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About This Program
Develop an advanced understanding of how government works, while gaining the research, writing, and analytical capabilities needed to evaluate domestic policy at all levels of government with a master’s in political science from American Public University (APU).
Among the largest political science master’s programs in the nation, this program examines American government theory and process, comparative politics, contemporary political institutions, defense and security policy, foreign policy, international law, political philosophy, and regional and transnational organizations. The program takes a critical look at the institutions of the U.S. presidency, Congress, as well as international political systems.
To conclude your MA in Political Science, you have the option of creating a portfolio and reflection paper or taking a comprehensive exam.
What You Will Do
- Apply the basic concepts of government, governance, economy, and civil society to contemporary political systems
- Understand the components of representative democracy and compare those against other political systems
- Collect the appropriate information and data used to form social, economic, foreign affairs, and security policy and evaluate their outcomes
- Assess the actors and processes involved in policymaking
Degree at a Glance
Number of Credits
36
Cost Per Credit
$455 | $250*
$386.75** | $409.50***
$386.75** | $409.50***
Courses Start Monthly
Online
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Program Requirements Printable Catalog Version
Students must choose a concentration for this degree program:
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.
Objectives:
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.
Choose 12 credit hours from this section.
Course ID: 4483
|
This course is highly recommended as a first course in homeland security. It provides a comprehensive overview of key elements of the United States homeland security enterprise. Students will examine, discuss, and analyze homeland security operational and policy concerns that have continued to evolve in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the creation of the Department of Homeland Security.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07/29/24 - 01/03/25 | 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 | Winter 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 08/26/24 - 01/31/25 | 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 | Winter 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
| 09/30/24 - 02/28/25 | 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 | Winter 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
| 10/28/24 - 04/04/25 | 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 | Spring 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 11/28/24 - 05/02/25 | 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 | Spring 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
| 12/30/24 - 05/30/25 | 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 | Spring 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 2680
|
This is an interactive course designed to help students achieve a greater understanding of the statistical methods and models available to analyze data and to solve problems associated with making decisions and testing hypotheses in uncertain conditions. The course is designed for students seeking a thorough appreciation of how statistical tools can support sound decision making efforts in a wide range of situations. Topics covered include inferential statistics, averages, measures of variation, the Normal distribution and its uses, sampling distributions, hypothesis testing for large and small samples, regression and correlation, and Chi-Square distributions. The skills, tools and methodologies needed to analyze systems and to make decisions are provided. State of the art analytical tools and quantitative methods, including computer-based solutions are discussed. The emphasis of the course will be on the proper use of statistical techniques and their implementation rather than on mathematical proofs. However, some mathematics is necessary in order to understand the proper application of the techniques introduced and discussed during the course.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08/26/24 - 01/31/25 | 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 | Winter 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
| 11/28/24 - 05/02/25 | 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 | Spring 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 2726
|
This course covers the major administrative theories that drive macro-level public behavior. It will begin with a consideration of the broad significance of the study of public organizations for individuals in modern society. It will then examine how theorists and practitioners have sought to develop more formal perspectives on public management. It will examine those ideas that are of greatest relevance to the construction of an integrated theory of public organizations. The progression of the course follows the evolution of administrative theory from the pioneering work of Weber, Taylor.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08/26/24 - 01/31/25 | 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 | Winter 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
| 10/28/24 - 04/04/25 | 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 | Spring 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 12/30/24 - 05/30/25 | 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 | Spring 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 2727
|
The study and practice of public administration is explored in its political context. The student is introduced to the environment within which public administration functions and the dynamics of behavior within large organizations. How choices are made among competing policies, factors affecting the implementation of policy, and the role of policy evaluation in shaping policy choices are examined. Managing large-scale bureaucratic organizations is analyzed including the role of leadership, the management of personnel and finances, and the role of communication in inter- and intra-organizational relations.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07/29/24 - 01/03/25 | 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 | Winter 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 08/26/24 - 01/31/25 | 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 | Winter 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
| 09/30/24 - 02/28/25 | 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 | Winter 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
| 10/28/24 - 04/04/25 | 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 | Spring 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 11/28/24 - 05/02/25 | 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 | Spring 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
| 12/30/24 - 05/30/25 | 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 | Spring 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 2705
