Political Science

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Degrees:        

Master of Arts, Plan A and B
Master of Public Administration, Plan B only
Master of Science, Administrative Studies
Doctor of Philosophy

Areas of Emphasis:

M.A.    
American Politics & Public Policy
Public Law
International Relataions

M.P.A.  
Leadership Studies
State and Local Government Administration
Criminal Justice
Nonprofit Administration
Health Services Administration
Public Finance
Information Systems

M.S.A.S.
Organizational Leadership
Human Resources
Health Services Administration (online)
Long-Term Care Administration (online)
Criminal Justice (Rapid City and Sioux Falls only)
Interdisciplinary

Ph.D.  
American Political Institutions
Public Policy and Administration

Department Chairperson: Professor William Richardson

Graduate Program Coordinator: Associate Professor Richard Braunstein

M.S.A.S. Program Director: Assistant Professor Anthony Molina 

Program Description

The Department of Political Science offers the Master of Arts degree, the Master of Public Administration degree, the Master of Science in Administrative Studies, and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. The MPA provides both a core program in administration and the opportunity to specialize in important policy-making and administrative areas whereas the M.A. program will give students in Political Science the opportunity to undertake a more advanced study of the field.  The MSAS provides the tools and organizational skills necessary to more effectively perform administrative roles within organizations, including health care, government, social services, and industry.  The Ph.D. program is designed to strengthen the knowledge and research competencies of candidates so they can advance understanding and explanation in the fields of political science, public policy and administration.

Graduate Faculty

William Anderson, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., Ohio State University. Specialization: American Political Institutions, Public Policy, and Research Methods.

Richard Braunstein, Associate Professor &. Graduate Coordinator, Ph.D., University of Colorado-Boulder. Specialization: American Politics, Ballot Issue Elections, Civil Rights and Liberties, Nonprofit Organizations and Conflict Resolution.

Michael A. Card, Associate Professor, Ph.D., Ohio State University. Specialization: Organizational Theory & Strategic Management, Public Policy & Management, Leadership, State Government.

Matthew R. Fairholm, Associate Professor, Ph.D., George Washington University. Specialization. Public Administration, Leadership Theory and Practice, Organization Theory and Behavior, American Government.

Steven Feimer, Associate Professor, D.P.A., Oklahoma University. Specialization: Public Administration, Research Methods, Environmental Law, and Geographical Information System.

Eric Jepsen, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., University of New Mexico. Specialization: Comparative Politics, International Relations, Political Economy, Democratization, Globalization, Latin American Politics, and South Asian Politics.

Cassandra McKeown, Assistant Professor, J.D., University of South Dakota. Specialization: Criminal Justice, Constitutional Law, Negotiation and Client Counseling.

Matthew C. Moen, Professor and Dean College of Arts and Sciences, Ph.D., University of Oklahoma. Specialization: American Politics, Congress, and State Legislatures. Currently on assignment as Acting Provost and VPAA.

Anthony Molina, Assistant Professor & Director of MSAS Program, Ph.D., Cleveland State University. Specialization: Political Philosophy, Professional Ethics, Administrative Law, Human Diversity Management, and Public Administration Theory.

William Richardson, Professor and Chair, Ph.D., University of New York-Buffalo. Specialization: Political Philosophy, American Politics, Leadership, and Ethics.

Michael P. Roche, Professor, S.J.D., University of Virginia. Specialization: Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, and Justice and Compassion.

Jamison Rounds, Assistant Professor, J.D., University of South Dakota. Specialization: Campaign Politics, Economic Development, Public Policy and Management.

Lila Rucker, Associate Professor, Ph.D., Michigan State University. Specialization: Domestic Violence, Drugs and Gangs, Research Methods, and Alternatives to Violence.

Timothy J. Schorn, Associate Professor, Ph.D. University of Notre Dame. J. D. Notre Dame Law School. Specialization: International Relations, Human Rights, Terrorism, and Middle East Politics.

Elizabeth T. Smith, Associate Professor, Ph.D., University of Connecticut. Specialization: American Politics, Public Law, and Public Administration.

Master of Arts in Political Science

Areas of Emphasis:

American Politics & Public Policy
Public Law
International Relations

Admission Requirements

• Graduate of a regionally accredited institution with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better, based on a 4.0 scale is required for full admission.
• The GRE General test or the LSAT scores are required. A GRE score of 500 verbal and 500 quantitative is recommended.
• Applicants should have a minimum of 12 credit hours of undergraduate Political Science course work.
• Additional requirements exist for international students.

- Subject to faculty approval, those who do not meet any of the criteria above may be admitted on a provisional basis. 

Master of Public Administration

Areas of Emphasis:

Leadership Studies
State and Local Government Administration
Nonprofit Administration
Criminal Justice
Health Services Administration

Program Description

Since September 1974, the Department of Political Science has offered the Master of Public Administration degree that provides both a core program in administration and the opportunity to specialize in important policy making and administrative areas. In the fall of 1997, the Regents established the W.O. Farber Center for Civic Leadership as a center of excellence. The Center is housed within the Department of Political Science and offers graduate civic leadership courses. The mission of the Center is to prepare students and help communities to face difficult public problems in a shared manner consistent with constitutional values.

