Certificate Programs

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 in Political Science (3,3) (with approved statistical or quantitative focus)

 Economics

  01:220:322  Econometrics (3)

  01:220:326  Econometric Theory (3)

  01:220:401  Advanced Cross-Sectional and Panel Econometrics (3)

  01:220:481  Economics of Uncertainty (3)

  01:220:482  Game Theory and Economics (3)

  01:220:483  Economics of Information (3)

   01:220:486  Operations Research I (3)

 Mathematics

  01:640:104  Introduction to 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  Introduction to Statistics in Sociology (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 remaining 6 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 https://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

This program structures multidisciplinary coursework and overseas educational experiences to offer a course of study for students interested in understanding 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 build upon the ideas and insights acquired abroad in research and other activities at Rutgers.

While the career interests of students undertaking this certificate program are diverse and there is no expectation that they will pursue any particular career track, the skills and experiences that can be acquired in this program will be valuable for students interested in transnational organizations or institutions; American foreign policy; or graduate study in international affairs, public policy, international business, law or an academic discipline.

Requirements:

• This program is open only to declared political science majors.
• Students must submit a letter of intent to participate in the certificate program to the Undergraduate Studies Office in the Department of Political Science (Room 509 Hickman on Douglass campus) before the first semester of their junior year. This letter should include a description of the student's interests and career aspirations and their plans for meeting the international experience requirement.
• Students must complete with a grade of C or better all political science major requirements as supplemented below. This includes a minimum of 13, 3-credit courses in political science, at least nine of which must be at the 300/400 level and one of which must be 01:790:395.
• Global politics certificate students must complete both 01:790:102 Introduction to International Relations and 01:790:103 Comparative Politics
• Global politics certificate students must complete a minimum of four 300/400-level courses in foreign and international politics, not including the senior thesis, internship, independent study, or 01:790:395 (Political Science Seminar).
• Global politics certificate students must complete an international experience, defined as study abroad through Rutgers or another accredited university; a CASE 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. Arrangements for the international experience must be approved by the department in advance. Academic credit toward major is awarded on a case-by-case basis. Students should begin their search for placement at a foreign university or in an international program by visiting the Rutgers Study Abroad website.
  
• Global politics certificate students must demonstrate proficiency in a relevant foreign language, defined as qualifying for 300-level courses in that language.
• Global politics certificate students must participate in two extracurricular activities with global, international, or foreign focus that are approved by the advisers for the global politics certificate listed below. Students must provide a summary report for each activity using the forms provided by the department.

To receive the global politics certificate and have it so noted on your transcript, you must submit a Rutgers transcript with study abroad courses listed or a completed international experience plus literature; and four extracurricular activities forms plus literature. Submit all material, including the letter of interest, to Professor Christine Cahill, Undergraduate Advisor, at c.cahill@rutgers.edu