|
This course examines a range of management issues and strategies within the context of managing public organizations. The core focus is on an enhanced understanding of the theoretical and practical approaches to public management, an examination of enduring and day-to-day dilemmas faced by competent public managers, and the application of relevant theories to public management within the United States.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07/29/24 - 01/03/25 | 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 | Winter 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 08/26/24 - 01/31/25 | 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 | Winter 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
| 09/30/24 - 02/28/25 | 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 | Winter 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
| 10/28/24 - 04/04/25 | 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 | Spring 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 11/28/24 - 05/02/25 | 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 | Spring 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
| 12/30/24 - 05/30/25 | 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 | Spring 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 2724
|
This course covers public budgeting from the public manager’s perspective. Whether you are currently or hope to be a manager for federal, state or local government or a local or national nonprofit, this course will give you a good overview of budgeting, and how it relates to you. Topics include budgetary history, revenue and expenditure management, budgeting processes and operating techniques.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07/29/24 - 01/03/25 | 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 | Winter 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 09/30/24 - 02/28/25 | 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 | Winter 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
| 11/28/24 - 05/02/25 | 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 | Spring 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 2675
|
This course is designed to develop fundamental skills essential for students to evaluate public programs. Knowledge of the policy process and research methods is brought together in the ethical assessment of program needs, processes, and outcomes.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07/29/24 - 01/03/25 | 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 | Winter 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 09/30/24 - 02/28/25 | 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 | Winter 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
| 11/28/24 - 05/02/25 | 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 | Spring 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 2728
|
This course will expand the student's understanding of the leading approaches to public administration with a focus on the local and state levels of government. It will cover topics including decision-making, budget and taxation, and electoral and legal differences between state and local governments and other states. It will cover the legislative process, and how it fits into the larger federal system. Students will see the implications to the larger federal issues they have studied and their application to state and local bureaucracies.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08/26/24 - 01/31/25 | 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 | Winter 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
| 10/28/24 - 04/04/25 | 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 | Spring 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 12/30/24 - 05/30/25 | 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 | Spring 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
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.
Objectives:
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.
Must take all courses for this section.
Course ID: 3549
|
This course examines a broad range of governments utilizing the comparative method of analysis. Students will study democracies, monarchies, dictatorships and authoritarian forms of government. Students will participate in various class projects emphasizing contemporary problems of the various forms of governments of nation states today. This will take into consideration cultural differences and similarities, human nature, and the approaches of individual governments different from that of the American norm in carrying out their basic responsibility to maintain and strengthen society by equal justice for all of its citizens.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07/29/24 - 01/03/25 | 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 | Winter 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 09/30/24 - 02/28/25 | 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 | Winter 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
| 11/28/24 - 05/02/25 | 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 | Spring 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
Choose 9 credit hours from this section.
Course ID: 3519
|
This course builds upon the study of distinctive perspectives of the social sciences. Course topics include the development of modern political and social understanding as it relates to the impact of economic issues on societies. Readings for this course include: Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Discourse on the Origin of Inequality; Max Weber, The Protestant Work Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism; Adam Smith, Wealth of Nations; Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, Selected Works.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08/26/24 - 01/31/25 | 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 | Winter 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
| 11/28/24 - 05/02/25 | 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 | Spring 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 3469
|
This course examines the relationship between military affairs and statecraft, ranging from how war is a logical consequence of political behavior. Case studies in the great powers' use of force and military issues clarify the connection between politics and the use of force, including war in its international context, attitudes toward war and its causes, the notion of "vital interests," WHY humans fight, and aspects of past areas of conflict that appear relevant to the future.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07/29/24 - 01/03/25 | 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 | Winter 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 09/30/24 - 02/28/25 | 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 | Winter 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
| 11/28/24 - 05/02/25 | 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 | Spring 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 3563
|
