Certificate Program in Quantitative Political Science Methods
The certificate program in quantitative political science methods is a program designed to lead to an understanding of how social scientists pose research questions, design tests of hypotheses, and analyze quantifiable information. These are valuable skills for the workforce and graduate school, as well as for informed citizens. A basic understanding of how social science research is conducted can help citizens evaluate the information they read about in the newspapers or hear about on television. Students completing the program will have put their methodological skills to use in their own in-class research projects, as part of their required Political Science Seminar (01:790:395).
Requirements
1. This program is only open to declared political science majors, and will be awarded only in conjunction with or subsequent to the awarding of a baccalaureate degree in political science.
2. To participate in the program, students must register by submitting an application, providing name and contact information. Applications are available in the undergraduate political science office, Hickman Hall, Room 509.
3. Students must satisfactorily complete 01:790:300 Introduction to Political Science Methods.
4. Students must satisfactorily complete an approved section of 01:790:395 as their political science seminar.
5. Students must satisfactorily complete any three of the following courses (those courses that satisfy requirements of the political science major may simultaneously be counted for that purpose).
Political Science
01:790:307 Survey Research (4)
01:790:392 Applied Research Methods (3)
01:790:481,482 Internship (3,3) (with approved statistical or quantitative focus)
Economics
01:220:322 Econometrics (3)
01:220:326 Econometric Theory (3)
01:220:386 Operations Research I (3)
01:220:401 Advanced Econometrics (3)
01:220:405 Economics of Uncertainty (3)
01:220:406 Game Theory and Economics (3)
01:220:407 Economics of Information (3)
Mathematics
01:640:104 Elementary Combinatorics and Probability (3)
01:640:339 Mathematical Models in the Social Sciences (3)
Psychology
01:830:200 Quantitative Methods in Psychology (4)
01:830:300 Research Methods in Psychology (3)
01:830:323 Research Methods in Social Psychology (4)
Sociology
01:920:311 Introduction to Social Research (4)
01:920:312 Computer Analysis of Social Science Data (4)
Statistics
Any course in the statistics department.
Eagleton Undergraduate Associates Certificate (Eagleton Institute of Politics)
Each year 20 to 25 juniors are selected to participate as undergraduate associates of the Eagleton Institute of Politics to study government and politics. Students selected for this program begin during the second semester of their junior year and continue through their senior year. By means of special seminars, a supervised internship, and a series of visits by governmental officials and political practitioners, undergraduate associates explore applications of political science to the practice and processes of American politics.
To complete the program and receive an undergraduate associates certificate from the institute upon graduation, each student must complete 12 credits of designated undergraduate and/or graduate courses in American politics with an average grade of at least a B. During the second semester of their junior year, students are required to take 01:790:428 The Practice of Politics, which focuses on the idea of politics as choice, with students analyzing different political decisions each week. During the spring semester of their senior year, students are required to take 01:790:429 Processes of Politics, which examines representation, leadership, campaigning, lobbying, management, and ethics. The 6 remaining credits must be satisfied by taking 300 level or above political science course(s) in American politics and/or an internship. Members of the faculty participate as guest lecturers in the entry seminar, while the exit course includes participation by political practitioners. Both courses emphasize individual and group participation by students.
The Eagleton undergraduate associates program also offers students the opportunity to connect classroom learning with the experience of working in government, politics, or public affairs through a required internship experience. In recent years, students have been placed in internships in the New Jersey legislature; the governor's Office of Policy and Planning; various state departments; and the public affairs' offices of corporations, public-interest groups, state associations, and lobbying firms.
Students must submit a completed application by the first week in October of their junior year to the director of the institute, along with an unofficial transcript and two letters of recommendation from faculty members, including at least one from a political science professor. For further information, see http://www.eagleton.rutgers.edu.
Note: The Eagleton undergraduate associates certificate is awarded only with or subsequent to the awarding of a baccalaureate degree in an approved major.
Global Politics Certificate
Within the context of broad training in political science, this certificate program structures multidisciplinary coursework and overseas educational experiences to offer a focused but flexible course of study for students interested in understanding the transformation of politics, political structures, and political institutions around the globe. The certificate requires overseas experience as well as language and political science training necessary to make such an experience valuable. It offers the opportunity to employ and build upon the ideas and insights acquired abroad in research and other activities back at Rutgers. Emphasizing work in comparative politics and international relations, the certificate program allows majors to develop research skills relevant to further study and encourage them to participate in the research life of the department through the activities of the Center for Global Security and Democracy.
While the career interests of students undertaking this certificate are diverse and there is no expectation that they will pursue any particular career track, the preparation offered by this certificate will be valuable for students interested in transnational organizations or institutions; American foreign policy; graduate study in international affairs, public policy, international business and law, or an academic discipline.
Requirements
1. This program is open only to declared political science majors.
2. Students must submit an application for approval and signatures to the director of the Center for Global Security and Democracy and to the vice chair for undergraduate studies in the Department of Political Science. As part of this application, students must also submit a brief essay describing their interests and background.
3. Students must complete all political science major requirements as modified and supplemented below with a grade of C or better:
a. 01:790:102 and 103
b. a minimum of four 300- or 400-level courses in foreign and international politics, not including the senior thesis, internship, independent study, or 01:790:395 Political Science Seminar
c. a minimum of 13, 3-credit courses in political science, at least nine of which must be at the 300 or 400 level and one of which must be 01:790:395
d. an international experience, defined as study abroad through Rutgers or an accredited university; a Civic Engagement and Service Education Partnerships (CESEP) international program through Rutgers; or work with an international or transnational agency. A one-semester experience is the norm, one year is recommended, and one summer is permissible under special circumstances only. Arrangements for the international experience must be approved by the department in advance. Academic credit toward the major is awarded on a case-by-case basis.
e. a minimum of six 3-credit courses (of which three must be in one department) in the following cognate disciplines: anthropology, economics, history, philosophy, psychology, religion, sociology
f. demonstrated proficiency in a relevant foreign language, defined as qualifying by written and oral exam for the equivalent of a 300-level course in that language or completion of courses through the 300 level
g. participation in four extracurricular global program events approved by the director of the Center for Global Security and Democracy or the vice chair for undergraduate studies in the Department of Political Science, followed by a summary report for each event.
