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Indiana University Online

Political Science, Graduate Certificate

Prepare yourself to become a dual-credit teacher in high school or a community college instructor with the IU Online Graduate Certificate in Political Science. Learn about the major political thinkers and movements that have influenced the development of American democracy, and hone your ability to evaluate and analyze the major institutions of American national politics.

Course Delivery: 100% Online

Total Credits: 18

In-State Tuition Per Credit: $350.00

Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit: $490.00

Cost of attendance may vary by campus. View the total cost calculator

Certificate Overview

Your Graduate Certificate in Political Science from IU Online will introduce you to the subfields of political science and the central questions they address; provide you with the political analysis tools you need to critique empirical social science research; help you identify the factors that shape the political attitudes, beliefs, and preferences; and situate American political institutions, processes, and behaviors in a comparative perspective.

You’ll graduate with an Indiana University certificate respected by employers worldwide—and you can work on yours anytime and anywhere. Plus, you’ll enjoy personalized support services throughout your academic journey.

To be accepted to this program, you must have:
  • A bachelor's degree
  • 3.0 GPA or above on a 4.0 scale
To apply to this program, complete an online application that includes:  
  • Official transcripts from each undergraduate institution 
  • 250-word personal statement explaining background and reasons for entering the program
Application Dates

Spring semester: Jan 1

Note: This program is not eligible for financial aid.

 

This graduate certificate is available at IU East, IU Kokomo, IU Northwest, IU South Bend, and IU Southeast.

The Graduate Certificate in Political Science is ideal for those wanting to teach dual-credit courses in high school or university-level courses in community colleges. The certificate meets Higher Learning Commission standards. These standards require teachers wanting to teach dual-credit courses/community college courses to hold either a master's degree in their area of instruction or a master's degree in another discipline (such as education), plus at least 18 credit hours of discipline-specific graduate coursework.

If you hold a master's degree in another discipline, you can meet HLC standards by completing the 18-credit hour Graduate Certificate in Political Science.

Your IU Online Graduate Certificate in Political Science prepares you for such careers as:

  • Dual-credit teacher in high school
  • Community college instructor

To earn the Graduate Certificate in Political Science, you must complete  18 credit hours.

Core Classes for the Graduate Certificate in Political Science
Course Number Course Name Credits
POLS-P 570 Introduction to the Study of Politics 3 Credits
POLS-Y 567 Public Opinion: Approaches and Issues 3 Credits
POLS-Y 580 Research Methods in Political Science 3 Credits
POLS-Y 657 Comparative Politics 3 Credits
POLS-Y 661 American Politics 3 Credits
POLS-Y 675 Political Philosophy 3 Credits

Find course descriptions with our Search Schedule of Classes/Courses tool.

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