Department of Government

Objectives of the Department

The Department of Government has two master’s degree programs: the Master of Public Administration and the Master of Science in national security.

First, the department intends to educate students for tomorrow’s management and leadership positions in the public sector, including local governments, state governments, the federal government and nonprofit agencies through its online Master of Public Administration program and online graduate certificate in nonprofit management. Administrators in these positions are called upon to act professionally, responsibly and effectively as they pursue public purposes. The programs are designed to fill the educational demands and needs for better-qualified administrators. Both pre-service and in-service students seeking professional credentials are served by online courses, special research projects, internships and graduate assistantships. The programs combine academic expertise with real-world experiences to provide students with outstanding opportunities to connect knowledge with practice. The M.P.A. requires 36 hours of coursework (three credit hours per course) and the graduate certificate in nonprofit management requires 12 hours of coursework (three credit hours per course)

Second, the intelligence field is a growing one, and the need for qualified intelligence analysts is increasing. The national intelligence and security program is designed to help prepare students to work in the growing field of intelligence and security studies. Courses are designed to maximize student preparation for a wide range of intelligence careers and directly address the course components and skills identified and outlined by the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Graduate Faculty

Professors

• Charles F. Abel, J.D., Duquesne University, Ph.D., University of Maryland, Public Administration, Constitutional Law, Public Law
• Kwame Badu Antwi-Boasiako, Ph.D., Mississippi State University, Public Administration, Public Policy, International Relations
• Kenneth E. Collier, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin, American Politics, Political Behavior, Public Opinion
• Richard J. Herzog, Ph.D., University of New Orleans, Public Administration, Public Policy
• Michael P. Tkacik, Ph.D., University of Maryland, International Law and Relations

Associate Professors

• Alan I. Baily, Ph.D., Louisiana State University, Political Philosophy, Comparative Politics
• Cindy Davis, J.D., University of Richmond, Ph.D., Florida Atlantic University, Public Administration and Administrative Law
• George R. Franks Jr., Ph.D., Texas A&M University, Organizational Theory, Management Leadership
• Steve E. Galatas, Ph.D., University of Missouri, Comparative Politics
• Donald M. Gooch, Ph.D., University of Missouri, American Politics, Public Policy, Public Law
• Charles E. Gregory, Ph.D., University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, American Politics and Methods
• Julie Harrelson-Stephens, Ph.D., University of North Texas, International Politics, Political Economy, Human Rights
• Milton C. Hill, Ph.D., Sam Houston State University, Criminal Justice, Criminology
• Lee W. Payne, Ph.D., University of Houston, American Politics, Public Administration, Research Methodology
• Karren S. Price, J.D., Mississippi College School of Law, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Appellate Advocacy

Assistant Professors

• George J. Day, Ph.D., Sam Houston State University, Criminal Justice
• Spencer L. Willardson, Ph.D., University of Iowa, International Relations, Comparative Politics, Methodology

Graduate Assistantships

The M.P.A. and M.S. in national security programs offer a limited number of graduate assistantships. Graduate assistants are assigned research projects, administrative duties and limited teaching assignments with faculty members in the Department of Government. Graduate assistants are considered part-time employees and are expected to work 20 hours per week. A student interested in a graduate assistantship should contact the M.P.A. and national security program directors well in advance of the semester in which she or he is interested in the assistantship.

Programs

• National Security, Major
• National Security, Major, Thesis
• Public Administration, M.P.A.

• Public Administration Minor

• Nonprofit Management Certificate

• National Security, M.A.