Advisement

Offering guidance at every level

Faculty members in the political science department want to see you succeed. Advisement in undergraduate and graduate programs is designed to help you select courses and provide you with resources that will help you achieve your academic and career goals.

Undergraduate and pre-professional advisement

The political science undergraduate program offers undergraduate, pre-professional advisement that will get you moving in the right direction based on your interests in political science. Our undergraduate, pre-professional advisors will help you fulfill program requirements and keep you on track to graduate on time.

Students with undecided majors and transfer students can also receive assistance and advisement from our pre-professional advisors.

If you are interested in pursuing an accelerated master’s degree in either international affairs or public administration, our undergraduate, professional advisors can provide you with information and help you set up your course schedules.

For political science undergraduate, professional advisement, contact the department’s professional advisor, Nick Beatty. The University’s pre-law advisor, Kevin Pybas, can provide information on law school requirements, course selection and additional law careers.

Graduate advisement

Master of International Affairs advisement

You will receive guidance and resources during advisement in our program that will help you secure a career after graduating from the program. Dr. Gabriel Ondetti, is dedicated to listening to your interests to help you select courses and experiences that are related to your professional goals. 

As program director, he may advise you about an appropriate cognate field, an internship, a thesis or a research project. 

The program director and other faculty members also regularly advise students about doctoral programs and career opportunities after graduation.

Master of Public Administration advisement

As a Master of Public Administration (MPA) student, you will receive personal advisement and individualized attention to meet your education and career goals. As the MPA director, Dr. James Kaatz is an advocate for you, connecting you with resources on campus, and helping you accomplish your goals in the MPA program.

MPA program details

  1. The MPA director may waive the internship requirement for students who have appropriate and sufficient prior work experience in public or not-for-profit organizations.  Students with prior work experience in the public or not-for-profit sector should submit a letter to the MPA director requesting a waiver in the internship requirement along with a copy of his/her resume.  Students for whom an internship requirement is waived must still take a three hour course to substitute for the internship
  2. All MPA students in consultation with the MPA director will select an area of concentration (cognate field) within the MPA degree.  Students shall take elective courses from the list of courses for the area of concentration he/she has selected.  Exceptions may be granted at the discretion of the MPA director.
  3. All MPA students should work closely with the MPA director in completing their required and elective courses, internship, Advisor Approved Program of Study, and comprehensive examination.
  4. Students interested in pursuing a thesis option should establish a thesis committee consisting of three graduate faculty members and select one of the members to serve as chair of the thesis committee.  The chair of the committee will guide the student through the entire thesis process.