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The M.A. in Government consists of 39 credit hours. If completed as a Joint Degree, 30 credit hours are required. Certificate programs of 12 credit hours are also offered. See the M.A. DEGREE PLANS page for specific degree plans. RSG continually develops classes that help to prepare students to become both philosophically sound and technically efficient. With this goal in mind, new courses are frequently added to the curriculum.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
GOV 601 Quantitative Analysis (3)
| Skills for quantitative data gathering, measurement, policy analysis and program evaluation. Research and sampling design, surveys, data collection and data reduction and display. Review of basic statistics through multivariate analysis, z-scores, regression through the use of statistical computer package (SPSS), and a Judeo-Christian perspective on the use of statistics. |
GOV 602 Principles of Economics (3)
| Study of the Judeo-Christian foundations of economic activity, work and wealth, enterprise and stewardship, money, interest and debt, trade and development and the role of government in the economy. |
GOV 603 Governmental Research Methods (3)
| Analysis of basic research design strategies. Students attain statistical literacy as they generate and critique research reports normally required in a variety of governmental settings. |
GOV 604 Christian Foundations of Government (3)
| Offers a Biblical perspective of the religious, philosophical, and cultural foundations of Western civilization as expressed in education, law, ethics, biology, politics, science, psychology, sociology, economics and history. It will contrast Biblical Christianity with the other principal worldviews in Western civilization: Secular Humanism, Marxism/Leninism and Cosmic Humanism (New Age), and will analyze public policy issues using each worldview. |
GOV 610 Political Philosophy (3)
| Historical review of the great philosophers of politics and government, in the Western tradition from ancient Greece to the modern era |
GOV 611 American Government (3)
Topics covered will include the major institutions created by the Constitution: legislative, executive and judicial branches, and extra-constitutional institutions such as political parties, interest groups, the media, and bureaucracies. The foundations and history behind these institutions will also be studied through an examination of the colonial and founding periods. Principles such as federalism, the separation of powers, democracy, the rule of law, and separation of church and state will also examined and critiqued. |
GOV 612 Public Policy Analysis(3)
| Prepares students to solve public problems using the critical-thinking skills of identification, analysis and synthesis; to determine a public problem and the key factors and stakeholders; to conduct rigorous research to validate the factors of the problem and ancillary impacts of the solution on other areas of governance; and to work in a team to develop a policy that solves the problem. Within a competitive environment, each team presents their policy, and debates and negotiates with other teams who represent diverse approaches to the problem. |
GOV 615 Economic Policy (3)
| Reviews advanced economic topics and analyze economic and international trade policies in light of global trade issues. In addition to conducting cost/benefit analysis of economic policies, examine and present alternative solutions to trade and finance problems. |
GOV 619 Constitutional Law and Policy I (3)
| Examines the history of the Constitution, the structure, power and limitations of each of the 3 branches of the federal government, the power and rights of the states, and authority of local governments (countries and cities). Also examines the purported constitutional authority of various governmental policies. |
GOV 620 Constitutional Law and Policy II (3)
| Considers the Bill of Rights (including the delicate relationship between church & state, freedom of speech and freedom of worship), the rights of liberty, equal protection and due process arising from the 14th Amendment, and the subsequent rise and effects of judicial policy-making (including the "right to privacy," the "right to intimate sexual choice," and the "right to die.") |
GOV 621 Public Program Evaluation/Planning (3)
| Provides conceptual and methodological tools to analysts charged with assessing and evaluating program implementation. Develop an understanding of different analytic strategies for assessing if a program is being instituted as designed and is reasonably connected to its articulated goals. Focuses on formative and summative evaluations. |
GOV 622 Religion and Politics (3)
| Covers the basic aspects of religion and politics as reflected in scholarship and period sermons. There are also strong connections with scriptural principles relevant to the topic. |
GOV 623 Public Policy Initiatives (3)
| Covers the basic aspects of various current policy initiatives. Each topic has a class devoted to biblical principles, guest lectures from experts in the related fields and brief oral reports presented by students. |
GOV 624 Crisis Management (3)
| Builds on the core course "Problem Solving through Strategic Decision Making," and challenges students to think strategically about how to using prior planning to avoid crises, and to think strategically about solving unanticipated political problems. Students are equipped to develop timely, principled responses to crisis situations and to develop ethical approaches to implement damage control strategies. |
GOV 630 Public Human Resource Management (3)