This course is a study of the theory and literature on the history and practice of international negotiations for purposes of peace; mediation between opposing factions, groups, or states; settlement of hostilities; preemption; among other issues. The course includes contending approaches to international negotiations, their basic assumptions and methodologies, and their application to current conflict situations. The role of culture and cross-cultural communication in international negotiation is explored. Also included in the course is discussion and study of skills development in international negotiation.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07/29/24 - 01/03/25 | 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 | Winter 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 09/30/24 - 02/28/25 | 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 | Winter 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
| 11/28/24 - 05/02/25 | 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 | Spring 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 2680
|
This is an interactive course designed to help students achieve a greater understanding of the statistical methods and models available to analyze data and to solve problems associated with making decisions and testing hypotheses in uncertain conditions. The course is designed for students seeking a thorough appreciation of how statistical tools can support sound decision making efforts in a wide range of situations. Topics covered include inferential statistics, averages, measures of variation, the Normal distribution and its uses, sampling distributions, hypothesis testing for large and small samples, regression and correlation, and Chi-Square distributions. The skills, tools and methodologies needed to analyze systems and to make decisions are provided. State of the art analytical tools and quantitative methods, including computer-based solutions are discussed. The emphasis of the course will be on the proper use of statistical techniques and their implementation rather than on mathematical proofs. However, some mathematics is necessary in order to understand the proper application of the techniques introduced and discussed during the course.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08/26/24 - 01/31/25 | 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 | Winter 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
| 11/28/24 - 05/02/25 | 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 | Spring 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 4194
|
This course examines the forces reshaping world politics and analyzes the institutions that are fostering new forms of global governance. The course will allow the student to analyze models of international cooperation and identify the states that have most actively challenged the existing order. There will be a focus on the examination of leading and emergent international institutions such as the G-20, the nascent regime for sovereign wealth funds, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the forums organized to foster cooperation in the war on terror.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07/29/24 - 01/03/25 | 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 | Winter 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 09/30/24 - 02/28/25 | 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 | Winter 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
| 11/28/24 - 05/02/25 | 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 | Spring 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 3229
|
This course examines the global terrorism phenomenon and the social, economic, political, and religious conditions of select states, groups, and individuals that influence the terrorist mindset. Students examine the definitions, origins and development of terror as a means of influencing public policy decisions and in fostering transitions in public power to promote group goals. Specific historical instances of the use of terror are evaluated, assessed, and analyzed. Examples of groups such as the Al-Qaeda terrorist network are assessed including focused discussions on current events. Topics include: geography and geopolitics of terrorism, origins and history of terrorism, characteristics and goals of terrorism, role of politics and religion in terrorism, media impact on terrorism recruiting, and Al-Qaeda in Iraq organization.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07/29/24 - 01/03/25 | 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 | Winter 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 10/28/24 - 04/04/25 | 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 | Spring 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
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.
Objectives:
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.
Choose 12 credit hours from this section.
Course ID: 3557
|
This course provides an analysis of the three important theoretical debates of international relations: Idealism vs. Realism, Traditionalism vs. Behavioralism, and Realism vs. Neo-realism. The course also addresses the level of analysis problem, as well as the central assumptions and key concepts of various theories of international relations, with special emphasis on the basic concepts, propositions, and current critique of realism and neo-realism.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07/29/24 - 01/03/25 | 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 | Winter 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 08/26/24 - 01/31/25 | 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 | Winter 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
| 09/30/24 - 02/28/25 | 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 | Winter 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
| 10/28/24 - 04/04/25 | 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 | Spring 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 11/28/24 - 05/02/25 | 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 | Spring 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
| 12/30/24 - 05/30/25 | 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 | Spring 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 3568
|
This course introduces issues surrounding the two major categories of international institutions: intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) such as the United Nations, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) such as the International Committee of the Red Cross. The course studies the theories, origins, principles, organization, activities, legal authority and performance of major international organizations as world actors in areas of economic development, international security, trade, and humanitarian assistance. IGOs serve as forums for communications, as regulators, as distributors, as organs of military security, and as peacekeepers.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08/26/24 - 01/31/25 | 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 | Winter 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
