Political Science Department

David C. Earnest, Chair
Eric Jepsen, Coordinator of Political Science Undergraduate Studies & Coordinator of POLS Internships
Sandy McKeown, Coordinator of Criminal Justice Studies & Coordinator of CJUS Internships
Timothy Schorn, Coordinator of International Studies
Matthew R. Fairholm, Coordinator of Civic Leadership Studies
Shane Nordyke, Coordinator of Government Research Bureau

Sandi Allred, Secretary
Ilmira P. Dulyanova, Director of Online Graduate Programs
Cheryl Hovorka, Program Assistant II

Dakota Hall, Room 118
(605) 677-5242
polsci@usd.edu
www.usd.edu/polsci/

FACULTY

Professors:

Richard Braunstein, American Politics; Initiative and Referendum Process; Civil Rights & Liberties
David C. Earnest, International Political Economy; Globalization Theory; Computational Social Science
Matthew R. Fairholm, Public Administration; Leadership Theory and Practice; Constitutional Governance
Eric M. Jepsen, Comparative Politics; Political Economy; Democratization; Latin American Politics; South Asian Politics
Michael P. Roche, Criminal Law; Criminal Procedure; Justice & Compassion

Associate Professors:

Michael Card, Public & Nonprofit Administration and Leadership; Public Policy; State & Local Government and Politics; Strategic Management of Public and Nonprofit Organizations
Bridget Diamond-Welch, Criminology; Family Violence; Race, Class, and Gender; Sexual Assault; Victimology; Human Trafficking
Sandy McKeown, Juvenile Justice; Ethics in Criminal Justice; Writing and Research in Criminal Justice; Mock Trial; Criminal Prosecution and Defense
Shane Nordyke, Public Policy; Policy Analysis; Research Methods; Intergovernmental Relations
Timothy Schorn, International Relations; Human Rights; Terrorism; Middle Eastern Politics

Assistant Professors:

Ed Gerrish, Public Financial Management; Policy Analysis; Public Performance Management; Meta-analysis
Julia Marin Hellwege, American Political Institutions (Congress, Presidency), Women & Politics, Identity and Minority Group Politics
Thomas Mrozla, Police Accountability; Police Misconduct; Rural Policing

Senior Lecturer:

Jacqueline Faulhaber, Public Policy, Virtue, Ethics, Natural Law, and Justice in Political Leadership; Biblical Leadership. 

Lecturers:

Joshua Houy, Criminal Law; Constitutional Law; Criminal Justice Policy
Lynita Newswander, Political Theory; Public Administration; Religion and Politics; Feminist Politics

MAJOR:

Criminal Justice, B.A., B.S.
Political Science, B.A., B.S.

MINORS:

Civic Leadership Studies
Criminal Justice Studies
Nonprofit Studies
Political Science

The Department of Political Science is large enough to provide a diversity of course offerings and viewpoints, but small enough to provide excellent opportunities to become acquainted with faculty members and fellow students. The political science major has two primary goals: 1) preparing students for careers in law, politics, government, and the mass media, as well as for public-related positions in the private sector; and 2) preparing students for responsible citizenship, intelligent voting, and informed participation in public affairs.

MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION FAST-TRACK PROGRAM

Political science and criminal justice faculty will nominate high achieving students who are interested in public service careers to the fast-track to the Master of Public Administration program. Students would apply to the USD Graduate School during the spring of their junior year, and be admitted to the USD Graduate School contingent on receipt of their undergraduate degree. After completing 90 hours (senior status), students may take 9 graduate hours that will count toward their undergraduate degree and also count toward the NASPAA accredited Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree. After receiving their undergraduate degree and satisfactory progress in the three graduate courses, students would continue to pursue coursework leading to the MPA degree.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Please contact the department for additional information about available scholarships and awards. Also see College of Arts & Sciences for college/school level scholarships.

Alan L. & Mary L. Clem Scholarship
Blair Tremere Political Science
Brian & Kelly Wirt Scholarship/Fellowship
Clarence E. & Sophia F. Fowler Scholarship
Clarence Eide Endowment-Sue Eide Kimball Criminal Justice Scholarship
Clyde Saukerson Honors Program Scholarship
Criminal Justice Department
Daniel M.&L’Nora L. Bylander Political Science Scholarship
Dee Jones Noordermeer Memorial Scholarship
Diane Jones Meier Award
Donald D. Fowler Scholarship-Political Science
Dorothy C. Schieffer Scholarship
Dr. Samuel C. & Suzanne L. Patterson Political Science Scholarship
Farber #3: William O. Farber Scholarship
Farber No. 2
Farber Center Foundation Account
Francis J. Dillon Political Science
Frank L. “Jeff” Scott Memorial Scholarship
Fraternal Order of Police Scholarship
Gene Kimmel Award
Gene Mahan Memorial Scholarship in Good Government
George & Bette Glover Scholarship
Hall Scholarship
Heartland Political Sciences Scholarship Fund
Jody M. Endres Scholarship
Joel & Kari Portice Family Political Science Scholarship
Joel Rosenthal Award
John H. Wicks Political Science Scholarship
Larry Pressler Scholarship
Loren M. Carlson Memorial Scholarship
MacDonald Political Science Scholarship
Mary B. Edelen Student Internship Award
Mary Pat Bierle Scholarship
Oneta H. Card Memorial Scholarship
Philip T. Roche Service to Others Award
Political Science Fund
Robert D. Falk Award
South Dakota Sheriff’s Association Scholarship
Stephen R. & Mary Lynn Myers Scholarship
Thomas J. Whorley Political Science Scholarship
William J. Janklow Public Service Scholarship
WO Farber Internship & Travel Scholarship

In addition to these specific scholarships/awards, the Farber Fund makes about $140,000 available annually for Political Science, Criminal Justice and International majors to attend conferences, participate in faculty-led programs and departmental trips, complete internships, travel abroad, and carry out research projects. For additional departmental information, see website listed above and http://www.usd.edu/arts-and-sciences/farber-fund.