| Focuses on the history, evolution and modern-day dynamics, policy and issues within human resource management. Discuss examples from all three levels of government |
GOV 634 Public Budgeting and Taxation Policy (3)
| Understand how to develop successful fiscal policy initiatives. Specifically, a sufficient understanding of the technical material and the political processes involved in making tax and spending policy in order to effectively interact with other professionals in the development, prosecution and ultimate attainment of a public policy objective. Recommended: complete Principles of Economics or equivalent experience to be determined by the instructor. |
GOV 635 Presidential Leadership (3)
| Presents the unique dynamics of leadership studies as applied to the role and duties of the President of the United States. Historical, personal and anecdotal data are included in the analysis of this most unique of elected governmental positions. |
GOV 636 Congressional Leadership (3)
| Facilitates a better understanding of the: workings of the federal and state government; legislative process; relationship between bicameralism, federalism and the republican form of government; and the roles of elected representatives and the legislative staffs. Sharpen verbal and analytical skills involving political analysis. |
GOV 637 International Relations and National Security Policy(3)
| Covers concepts related to the collapse of the Westphalian system of international relations that has largely guided foreign policy discourse between nations since 1648. In addition, it briefly focus on international relations (IR) theory and approaches to existing world political orders with a special emphasis on the emerging phenomenon of international terrorism and will feature trends, key concepts, key actors, and the tools and rules that international politics generally abide by. Accordingly, the principle goal of the course is to provide students with the theoretical and conceptual tools required to understand the emerging and ever change world political structure and order. |
GOV 638 The European Union (3)
| Deals with the evolution and integration of Europe, from Common Market to political union; the contending world views (e.g. Christian roots, and secular philosophies); the new European Constitution (e.g. Charter of Fundamental Freedoms); the re-structuring of independent nation-states into a supranational structure, with demands for common foreign & defense policies, adjustments to a common currency, and the struggle for social cohesion and cultural identity. |
GOV 639 The American and English Constitutions (3)
| Explores the common roots of English and American constitutional law—the Magna Carta, the1628 Petition of Rights and the Bill of Rights of 1689—and the work of English philosophers, theologians, and legal educators who influenced these roots. It explores how existing English common law principles such as habeas corpus and the rule of law affected the U.S. Constitution, and the philosophical underpinnings for these principles. It also considers the differences between constitutions, and how these differences influence political structure. |
GOV 646, 647, 648 Special Topics in Government and Politics (3)
| Analysis of a current governmental and political topic. Enrollment limited. |
GOV 650 Christian Apologetics (3)
| A review of the philosophical methodologies used in the defense of the Christian faith, especially evidentialism (facts to faith) and presuppositionalism (faith to facts), focusing on the relationship between faith and reason in current Catholic and Protestant defenses, and with biblical applications to modern and postmodern challenges. No former training in philosophy is required; students from all schools are welcome. Cross-listed as TCDH 523 in School of Divinity. |
GOV 651 Biblical Law (3)
| Exegetical course in the laws of the Bible, using the Decalogue as its own principle of organization. Develops the meaning of the laws in context and their appropriate applications, with emphasis on the nature of their applicability to policy issues such as pluralism, penology, lawful oaths, blue laws, church and state jurisdiction, gender roles, marriage, capital punishment and other topics. Cross-listed as LAW 811 Biblical Law. |
GOV 653 Middle East Politics (3)
| Covers the 20th-century political history of the Middle East and its regional issues, such as the Arab-Israeli conflict, territories, arms, oil and both Western and Islamic alliances, with emphasis on forming an appropriate United States foreign policy in view of these realities and in response to Biblical prophetic and mission teachings. |
GOV 654 International Politics (3)
| Promotes a God-centered understanding of international affairs, and to apply Biblical principles to an analysis of peoples, nations, and international organizations; to help discern the footprints of the coming of Christ's new world-wide order. It covers concepts and approaches to international politics and organizations, the development of global governance, the new relations among superpowers and middle powers, with special regional emphasis on the New Europe and North American hemisphere. |
GOV 655 International Human Rights (3)
| Critical analysis of international human rights documents, with special emphasis on the contributions of the United Nations, legal and religious scholars and international law groups, church organizations and other groups. Cross-listed as LAW 883. |
GOV 658 American Political Thought (3)
| Examination of the philosophical and religious roots of early America from the colonial era to the formation of the Constitution. |
GOV 659 Qur’anic Law (3)
