The IU Online Graduate Certificate in Political Science provides graduate-level instruction to students interested in obtaining advanced skills and knowledge in this area. 

The IU Online Collaborative Graduate Certificate in Political Science provides instruction in the study of political philosophy, American politics, comparative politics, public opinion, and research methods. You will study major political figures, philosophies, and movements throughout history in order to understand the political events of today.  When you complete the program, you will be able to:

• Describe the subfields of political science, the central questions they address, and the methods they typically employ.  
• Evaluate and critique empirical social science research through literature review and the application of tools and strategies of political analysis.  
• Interpret, analyze, and trace the influence of major political thinkers and movements that have influenced the development of American democracy.  
• Isolate and analyze factors that shape the political attitudes, beliefs, and preferences of individuals and groups and map their impacts on political behavior and decision making.  
• Evaluate and analyze the major institutions of American national politics.  
• Situate and analyze American political institutions, processes, and behaviors in a comparative perspective that accounts for regional and international differences.  

Of Special Interest for Teachers/Instructors Needing to Meet HLC Dual-Credit Standards  

The Graduate Certificate in Political Science is ideal for those who want to teach dual-credit courses and who need to meet Higher Learning Commission dual-credit qualification standards. These standards require teachers wanting to teach dual-credit courses in political science to hold either a master's degree in political science 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 a discipline other than political science, you can meet HLC standards by completing the 18-credit hour Graduate Certificate in Political Science. 
• If you plan to pursue the IU Online MAT in Political Science, you may apply the 18 credit hours from the Graduate Certificate in Political Science toward the masters degree. 

Your IU Online Graduate Certificate in Political Science can help prepare you for careers in:   

• Education  
• Lobbying  
• Policy analysis  
• NGO management  
• National security  
• Public service  
• Politics  

This 100 percent online, consortial program is taught by IU Bloomington, IU East, IU Kokomo, IU Northwest, IU South Bend, and IU Southeast. This consortial model allows you to take coursework from multiple campuses and benefit from the expertise and experience of a diverse faculty.  

Certificate Requirements 

To earn the IU Online Collaborative Graduate Certificate in Political Science, students must complete the following six courses, totaling 18 credit hours: 

• POLS-P 570 Introduction to Politics I (3 cr.)
• POLS-Y 567 Public Opinion: Approaches and Issues (3 cr.) or
  • POLS-Y 575 Data Analysis for Political Science (3 cr.)
• POLS-Y 580 Research Methods in Political Science (3 cr.) or
  • POLS-Y 524 Research Methods for Public Affairs (3 cr.) or
  • STAT-S 512 Statistical Learning and Data Analysis (3 cr.) or
  • STAT-S 520 Introduction to Statistics (3 cr.)
• POLS-Y 657 Comparative Politics (3 cr.) or
  • POLS-Y 757 Comparative Politics (3 cr.)
• POLS-Y 661 American Politics (3 cr.)
• POLS-Y 675 Political Philosophy (3 cr.)