Master of Arts in Political Science - Intelligence and National Security Studies

his degree track will prepare students for the study and practice of national security. Thus, the degree track will help educate students for a career in international diplomacy, the Intelligence Community, the military, private intelligence and security contractors, law enforcement, business, as well as others.

Degree Information:

• 30 credits
• 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA
• No GRE required
• No residency requirement
• Full-time or Part-time
• Online classes available
• Rolling admissions
• Use My Degree Progress Report (My DPR) to review your academic progress to graduation

For information about the degree or advising, please contact Dr. Karl Kaltenthaler at kck@uakron.edu. 

Degree Requirements:

• Department Required Courses: 9 credits
  • POLIT:600: Scope and Theories of Political Science (3 credits)
  • POLIT:601: Research Methods in Political Science (3 credits)
  • POLIT:603: Scholarly Writing & Professional Development in Political Science (3 credits)

• Track Required Seminars: 6 credits
  • POLIT:610: Seminar in International Politics (3 credits)
  • POLIT:612: Seminar in Security Studies (3 credits)
    • Neither an Independent Study nor Internship credits count as a graduate seminar

• Electives: 15 credits
  • POLIT:500: Political Extremism & Violence (3 credits)
  • POLIT:510: International Security Policy (3 credits)
  • POLIT:513: Global Public Health Threats (3 credits)
  • POLIT:514: Wealth and Power Among Nations (3 credits)
  • POLIT:545: Al Qaeda and ISIS (3 credits)
  • POLIT:546: National Security Intelligence (3 credits)
  • POLIT:547: Counterterrorism (3 credits)
  • POLIT:548: Intelligence Analysis (3 credits)
  • POLIT:563: Human Rights in World Politics (3 credits)
  • POLIT:611: Seminar in war and Insurgency (3 credits)
  • POLIT:620: Seminar in Comparative Politics (3 credits)
  • POLIT:622: Seminar in Alternatives to Violence at Home and Abroad (3 credits)
  • POLIT:630: Seminar in National Politics (3 credits)
  • GEOG:505: Geographic Information Systems (3 credits)
  • GEOG:547: Remote Sensing (3 credits)
  • GEOG:549: Advanced Remote Sensing (3 credits)

• Defense of MA Essay of Distinction

• Pass Comprehensive Exam

Descriptions for Political Science graduate courses (POLIT).
Descriptions for Geography graduate courses (GEOG).

Admission Requirements

Apply at www.uakron.edu/graduate

• Students must fulfill the admission requirements of the UA Graduate School (no specific undergraduate major in required)
• Students will have earned a minimum of 3.0 GPA overall on undergraduate degree OR 3.0 GPA for last 64 hours of course work
• Students will have earned a minimum of 3.1 GPA in political science course work
• Students must submit two letters of recommendation, a personal statement of purpose, and official transcripts from all universities attended
• International students must submit official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
• Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis.  Applications are welcome yearlong.