| An analysis of the text of the Arabic Qur'an in English, and the three kinds of commentary on it by Muslims: Islamists, Traditionalists, and Reformists. The students will compare the translation and commentary of three published Qur'ans, respectively those of Hilali & Khan, Abdullah Yusuf Ali, and Maulana Muhammad Ali. Lectures and assignments will seek to understand the Qur'anic basis of these three expressions of Islamic religion, politics, human rights and law, and Christian conceptual strategies to challenge them. Cross listed as LAW 812. |
GOV 661 Political Leadership and Management (3)
| Campaign finance. Interns. Scandals and cover-ups. These familiar issues in American politics reflect the importance of character in the people involved in the political process. This course in the political management program emphasizes ethics in American politics. Students work toward developing a clear, coherent, and biblical framework to guide their personal and professional behavior in politics, through readings and activities that combine a normative understanding of Christians and political engagement with analyses of contemporary real-world politics. |
GOV 663 Campaign Management and Strategy (3)
| Presents the major elements and organization of a political campaign plan are introduced, as well as foundational guidance on developing and implementing a campaign plan. Particular emphasis is placed on techniques for developing an effective political message, organizing personnel, developing a budget, and managing a campaign timeline. It also addresses strategic thinking and anticipating and planning for political problems and crises. Students are expected to apply a coherent set of ethics to the course content. This course is a prerequisite for Political Communication Strategy, Advanced Paid Media Campaigning, Advanced Grassroots Strategy, Advanced Coalition Building. |
GOV 664 Political Communication (3)
| Focuses upon the development of an overall campaign communication strategy by creating effective messages. Methods of message delivery will also be covered as well as mothods of assessing the impact of communications. The role of the communications director and establishing effective relationships with the press and media will be explored. Upon completion of the course the student will become well aquainted with campaign communication strategies and techniques. |
GOV 668 Political Organizations and Behavior (3)
Addresses the major theories and how these theories apply to campaign and other political situations. The learner will understand the composition of past and present party coalitions with emphasis on political behavior. The learner will acquire an understanding of the American political system, institutions and processes including analysis of key individuals in the political arena. Ethical conduct from a Christian perspective within political organizations will be emphasized. |
GOV 669 Public Management (3)
| Examination of the management process in federal government and agencies, focusing on contemporary issues and problems facing the modern-day federal manager, how the manager addresses these issues and with what tools. Uses case studies. |
GOV 670 Principles of Public Administration (3)
| An in depth analysis of the history of the discipline of American public administration and a development of several distinct principles of normative administrative theory and Judeo-Christian ethics based upon classics in the field. |
GOV 671 Organizational Theory (3)
| Focuses on theories of organizational structure, dynamics, policy and issues within the public organization. |
GOV 673 International Democratic Development (3)
| Deals with the international agendas to promote good government and market economies in new and emerging democracies. It covers competing concepts of, and new approaches to, democracy and development. In addition, it highlights the perceived linkages between human rights, global democracy, and global development. |
GOV 674 The International Economy (3)
| Presents the theoretical basis, historical development, institutional structure and current debates about the international economy as well as examining the concepts of comparative advantage and the gains from trade, exchange rates and alternative mechanisms for balance-of-payments adjustment, and the problems and instruments of trade policy. Lessons learned from the successes and failures of past international economic arrangements are reviewed. The purpose, organization, operation, and problems of the key international economic agencies governing the world economy (IMF, WTO, World Bank) are covered. Finally, the current controversies about the performance of the international economic system are evaluated, and the possibility for reform assessed. |
GOV 675 Hemispheric Integration (3)
Reviews the development experience of countries of the Americas and their search for a set of multilateral arrangements that will promote the harmonious and balanced development of the region. Focus is upon: 1) the development history of the Americas in the broader context of the world economy 2) the history of individual Latin American countries and how that history has been shaped by the international economy 3) development strategies and their efforts promoting regional economic integration, greater political and economic co-operation and more effective regional governance. |
GOV 676 Asian Politics (3)
| Deals with Asia’s wars and peace in the 20th century, and the dynamic political, economic, and religious developments in the 21st century. It will also discuss the division and desire for unification of Korea, and China’s rise as a regional and global power. Includes an analysis of ASEAN’s goal to move from economic cooperation to political integration and regional security; and the consideration of the role of APEC and Asia’s future relations with The United States and European Union. |
