College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Public Policy (Ph.D.)

The Ph.D. in Public Policy is an interdisciplinary program focusing on the study of policy development, implementation and evaluation. It stresses the development of skills, tools, and specialties, as well as a theoretical understanding of them, that contribute to our understanding of the structure of institutional systems and sub-systems and of how policy should be shaped within political environments.

Public Policy Research and Analysis (CERT)

The Graduate Certificate in Public Policy Research and Analysis provides students with a strong grounding in the processes through which public policies are designed, passed, implemented, and evaluated in conjunction with the training in quantitative and analytic skills necessary to carry out applied public policy research and analysis. The program requires the completion of 15 credit hours. The certificate must be completed within four years of admission, and students may apply credits earned towards a graduate degree program in conjunction with or after the certificate has been awarded.

Religious Studies (MA)

The graduate program in Religious Studies is designed for students who want to pursue advanced studies in the academic study of religion while working closely with a distinguished faculty of scholars and teachers. A Master of Arts in Religious Studies serves the following constituencies: those preparing for further graduate work in Religious Studies or other humanities disciplines at the Ph.D. level; those preparing for teaching positions at community colleges or for adjunct instructor positions at colleges or universities; those preparing for professional careers in non-academic settings; or those seeking to enjoy the intellectual rewards of a liberal arts education at the graduate level.

Sociology (MA)

The Master of Arts in Sociology provides students with theoretical and methodological skills necessary to undertake analysis of contemporary social issues and problems. The curriculum prepares students who wish to pursue doctoral education in sociology or related fields, teaching at the collegiate level, data-driven applied research and careers in community development and nonprofit sector.

Spanish (MA)

The Master of Arts in Spanish serves individuals who seek a greater understanding of Spanish language, literatures and cultures, and who seek career and professional advancement opportunities in education, translation, applied language (Business Spanish), and who contemplate pursuing a Ph.D. in fields such as Hispanic literature, linguistics, translation studies, intercultural communication, or international studies. The M.A. in Spanish provides a rich variety of graduate coursework in a major world language that is becoming increasingly important in the United States. The program builds on a comprehensive undergraduate curriculum and consists of two concentrations: 1. Language, Literature and Culture (LLC), and 2. Translation and Interpreting Studies (TIS). Students in either concentration may take either: (1) 30 credit hours of elective courses or (2) 24 credit hours of elective courses plus a master's thesis (6 credit hours). FUNDING - The Department of Languages and Culture Studies usually has four Teaching Assistantships. Assistantships for the Fall semester are usually assigned shortly after the end of March. For the Spring semester, assistantships are assigned by the end of September. The assistantships give students $8000 (eight thousand) dollars per semester in exchange for 20 hours a week of work. Assistantships include a tuition waiver. If you receive an assistantship, you can also be nominated for the Graduate School Tuition Support Grant, which will provide you with additional funds for the academic year. - Whether or not you receive an assistantship, the Graduate Director can also nominate you for the Graduate School Tuition Support Grant if you're admitted by the end of March or earlier. - Please note that to maximize access to the funding opportunities described above, new students have to be admitted for Fall by the end of March or earlier.

Urban Management and Policy (CERT)

As part of the Master of Public Administration program, the graduate certificate in Urban Management and Policy provides education and training for the public and nonprofit sectors, conducts scholarly and applied research to advance the field of public administration, and serves the community. Specialized training can be obtained in this certificate without having to pursue the MPA master's degree.