review of administrative decision. Prerequisite: PLSC 3103 or PLSC 4253. PLSC4203 American Political Parties (FA, SP) The nature, function, and history of political parties in then United States with emphasis on party membership, organization, campaign techniques, finance and electoral alliances. Prerequisite: PLSC 2003. PLSC4213 Campaigns and Elections (IR) This course examines the American electoral process. It is an empirical course that provides opportunities for original analysis of survey data and election returns. Emphasis is placed on the most recent federal election. PLSC4223 The American Congress (FA) Thorough examination of the constitutional role of the legislative branch under the Constitution; the internal procedures and personalities of the Senate and House; the central place of Congress in shaping domestic and foreign policy. Prerequisite: PLSC 2003. PLSC4243 Minority Politics (SP) Reviews political action and concepts of political activity by minority groups, focusing on contemporary political behavior. PLSC4253 The Supreme Court and the Constitution (FA) United States Supreme Court decisions involving the functions and powers of Congress, the Supreme Court, and the President and federalism. Prerequisite: PLSC 2003. PLSC4263 The Supreme Court and Civil Rights (SP) United States Supreme Court decisions interpreting the political, economic, and civil rights of individuals and groups. Prerequisite: PLSC 2003. PLSC4273 Political Psychology (SP) Examines role of the individual in the polity including basic psychological constructs of relevance to political action, the formulation and maintenance of stable political orientations, the patterns linking the individual to the polity, and major modes of inquiry. Prerequisite: PLSC 2003. PLSC4283 Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations (FA, SP, SU) Analysis of changes in intergovernmental relations in the American federal system. Discussions will focus on political, economic/fiscal and administrative aspects of policy changes of the pre-and post-Reagan eras. PLSC4373 Political Communication (SP) Study of the nature and function of the communication process as it operates in the political environment. (Same as COMM 4373) PLSC4503 African Politics (SP) Comparative analysis of structures, processes and problems of selected Sub-Saharan African political systems. PLSC4513 Creating Democracies (FA, Even years) Anal PLSC4543 Government and Politics of Eastern Europe (SP) Study of the politics of East European nations primarily after World War II, with emphasis on the role of the period of communist rule and democratization. Prerequisite: PLSC 2003 or PLSC 2013. PLSC4563 Government and Politics of Russia (SP) Study of Russian and Soviet politics after 1917 and of the democratization of Russia and the other successor states. Prerequisite: PLSC 2003 or PLSC 2013. PLSC4573 Gender and Politics (SP, Even years) Examines the significance of gender in politics. Includes discussion of the women's movement and feminist theory, but emphasizes the content and process of public policy as it relates to women and men. Focus is on the U.S. but final third is devoted to comparative topics. Prerequisite: PLSC 2003 or PLSC 2013. PLSC4583 Political Economy of the Middle East (FA, SP, SU) Examines the links between politics and economics in the Middle East and the impact of that nexus on development. Analyses of global and regional integration, oil states, statist development, liberalization and privatization, and resources and population movements to understand power and class in the area. PLSC4593 Islam and Politics (FA, SP, SU) Compares contemporary Islamist political movements. Seeks to explain causes, debates, agendas, and strategies of Islamists in the political realm. Addresses sovereignty, the rule of law, visions of the good state and society, and relations between nationalism, religion and political development. Focus on Middle East with comparative reference to other cases. PLSC4803 Foreign Policy Analysis (SP) Comparative analysis of foreign policy, with attention paid to explanations at a variety of levels, such as the individual, group, organizational, societal, systemic. PLSC4813 Politics of the Cold War (FA) Examines the cold war from different perspectives; nature of the international system during the cold war; American and Soviet perceptions of the cold war; domestic political considerations; impact of the cold war on the economy, culture, and society; end of the cold war; the post-cold war world. PLSC4823 Foreign Policy of East Asia (SP) This course provides an introduction to the international relations of two major East Asian states, China and Japan. Key topics include: China and Japan's interaction with the world political and economic systems; domestic sources of international behavior and major dimensions of foreign policy in the 1980s and 1990s. PLSC4843 The Middle East