Villanova University - Program in Political Science - Overview
Leading Political Science Graduate School
Villanova University is one of the nation's top institutions of higher education and the oldest and largest Catholic university in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Located 12 miles west of Philadelphia on a 254-acre campus, Villanova is situated among some of the most exclusive colleges and universities in the nation, making it a central part of the area's intellectual community.
Founded in 1842, the Villanova University has been ranked number 1 for nearly twenty years in a row by "U.S. News and World Report" in the Best Universities -- Masters Category in the northern region.
Graduate Political Science Programs
The department of political science offers a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Political Science, a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.), and a range of graduate certificates in both political science and public administration.
Overview of Master of Arts in Political Science
The master's program in political science offers a wide range of courses in American government, international relations, comparative politics, and political philosophy. Students discuss key contemporary political issues within the context of current scholarly debates in political science and also from an historical perspective. The program has particular strengths in American political theory, elections and campaigns, U.S. national security and institutions, area studies (i.e. Russia, Middle East, Europe, etc.), international law/organization, economic development, and third world.
The program is flexible, allowing students to pursue their interests through research papers written for each course, take up to 6 credits outside political science, enroll in courses cross-listed with public administration, or write a 6-credit thesis. This flexibility, together with small class sizes and one-on-one mentoring makes this program ideal for students considering Ph.D. programs, preparing for law school, or interested in careers in applied fields such as government service, non-profit sector, foreign service, or secondary education. Graduate students also have access to the full range of services (i.e. career fairs, counseling, practice interview, etc.) offered by the Career Services Office.
Villanova's M.A. program is one of the few free-standing ones in that it does not cross-list courses with undergraduate programs and is not embedded in a Ph.D. program. The free-standing nature of the program means that students are well-prepared and highly committed to their studies, and that courses pay more attention to the substantive issues of contemporary politics and focus less on technical aspects of the discipline (i.e. methodology or narrow theoretical debates).
M.A. Curriculum
There are 10 required courses, including the Scope and Methods course which surveys the contemporary substantive and methodological debates in political science and prepares students for their other courses. Students also have to take 1 course in 3 subfields: American government, political philosophy, and international relations/comparative politics. Students also can obtain a concentration certificate by taking 5 or more courses in the 3 subfields. Students interested in public service or non-profit careers also can earn a certificate in public administration or non-profit management.
Graduate Certificates in Political Science
Students not enrolling in the M.A. program may apply for a graduate certificate in either American government or international relations and comparative politics.
Students may earn a certificate by successfully completing 5 graduate courses in one of the 3 concentrations offered in the M.A. program.
Overview of Master of Public Administration
Villanova students are passionate about public service, and come to the university to earn their Master of Public Administration to develop the values, roles, skills, and practices that will help them become competent professionals capable of ethical, intelligent, and creative leadership. The student body includes individuals at all stages in their professional careers, from those just starting out to individuals with extensive experience in both the public and private sectors.
M.P.A. Curriculum
The M.P.A. courses offered reflect the current trends in the study of public administration as well as faculty expertise and interests.
Students must earn a total of 36 to 39 credits for the degree -- 18 credits of required courses and 18 credits of elective courses. The additional 3 credits are for a management internship, which may be waived based on prior experience.
The curriculum includes 6 required courses dealing with public administration theory, organizational structures, financial management, public personnel, and research methods. Additionally, Villanova offers a wide variety of electives. These include 3-credit courses as well as 1-credit workshops offered on 3 consecutive Saturday mornings. The types of courses offered are periodically updated to reflect trends in the study of public administration as well as faculty expertise and interests.
A partial list of elective courses includes administrative decision making, leadership ethics, strategic planning, effective non-profit management, non-profit fundraising, public policy, and urban politics and government.
Enrollment in the courses ranges from 4 to 20 students with an average class size around 12.
The program is flexible in terms of the degree requirements and the scheduling of courses. Advisers individually discuss with students their overall course selection to assure it matches their overall academic or professional goals.
Individual research courses are available for advanced students with specific needs not met by available elective course work. Students can also take up to 4 elective courses from other graduate programs. Students can enroll in as many as 3 courses per semester, or as little as a single course. All courses are offered at night to accommodate working students. Courses are offered in the spring, summer, and fall semesters.
Graduate Certificates in Public Administration
Two graduate certificates in public administration are available. Both are 15 credits.
The Graduate Certificate in Public Administration is for students not requiring a master's degree in public administration. These are students who wish to combine a public administration specialization with a master's degree already earned or to enhance their careers with government or non-profit organizations.
The Graduate Certificate in City Management is based on the International City/County Management Association's inventory of 17 practices for effective local government management. Students may enroll in the certificate program as a specialization within the M.P.A. program or to earn a pre-master's or post-master's certificate.
M.P.A. Internships
The M.P.A. program has a strong internship program for students without prior management experience in the field. Students work with the M.P.A. director to arrange internships. Previous placements have included Upper Merion Township, Middletown Township, Lower Gwynedd Township, the Nationalities Service Center, Radnor Township, Montgomery Township, the Philadelphia Airport Authority, Trevor's Campaign, and the Public Financial Management Group. The internships afford students the opportunity to gain first-hand experience as public administrators.
M.A. and M.P.A. Faculty Diverse and Dedicated
The graduate political science and public administration faculty in the department offer diverse philosophical and practical approaches to the programs.
They have a wide range of scholarly interests, are active in leading-edge research, and publish regularly in scholarly journals. All full-time faculty members hold doctoral degrees in their respective fields of study.
The Main Line, the City, the Shore
Villanova University is located in the heart of a Philadelphia suburban region known as the Main Line. The region has produced generations of intellectual, social, business, entertainment, and community leaders.
The Main Line comprises several affluent towns west of the city with thriving theatre, fine restaurants, eclectic coffee houses, unique boutiques, and abundant outdoor life.
Convenient regional rail service with two stops right on campus is available throughout the Main Line to downtown Philadelphia where students and families can experience one of the most historically and culturally significant regions in the nation.
The city also is known for a passionate fan base for all of its major league sports teams and is one of the country's hotbeds of college basketball action. Students are less than 2 hours away from Atlantic City and numerous New Jersey towns and beaches.