| 10/28/24 - 04/04/25 | 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 | Spring 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 12/30/24 - 05/30/25 | 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 | Spring 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 3470
|
This course of study examines the history of political, tactical and strategic developments and concepts regarding geopolitical concerns regarding political and military planning and execution from the mid-20th Century through the modern era. The comparative analysis of these concepts from the applicable secondary literature will provide a stepping stone to understanding the nature of modern combined arms and joint forces warfare.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08/26/24 - 01/31/25 | 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 | Winter 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
| 10/28/24 - 04/04/25 | 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 | Spring 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 12/30/24 - 05/30/25 | 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 | Spring 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 3483
|
An examination of the governments and the militaries of the two Koreas. This course will closely examine the reasons behind the Korean peninsula playing such a pivotal role in overall Northeast Asian security. The course will examine domestic political, economic and social problems and prospects of North Korea and South Korea; the prospects for reunification; the military balance and the changing strategic environment; and the relations of Pyongyang and Seoul with their key allies. Includes an examination of U.S. relations with Korea.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07/29/24 - 01/03/25 | 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 | Winter 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 10/28/24 - 04/04/25 | 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 | Spring 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 3489
|
Latin America continues as one of the most important areas to the United States -- even as it remains one of the least understood. In particular, the internal dimension of security has not yet been resolved in many Latin American nations to the extent that domestic stability can be taken for granted, a reality which could have profound consequences for the United States.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08/26/24 - 01/31/25 | 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 | Winter 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
| 11/28/24 - 05/02/25 | 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 | Spring 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 3487
|
This course examines the evolution of modern Middle Eastern politics. The scope includes political, social, and cultural interactions both within and among the countries located in the Middle East and North Africa. The course involves investigations of the political attitudes and behaviors of prominent players in these regions and a look into the diverse aspirations of specific political, cultural, or demographic groups. In the first weeks of the course, an introduction to the history of the Middle East sets the stage for historic developments that brought about structural dilemmas of today. Evaluating the involvement of outside powers in the politics of region comprises another topic, along with an investigation of how non-state actors affect the future of the region. Discussions concern debates about the prospects of democracy and the future key nations after the Arab Spring
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07/29/24 - 01/03/25 | 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 | Winter 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 09/30/24 - 02/28/25 | 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 | Winter 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
| 11/28/24 - 05/02/25 | 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 | Spring 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 2581
|
The course is designed to introduce students to the concepts and sources of international law that evaluate the various components, processes, and functions of the international legal process and consider how international law impacts the laws within the United States. Additionally, the current state of the international legal order is reviewed with legal opinions regarding major philosophies, components and current practices and problems of the field of international law.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07/29/24 - 01/03/25 | 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 | Winter 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 09/30/24 - 02/28/25 | 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 | Winter 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
| 11/28/24 - 05/02/25 | 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 | Spring 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 2680
|
This is an interactive course designed to help students achieve a greater understanding of the statistical methods and models available to analyze data and to solve problems associated with making decisions and testing hypotheses in uncertain conditions. The course is designed for students seeking a thorough appreciation of how statistical tools can support sound decision making efforts in a wide range of situations. Topics covered include inferential statistics, averages, measures of variation, the Normal distribution and its uses, sampling distributions, hypothesis testing for large and small samples, regression and correlation, and Chi-Square distributions. The skills, tools and methodologies needed to analyze systems and to make decisions are provided. State of the art analytical tools and quantitative methods, including computer-based solutions are discussed. The emphasis of the course will be on the proper use of statistical techniques and their implementation rather than on mathematical proofs. However, some mathematics is necessary in order to understand the proper application of the techniques introduced and discussed during the course.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08/26/24 - 01/31/25 | 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 | Winter 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
| 11/28/24 - 05/02/25 | 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 | Spring 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
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.
Objectives:
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.
Choose 12 credit hours from this section.
Course ID: 3514
|
This course examines the origins, content, and judicial interpretations of the U.S. Constitution. The course involves study of the Supreme Court’s evolving decisions on such issues as States’ rights, civil rights, the Commerce Clause, Due Process in criminal and other proceedings, and protected freedoms (speech, religion, assembly, etc.) under the Constitution.