in World Affairs (SP) An analysis of geo-political and socio-economic characteristics of Middle Eastern societies and their impact on world economic and political order. Special attention to such issues as the Arab-Israeli conflict, the promotion of lasting peace in the region, impact of oil on world politics, the involvement of superpowers, rehabilitation of Palestinian refugees and the role of the United Nations. PLSC4873 Inter-American Politics (SP) An analysis of the political themes, regional organization, and hemispheric relations that constitute the inter-American system, with special emphasis on conflict and cooperation in the hemispheric policies of the American republics. Prerequisite: junior standing. PLSC4903 Democratic Theory (FA, SP, SU) Analysis and comparison of classical and contemporary theories of democracy. PLSC5103 Human Behavior in Complex Organizations (FA) Review of the fundamental literature and a systematic analysis of various theories and research focusing on organization and behavior in public administration, including the discussion of organizational development, human motivation, leadership, rationality, efficiency and conflict management in public organizations. Prerequisite: graduate standing. PLSC5113 Seminar in Human Resource Management (SP) Intensive study of public personnel policies and practices, including legal foundations, classification and compensation plans, recruitment and selection processes, training, employment policies and morale, employee relations and organization. Prerequisite: graduate standing. PLSC5123 Public Budgeting and Finance (FA) Focuses on the budgeting process and governmental fiscal policy formulation, adoption, and execution. Prerequisite: graduate standing. PLSC5133 Management in Complex Organizations (FA, SP) This seminar focuses on the scope and nature of management in public organizations with special emphasis on relating contemporary management theory to the public organizational context. Prerequisite: graduate standing. PLSC5143 Administrative Law (IR) A seminar which examines the constitutional and statutory basis and authority of public organizations. Special attention focuses on the nature of the rule-making and adjudicatory powers of public agencies and on executive, legislative, and judicial restraints on such activities. Also considered is the role, scope, and place of public regulatory activities. Prerequisite: graduate standing. PLSC5163 Public Policy (SP) Research seminar examining the study of public policy making in complex human systems. Attention given to issues dealing with cognitive limitations in decisional settings, the use of reasoned persuasion vs. power, the appropriate application of technical analysis. Prerequisite: graduate standing. PLSC5183 Comparative Public Administration (IR) A comparative study of administrative structures and processes in selected modern and modernizing political systems. Analysis includes the consideration of cultural, legal and political factors influencing the operation of bureaucratic institutions, developmental goals, and the methods of establishing and administering programs of social, economic and political development. Prerequisite: graduate standing. PLSC5193 Seminar in Public Administration (FA) Introduction to and synthesis of public administration theory, functions, history, public accountability and management concerns, economic impact of administrative decisions, current problems, and issues in the public sector. Prerequisite: graduate standing. PLSC5203 Seminar in American Political Institutions (FA) Research seminar dealing with selected aspects of the major governmental institutions in the United States. Prerequisite: graduate standing. PLSC5213 Seminar in American Political Behavior (SP) Reading seminar surveying major works on representative processes in American national politics, including political opinion, political leadership, political participation, voting behavior, political parties, and interest groups. Prerequisite: graduate standing. PLSC5223 Seminar in Legislative Processes and Behavior (FA) Research seminar dealing with legislative processes and behavior in the United States. Prerequisite: graduate standing. PLSC5233 Disability Policy in the United States (FA, SP, SU) An analysis of public policy approaches to disability in the United States. Examines the political and philosophical origins of disability policy; reviews major disability legislation and its effects on policy stakeholders; describes recent policy initiatives; analyzes evolution of disability policy with context of changing societal, economic and political conditions. Prerequisite: graduate standing. PLSC5243 Seminar in State and Local Politics (FA, SP, SU) Research seminar dealing with selected aspects of state and local institutions and politics such as comparative policy-making, political culture variations, and community power