Program Description For The MASS Program

Program Information
Courses are available in the M.A.S.S. Program from the disciplines of Political Science, Public Administration, Global Security and International Affairs, History, and Criminal Justice.

The unique feature of this applied, interdisciplinary program is its flexibility. Building upon a required core of three courses (9 semester hours), the student, in consultation with an advisor, may design the remainder of the program to address his/her own unique interests. The degree is designed for those who wish to pursue further graduate work in the social sciences and for those who wish to work immediately following completion of the M.A.S.S. Degree.

For the full-time student, the course of study will likely span two semesters plus one summer, totaling 33 hours. Some students may be required to take several prerequisites before commencing with their academic program. The following is an outline of the degree programs:
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General Curriculum

  • Courses Required of All Students (9 Semester Hours)

  • ISS 5939 - Interdisciplinary Social Science Seminar

  • ISS 6305 - Social Science Research

  • PAD 5701 - Statistics for Public Managers (for students in the Pol. Sci., Pub. Admin. or Global Security concentrations)

    OR

  • ISS 5316 - Statistics for the Social Sciences (for students in the History or Crim. Justice concentrations)

  • Internship or Thesis (6 Semester Hours)

  • Students are required to enroll in six (6) hours of either:

  • ISS 6942 - Internship

    OR

  • ISS 6971 - Thesis.

  • Discipline Courses (18 Semester Hours)

  • Students are required to take six courses (18 hours) in their subject area concentration. Courses may be selected from one the following disciplines:
  • (1) History;
  • (2) Public Administration;
  • (3) Global Security or
  • (4) Criminal Justice.

  • Prerequisite Classes

  • Those students whose undergraduate degrees are in areas outside their chosen area of concentration may be required to take designated undergraduate courses to prepare them for entrance into the MASS program. The chair of the department of the major area and the coordinator of the program shall make such determinations. Prerequisites for Political Science/Public Administration, Criminal Justice, and History are as follows:

  • Public Administration
  • PAD 3003 – Public Administration

  • Criminal Justice
  • Criminological Theory
  • CCJ 4700 – Research Methods in Criminal Justice
  • History
  • HIS 3104 – Historiography
  • AFA 4936 – Senior Seminar in African-American Studies