Course Requirements

Curriculum

• Course Requirements

Concentrations

• Homeland Security
• Political Communication
• Law and Justice

CURRICULUM

The curriculum of the Hopkins Master of Arts in Government program is designed for working adult students who have specialized skills in a particular field and desire the broader perspective necessary for leadership in politics and administration. The courses are based on the latest scholarly and scientific knowledge, but emphasize the application of such knowledge to practical governmental, political, and policymaking problems of today. Classes are designed to maximize individual attention, encourage student contribution, build analytical skills, and provide the tools for engaging in original research. All of this leads to lively and stimulating seminar discussions and an enriching graduate school experience. There is an active speaker and seminar calendar of events as well and students are required to attend three such events each term.

Throughout their studies, students consider possible topics and gather relevant information and data so that early in their final semester they can complete their research and begin writing the thesis. Students take the two core courses, Government and Politics in the United States and Methods of Social Inquiry, which introduce the basic tenets of government and politics and the methodology of social inquiry. Students continue through the program preparing for their master's thesis which is the tenth and final course in their academic work.

There are now three concentrations offered in the Government Program: The concentration in Law and Justice provides a focus in the Government program for students in areas particularly affected by law enforcement issues. The concentration in Political Communication provides students with the opportunity to study with practitioners in the field: reporters, political operatives, journalists, and campaign and news and media professionals. The concentration in Homeland Security covers the fundamentals of administering and preserving American security.

Course Requirements

• two core courses:
  • 470.602 Government and Politics in the United States
  • 470.850 Pre-Thesis (This course replaces 470.605 Methods of Social Research for students entering in the summer of 2008 and thereafter)
• seven elective courses and symposia (eight electives for all students entering Summer2008 and thereafter)
• final thesis course:
  • 470.800 Research and Thesis

For more information about core and elective courses, please see the Course Descriptions page. Please note that not all courses are available each semester, consult the Government Course Schedule for current course offerings.

Throughout their studies, students should consider possible topics and gather relevant information and data so that early in their final semester they can complete their research and begin writing the thesis. To be acceptable, the thesis must address an important issue in contemporary government.

For information on exact dates, times, locations, fees, and instructors for any term, students should consult the Advanced Academic Programs Course Schedule issued several months before each term begins. Courses are open only to students who meet enrollment requirements.

CONCENTRATIONS

A concentration is optional

Homeland Security Concentration

Select 4 of the following courses:

• 470.632 Defense Policy
• 470.634 Foreign Policy in the Age of Global Terrorism
• 470.635 Executive Politics and Policymaking
• 470.638 Negotiating as a Leadership Skill
• 470.641 Government by Contract
• 470.644 Democracy and its Modern Critics
• 470.651 Corruption and Other Pathologies of Government
• 470.653 Contemporary Russian Politics
• 470.654 Government and the Global Economy
• 470.661 Constitutional Law
• 470.662 Theory and Politics of Terrorism
• 470.663 Administering Homeland Security
• 470.664 War, Humane Behavior, and Morality
• 470.669 Seminar in Homeland Security
• 470.671 Politics, Language, and Culture of the Arab World
• 470.672 Politics, Language, and Culture of Iran
• 470.674 Administrative Law
• 470.692 Military Strategy and National Policy
• 470.696 Western Military Strategy
• 470.697 Nuclear Weapons and US Foreign Policy
• 470.710 The Politics of Foreign Policy
• 470.711 Intelligence from Secrets to Policy
• 406.670 Crisis Management

Political Communication Concentration

Select 4 of the following courses:

• 470.622 Interest Groups, Lobbying, and Policymaking
• 470.628 Primaries, Caucuses, Conventions, and the General Election
• 470.631 Public Opinion and American Democracy Media and Politics
• 470.636 Policy and Communications: The International Stage
• 470.652 Political Psychology
• 470.657 Politics,Media, and the Culture Wars
• 480.603 Political Economy of Mass Communication
• 480.623 Political Communication: Campaigns
• 480.655 Public Affairs: Shaping Public Opinion, Driving Public Policy
• 480.659 Crisis and Issue Communication
• 480.660 Media Relations
• 480.661 Ethnic Marketing and Political Communication
• 480.662 Editorial and Opinion Writing
• 480.668 Understanding Markets and Audiences
• 480.670 Communications Law and Policymaking
• 480.677 Grassroots Political Campaigns 
•  

Law and Justice Concentration

Core Courses

• 470.660 Foundations of Law and Justice
• 470.661 Constitutional Law

Electives (Select 3)

• 470.616 Law of Public Institutions
• 470.617 The Courts as Agents of Change
• 470.662 The Theory and Practice of Terrorism
• 470.671 Criminal Law and the Constitution (formerly Courts, Trials, and Sentencing)
• 470.673 Seminar in Criminal Justice
• 470.674 Administrative Law
• 470.701 The Death Penalty and American Criminal Justice
• 470.712 The American Civil Trial

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