structures. Prerequisite: graduate standing. PLSC5383 Seminar in Political Communication (IR) Research seminar focusing on selected topics such as candidate imagery, diffusion of political information, or political symbolism. (Same as COMM 5383) Prerequisite: graduate standing. PLSC5503 Comparative Political Analysis (FA) A selection of topics to provide the theoretical, conceptual and methodological and foundation for the analysis of contemporary political systems. Prerequisite: graduate standing. PLSC5513 Seminar in Politics of the Middle East (FA, SP, SU) Explores the major lines of inquiry on the politics of the state and society in the context of endogenous and exogenous forces that have influenced conceptions of power, legitimacy, and identity. Prerequisite: graduate standing. PLSC5523 Topics in Politics of the Middle East (FA, SP, SU) Indepth analysis of specific political phenomena in the contemporary Middle East. Inquiry will vary but may focus on gender, political economy, politics of inclusion and exclusion (democratization and authoritarianism), or the politics of oil. Prerequisite: graduate standing. PLSC5563 Russian and Soviet Political Systems (SP) Study of the political systems of the Soviet Union and the successor states. Prerequisite: graduate standing. PLSC5573 Political Change in Latin America (SP, Even years) Research seminar analyzing obstacles to change in Latin America while utilizing both North American and Latin American research frameworks and techniques that deal with the theory and measurement of stability and development. Prerequisite: graduate standing. PLSC560V Teaching Foreign Cultures in Social Studies Curriculum (1-6) (SU) Extensive examination of foreign cultures (West Europe, USSR, China, Latin America) and methods of teaching about them in secondary school social studies. Four week residential summer institute. PLSC5803 Seminar in International Politics (FA) Research seminar providing intensive coverage of selected topics in theories of international relations, the comparative study of foreign policy making, and international organizations. Prerequisite: graduate standing. PLSC5833 Seminar in Contemporary Problems (FA) Seminar with concentrated reading in selected and specialized areas of contemporary international relations. May be repeated for 6 hours. Prerequisite: graduate standing. PLSC5843 International Legal Order (SP) Analysis of distinctive characteristics of contemporary international law. Topics include role of legal order in controlling the use of force in international relations and the impact of social and political environment on growth of international law and relations among international political systems. Prerequisite: graduate standing. PLSC590V Directed Readings in Political Science (1-3) PLSC5913 Research Methods in Political Science (FA) Methods relevant to research in the various fields of political science. Required of all graduate students in political science. Prerequisite: graduate standing. PLSC592V Internship in Political Science (1-6) (FA, SP, SU) Internship in a local, state, regional, or federal agency. Paper required on a significant aspect of internship experience. Prerequisite: graduate standing. PLSC595V Research Problems in Political Science (1-3) (FA, SP, SU) May be repeated for 6 hours. Prerequisite: graduate standing. PLSC5963 Modern Political Thought (FA) European political thinking since the rise of the nation-state and the relevance of that tradition to contemporary politics. Prerequisite: graduate standing. PLSC5973 Contemporary Normative Political Theory (SP) Analysis of current normative problems of political theory such as obligation, dissent, justification, sovereignty and tolerance, and major schools of thought including Marxism, liberalism and western conservatism. Prerequisite: graduate standing. PLSC600V Master's Thesis (1-6) (FA, SP, SU) PLSC690V Directed Research (1-3) (FA, SP, SU) Doctoral level directed readings and research.
COURSES: PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (PADM) PADM5803 Quantitative Methods Analysis (FA) Data analysis techniques, including descriptive and inferential statistics and packaged computer programs. Prerequisite: (Appropriate undergraduate statistics course or equivalent) and graduate standing. PADM5813 Methods in Public Management Information (SP) Quantitative approaches toward an understanding of public administration and statistical tools for analysis of administrative problems and programs. Prerequisite: PADM 5803 or equivalent and graduate standing. PADM584V Special Topics in Public Administration (1-3) (IR) Topic varies. PADM587V Internship in Public Administration (1-6) (FA, SP, SU) PADM588V Directed Readings (1-3) (FA, SP, SU) Prerequisite: graduate standing. PADM589V Independent Research (1-3) (FA, SP, SU) Prerequisite: graduate standing. |
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