Course ID: 2680
|
This is an interactive course designed to help students achieve a greater understanding of the statistical methods and models available to analyze data and to solve problems associated with making decisions and testing hypotheses in uncertain conditions. The course is designed for students seeking a thorough appreciation of how statistical tools can support sound decision making efforts in a wide range of situations. Topics covered include inferential statistics, averages, measures of variation, the Normal distribution and its uses, sampling distributions, hypothesis testing for large and small samples, regression and correlation, and Chi-Square distributions. The skills, tools and methodologies needed to analyze systems and to make decisions are provided. State of the art analytical tools and quantitative methods, including computer-based solutions are discussed. The emphasis of the course will be on the proper use of statistical techniques and their implementation rather than on mathematical proofs. However, some mathematics is necessary in order to understand the proper application of the techniques introduced and discussed during the course.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08/26/24 - 01/31/25 | 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 | Winter 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
| 11/28/24 - 05/02/25 | 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 | Spring 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 3552
|
This course examines the organization and behavior of political parties and interest groups within the American political system. The course emphasizes the extent to which these organizations operate differently across the national, state, and local levels of government.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09/30/24 - 02/28/25 | 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 | Winter 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
| 12/30/24 - 05/30/25 | 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 | Spring 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 3554
|
This course focuses on legislative structure and decision-making. Through reading, studying, and reflecting upon legislatures, legislators, and legislative processes, students will examine the U.S. legislative structure and conduct an analysis of comparative legislative behavior.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07/29/24 - 01/03/25 | 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 | Winter 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 10/28/24 - 04/04/25 | 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 | Spring 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 3556
|
This course offers a perspective on the U.S. presidency that examines the institutional development while assessing the leadership behavior of office holders from George Washington through the present. Through reading, studying, and reflecting upon Presidential administrations and Presidential leadership styles, students will examine the development of the presidency and the role of the President in U.S. government and abroad.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07/29/24 - 01/03/25 | 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 | Winter 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 10/28/24 - 04/04/25 | 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 | Spring 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 3555
|
This course introduces students to the role of the judiciary in American politics and policymaking and explores the questions asked and the methods employed by political scientists studying courts and the legal system. An equally important objective of this course is to familiarize students with the seminal works in judicial research, with particular emphasis on Supreme Court cases. Students will study the judicial process in the United States from a variety of perspectives in order to examine the role of law and courts in the larger political arena and social environment.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07/29/24 - 01/03/25 | 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 | Winter 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 09/30/24 - 02/28/25 | 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 | Winter 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
| 11/28/24 - 05/02/25 | 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 | Spring 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 3569
|
This course focuses on the political, legal, financial, and administrative relationships among national, state, and local governmental units. Topics include the nature of federal and other political systems and the issues presented in each system at all levels; the evolution of the American federal system from its origins through present day; intergovernmental cooperation and conflict; and the various theory and concepts associated with a breakdown of responsibilities among federal, state, and local governments.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08/26/24 - 01/31/25 | 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 | Winter 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
| 11/28/24 - 05/02/25 | 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 | Spring 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
Must take all courses for this section.
Course ID: 3560
|
This course examines how the international political system---the patterns of interaction among world political actors---has changed and how some of its fundamental characteristics have resisted change. Students will investigate how the global system works and how the process of globalization is remaking the political and economic world.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07/29/24 - 01/03/25 | 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 | Winter 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 08/26/24 - 01/31/25 | 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 | Winter 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
| 09/30/24 - 02/28/25 | 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 | Winter 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
| 10/28/24 - 04/04/25 | 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 | Spring 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 11/28/24 - 05/02/25 | 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 | Spring 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
| 12/30/24 - 05/30/25 | 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 | Spring 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 2709
|
This course examines the way government policies emerge from the political process and are implemented through participating institutions. In this class students will investigate how good analysis can contribute to informed policy-making and review the factors that go into developing effective implementation strategies. In addition, today’s need for enhanced public accountability and the challenging problems of measuring program performance are examined.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07/29/24 - 01/03/25 | 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 | Winter 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 08/26/24 - 01/31/25 | 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 | Winter 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
| 09/30/24 - 02/28/25 | 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 | Winter 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
| 10/28/24 - 04/04/25 | 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 | Spring 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 11/28/24 - 05/02/25 | 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 | Spring 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
| 12/30/24 - 05/30/25 | 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 | Spring 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 3550
|