GOV 677 Terrorism and Homeland Defense (3)
| Broadens individual understanding of the ever changing nature of international terrorism and its consequences on American society at large. It covers the present-day US domestic and external responses to terrorism and focus on the rise of the US Homeland Security Agency. Also, there is a focus on trends in modern terrorism, especially the proliferation of WMD and what the US can do (or is doing) to counter such trends. |
GOV 678 Terrorism/Disaster Consequence Management (3)
| Assists local governments and communities in planning and preparing to deal with disasters on the scale of 9/11, major hurricanes, earthquake relief, and other natural and manmade occurrences that involve a large loss of life and/or substantial property and infrastructure damage. Taught in conjunction with experts from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other local responder agencies, the course is designed to inform the public and local government officials of what it takes to be prepared for disasters and natural occurrences of substantial consequence. |
GOV 679 National Security Affairs (3)
| Explores how and why national security decisions get made and the manner in which they are made. It is "designed to increase student understanding of the political, organizational, and behavioral phenomena that are relevant to national security decision making at the national level" of political discourse in the United States. Using policy analysis, it focuses on the critical changes within the international and domestic political arenas and explore how these changes impact national security decisions of the President and his key advisors. |
GOV 682 Fundraising and Campaign Finance Strategies (3)
| Presents the development and implementation of the financial strategies needed to organize and run an effective political campaign. It shows the learner how to develop a realistic campaign financial plan, manage budgets, and how to organize effective fundraising events. Special attention will be paid to election law, especially related to fundraising and reporting, as well as the proper submission of campaign finance reports. Upon completion, the student will become familiar with the complexities of campaign finance and develop an effective fundraising plan that reflects Christian based ethical values. |
GOV 683 Health Care Ethics (3)
| Focuses on developing and understanding the ethical principles and challenges germane to the health care industry. It aquaints the student with the ethical situations that occur in the delivery of health care. By gaining the knowledge and understanding of these problems and dilemmas, the student will be better equipped to become an effective leader in this industry by the application of Christian principles. |
GOV 686 Health Care Law and Policy (3)
| Designed to familiarize the learner with the legal and policy issues that impact the health care industry. Provides insight into how the legal system functions in health care environments. An introductory course concerning the implications of health care policy is presented. Cross-listed within the M.A. in Organizational Leadership program. |
GOV 687 Health Care Economics (3)
| Presents the basic economic consideration confronting health care organizations. The major topics include health care financing and management, insurance, cost benefit, cost containment, and decision-making strategies. Cross-listed within the M.A. in Organizational Leadership program. |
GOV 688 Health Care Administration (3)
| Focuses on the administrative and organizational concepts involved in managing complex health care organizations. Gives an understanding of the structure and function of operations within the health care system. Cross-listed within the M.A. in Organizational Leadership program. |
GOV 690, 691, 692 Independent Study (1-3)
| Take up to three independent studies with faculty beginning with GOV 690 and continuing with GOV 691 and GOV 692. Requires approval of the student's advisor through submission of Individual Study Form. |
GOV 695 Internship (3)
| Supervised work experience for the purpose of applying curriculum content to current public policy, political management or public administration issues. Requires approval of advisor through submission of Individual Study Form and written internship proposal. Political Management students may fulfill the internship requirement with volunteer and/or paid positions with two or more political campaigns, in consultation with the Program Director. |
GOV 698 Professional Project (3)
| Practical problem-solving project regarding a public policy, political management or public administration issue or other political topic conducted in close collaboration with a professor. Students can complete GOV 698 or GOV 699 to complete the core requirements |
GOV 699 Thesis (3)
| Research paper on a public policy, political management or public administration issue or activity. Requires approval of advisor through submission of Individual Study Form. Students can complete GOV 698 or GOV 699 to complete the core requirements |
GOV 700 Publishable Law Article Thesis Option (PLATO) (3)
| Option for Joint Degree with law students to complete their Government course requirements. This is a rigorous writing law paper with a research section relating to a public policy, political management or public administration issue. Requires approval of advisor through submission of Individual Study Form. |
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