There is increasing awareness of the impact that rapid technological, economic and social change is having on society. The graduate programs in the School of Social Sciences are designed to prepare students for careers in the rapidly evolving public, private and non-profit sectors by developing expertise in areas such as policy analysis, economic decision making and public management. Our PhD. Programs are also designed to prepare students for careers in both teaching and research. Each graduate program is discussed in more detail below.
Students have access to the computing facilities in the School of Social Sciences and the University�s Computing Center. The School has its own teaching laboratories. The University�s Computing Center also provides personal computers and UNIX workstations for student use. Databases, a computerized geographic information system and WESTLAW, a legal research system, are also available for student research. Doctoral students have opportunities to participate in research programs directed by members of the faculty. Further details are available below.
The University�s general admission requirements are discussed here.
All programs require applicants to have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, GRE or GMAT scores, transcripts and letters of recommendation. Specific additional requirements are discussed for each program in their respective sections below.
The details for each program are discussed in their respective sections below. Students may be required to take courses to prepare them for coursework.
Students who have previous graduate work pertinent to the requirements of a master�s program or the Ph.D. may be given transfer credit, and the hours of coursework required for the degree will be reduced accordingly. Students desiring to transfer graduate courses thought to be equivalent to core courses may be required to demonstrate competency through examination. The award of such transfer credit must be consistent with the University�s �Transfer of Credit� policy.
The School of Social Sciences offers graduate degrees in four master�s programs and four PhD programs. These programs represent a wide range of both disciplinary as well as interdisciplinary courses of student. Our masters degree offerings include M.S. degrees in Applied Economics, Applied Sociology, Geographic Information Sciences and the Master of Public Affairs degrees. The PhD programs include programs of study in Economics, Political Science, Public Affairs,Public Policy and Political Economy. The Economics and Political Science programs offer innovative courses of study in these disciplinary areas. The PhD in Public Policy and Political Economy combines rigorous methodological training with a strong substative focus in different policy areas. The School also offers non-degree certificate programs in Crime and Justice Analysis, Economic and Demographic Data Analysis, Evaluation Research, Financial Economics, Geographic Information Sciences and Nonprofit Management.
The School of Social Sciences offers four masters programs and three PhD programs. These programs and their credit hour requirements are given below.
All PhD programs require 90 hours beyond the baccalaureate degree. Applicants should contact their respective program office to discuss possible transfer credit.
In addition to our degree programs the School offers the following certificate programs for both degree and non-degree seeking students.