This course takes the student into the exciting world of ideas that have always captivated mankind and inspired the great advances in Western civilization. The course examines some eternal questions: On what philosophical precepts does the rule of law depend? What are the philosophical justifications for respect for the individual? What legal and moral implications arise from these precepts? How should we behave? How should we govern ourselves and each other? Through reading, studying, and reflecting upon the works of the great philosophers ranging from Socrates to Marx and beyond, the class will enter into these “great conversations” and examine how political philosophers throughout time have relevance to the modern world.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09/30/24 - 02/28/25 | 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 | Winter 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
| 12/30/24 - 05/30/25 | 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 | Spring 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 2729
|
The course covers a combination of theories and applications that will provide the student with basic tools required to understand, navigate, and communicate with the three administrative elements of the federal government. The emphasis of the course is based on a study of composing, legislating, implementing, and enforcing public policy set against a background of both historical and current elements.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07/29/24 - 01/03/25 | 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 | Winter 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 08/26/24 - 01/31/25 | 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 | Winter 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
| 09/30/24 - 02/28/25 | 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 | Winter 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
| 10/28/24 - 04/04/25 | 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 | Spring 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 11/28/24 - 05/02/25 | 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 | Spring 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
| 12/30/24 - 05/30/25 | 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 | Spring 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 4836
|
This course is a study of diverse groups as political players in society -- their history as outsiders, strategies for gaining political power, the evolution of public policies that affect the lives and opportunities of these groups mainly in the United States. In this course, students will explore core political constructs such as governance, policymaking, participation, conflict, and attitudes through the lens of gender, race and ethnicity. The course focuses primarily upon the experiences of several groups: African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Arabs, women, and gays and lesbians. The goal of this course is to provide students with the necessary theoretical and methodological foundations needed to understand and analyze gender, racial, and ethnic politics in the United States
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09/30/24 - 02/28/25 | 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 | Winter 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
| 12/30/24 - 05/30/25 | 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 | Spring 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
Course ID: 4891
|
This course provides basic research methods skills for addressing problems and issues specific to the programs within the School of Security and Global Studies (SSGS). The course covers four basic approaches to social research including experimentation, survey research, field research, and the use of available data. Students will gain foundational knowledge in research planning, design, methodology, data collection, and analysis. This course prepares students for advanced research methods. Students in SSGS graduate studies are expected to be completely familiar with Turabian and APA writing styles. If you do not possess copies of these manuals, here is a link to the library, https://www.apus.edu/apus-library/resources-services/Writing/writing-center.html, specific to writing basics, that has quick style guides in use within SSGS. Purchase of the most recent writing guide in use in your program is highly recommended. If you are unsure what writing style is in use in your program, consult with your academic advisor.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07/29/24 - 01/03/25 | 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 | Winter 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 08/26/24 - 01/31/25 | 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 | Winter 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
| 09/30/24 - 02/28/25 | 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 | Winter 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
| 10/28/24 - 04/04/25 | 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 | Spring 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 11/28/24 - 05/02/25 | 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 | Spring 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
| 12/30/24 - 05/30/25 | 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 | Spring 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
Select any courses that have not been used to fulfill major requirements. Credits applied toward a minor or certificate in an unrelated field may be used to fulfill elective credit for the major.
Must take all courses for this section.
Course ID: 5023
|
The course is tailored specifically to political science master’s program. The capstone course may be taken only after the completion of all other coursework. Students must successfully complete this requirement before the award of a degree. Students must apply for graduation and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in order to be able to register for the course. The portfolio will consist of artifacts demonstrating competency in each of the program objectives. Students are expected to retain these artifacts as they progress through their program to prepare for this course. The portfolio contains a substantive analysis that contextualizes each artifact, articulates how the artifact demonstrates mastery of the learning outcome, and evaluates the student’s intellectual growth through the program.
| Registration Dates | Course Dates | Session | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07/29/24 - 01/03/25 | 01/06/25 - 03/02/25 | Winter 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 08/26/24 - 01/31/25 | 02/03/25 - 03/30/25 | Winter 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
| 09/30/24 - 02/28/25 | 03/03/25 - 04/27/25 | Winter 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
| 10/28/24 - 04/04/25 | 04/07/25 - 06/01/25 | Spring 2025 Session B | 8 Week session |
| 11/28/24 - 05/02/25 | 05/05/25 - 06/29/25 | Spring 2025 Session I | 8 Week session |
| 12/30/24 - 05/30/25 | 06/02/25 - 07/27/25 | Spring 2025 Session D | 8 Week session |
Admission Requirements
- All APU master's degree/graduate certificate programs require a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an institution whose accreditation is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA®).
- Please read all graduate admission requirements before applying to this program and be prepared to submit the required documentation.
- There is no fee to complete the APU admission application for this program. View steps to apply.
CHEA® is a registered trademark of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Materials Cost
Most courses in this program use Open Educational Resources (OER). These teaching, learning, and research materials are made available to you at no cost, meaning there are minimal book costs associated with earning this degree.
Technology fee: $85 per course
Need Help?
Selecting the right program to meet your educational goals is a key step in ensuring a successful outcome. If you are unsure of which program to choose, or need more information, please contact an APU admissions coach at 877-755-2787 or [email protected].
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1The University reserves the right to accept or deny credits according to policies outlined on our University website. Please see the University's transfer credit policy webpage for complete information.
*Cost Per Credit Hour
The Preferred Military Rate is $250 per credit hour for undergraduate and master's-level courses. This rate is available to all U.S. active-duty servicemembers, National Guard members, Reservists, and military families, including parents, spouses, legal partners, siblings, and dependents.
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