Admission Requirements

• Graduate of a regionally accredited institution with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better, based on a 4.0 scale is required for full admission.
• The GRE General test, LSAT, GMAT, MCAT, or the EIT scores are required. There is no minimum score required; the score is considered along with the other application materials.
• An essay describing your desire to serve the public interest.
• Additional requirements exist for international students.

- Subject to faculty approval, those who do not meet all of the criteria above may be admitted on a provisional basis. 

 

Master of Science in Administrative Studies

Areas of Specialization:

Organizational Leadership
Human Resources
Health Services Administration (online)
Long-Term Care Administration (online)
Criminal Justice (Rapid City and Sioux Falls only)
Interdisciplinary

Program Director: Anthony Molina, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Political Science.

 Program Description

This cross-disciplinary program provides the primary tools and organizational skills necessary to more effectively perform administrative roles within organizations. Course work focuses on practical application, theory, and developing an intellectual framework for analyzing and successfully addressing typical situations inherent in work environments. This program benefits people from health care, government, social services, and industry.

The Master of Science in Administrative Studies (MSAS) graduate program has been developed for persons with various undergraduate degrees who now want to develop their supervisory and intellectual capabilities outside the more traditional areas of business and public administration. The program values past work experience while expanding participant knowledge, abilities, and resources in more advanced areas.

The MSAS program at The University of South Dakota is administered through the program committee comprised of graduate faculty who are also administrators of graduate programs in other disciplines on campus, The Graduate School, and The Division of Continuing Education.

Members of the faculty from across the University teach in this program. Course work and faculty members come from disciplines such as Business Administration, Health Services Administration, Public Administration, Civic Leadership, Industrial Psychology, Communication Studies, Criminal Justice, Counseling, Guidance and Personnel Services.

 Program Committee

Laurie Becvar, Ed.D., Dean of Continuing Education.
Jeri Engelking, Ph.D., Campus Dean, School of Education.
Steve Feimer, D.P.A., Director, Criminal Justice Studies and Associate Professor, Political Science, College of Arts & Sciences.
Brad Henrich, M.A., Director, West River Programs. Ex-Officio member representing Rapid City site.
Anthony Molina, Ph.D., Director, Master of Science in Administrative Studies Program and Assistant Professor of Political Science, College of Arts & Sciences.
Holli Novak, B.S., Program Assistant, Master of Science in Administrative Studies Program. Ex-Officio member. 
Karen Olmstead, Ph.D., Dean of The Graduate School and Associate VP for Academic Affairs.
Randy Quevillon, Ph.D., Chair of Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences.
William Richardson, Ph.D., Chair of Political Science, College of Arts & Sciences.
Terry Robertson, Ph.D., Chair of Communication Studies, College of Arts & Sciences.
Sharon Sopko, Ed.D., Director of Academic Coordination, University Center. Ex-Officio member representing Sioux Falls site.

Admissions Requirements

• Three years since receiving a baccalaureate degree.
• Three years of professional work experience.
• A current résumé.
• A typed educational goals statement of at least 250 words. The statement should provide an introduction of yourself, outline your educational and career goals, and explain the reasons you chose the Master of Science in Administrative Studies graduate degree to achieve your goals.
• There is no admissions test or prerequisite course work required.
• Additional requirements exist for international students.

- Subject to faculty approval, those who do not meet all of the criteria above may be admitted on a provisional basis. 

 For Additional Information

The University of South Dakota
Master of Science in Administrative Studies
Dakota Hall, Room 118
414 East Clark Street
Vermillion, SD 57069-2390
(605) 677-6405 or (888) 493-9256
http://www.usd.edu/msas

Doctor of Philosophy

Areas of Emphasis:

American Political Institutions
Public Policy and Administration

Program Description

The program is designed to strengthen the knowledge and research competencies of candidates so they can advance understanding and explanation in the fields of political science, public policy and administration. The program is novel in that it is offered in both an executive format as well as a traditional residential program. For more information, please consult www.usd.edu/polsci. Graduates of the program are expected to pursue careers in academia, leadership positions in governmental agencies, and as policy analysts in the non-governmental and other sectors.

Admission Requirements

• Graduate of a regionally accredited institution with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better, based on a 4.0 scale is required for full admission. A 3.0 GPA in graduate work is also required of applicants with advanced degrees.
• The GRE General test, LSAT, GMAT, MCAT, or the EIT scores are required. There is no minimum score required; the score is considered along with the other application materials.
• An essay describing your desire to purse the Ph.D. in Political Science.
• Additional requirements exist for international students.

- Subject to faculty approval, those who do not meet all of the criteria above may be admitted on a provisional basis.

Research Facilities

The I.D. Weeks Library is a United States Government Depository Library and, as such, receives all important U.S. Government documents. In addition, the library receives many state publications. A special United Nations document collection is also maintained. Interlibrary loan facilities are available. Graduate students have access to the library of the School of Law and the extensive pamphlet and newspaper collections of the Government Research Bureau.

For Additional Information

The University of South Dakota
Department of Political Science
Dakota Hall, Room 101
414 East Clark Street
Vermillion, SD 57069
Phone: 605-677-5242
http://www.usd.edu/polsci

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