Mar 28, 2024  
2008-2009 Graduate Catalog 
    
2008-2009 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

International Service Graduate Certificate


Contact: Jeffrey Pickering
E-mail: jjp@ksu.edu
Home Page: http://www.k-state.edu/polsci/programs/certificates/index.html

Offered through the Political Science graduate program, the certificate program in international service is designed to prepare graduate students for a wide variety of careers in international service. To permit maximum flexibility, students are able to specialize in a variety of areas. In addition to the traditional study of diplomacy and specific geographic areas of the world, students have the option of taking courses in the nationally recognized colleges of agriculture, business, and architecture and planning.

All students entering the program are required to take basic core courses in the social sciences as well as display language skills. Because language-qualified students are attractive to potential employers because they save companies the cost of employing interpreters, the certificate program stresses the importance of language competency. To prove to these employers that graduates of this program are especially well qualified, all students will be required to take a language examination similar to that given by the K.S. Department of State. Students obtaining the certificate will leave the program with a solid academic degree in political science as well as the practically oriented training needed to succeed in any career in international affairs.

Course Requirements:


This is an option within the MA degree that requires a unique set of courses. In addition to the core courses required for an MA in political science, the student will be required to take additional coursework. The total number of units required for this certificate will be 42. These units will be divided up as follows:

Total Units - 24


Other Required Courses:


History: One graduate course in history chosen by the student in consultation with the history department director of graduate studies.

Total Units - 6


Specialized Courses:


12 units at the discretion of the student’s advisor in political science who will assure cohesion to the 12 units. These courses may also include a 3 credit internship in the student’s area of specialization. All courses must be at the 600 level or higher, they must be an international focus, and they must be on a par with those required for the political science MA.