Master of Arts, Political Economy

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Master of Arts (M.A.), Political Economy: The study of principles of government, history, economics and human nature. 44 hours. Prerequisite: Bachelor's Degree.

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Graduation Requirements

	Credit Hours
Standard Coursework	28 Credits
Prospectus & Thesis/Project	16 Credits
Total:	44 Credits

 

Coursework

Semester 1 (8 credits)
	PS		6010		Political Philosophy I (2 credits)
	PS		6020		Political Economy I (2 credits)
	PS		6030		Political Philosophy II (2 credits)
	PS		6040		Public Policy I (2 credits)
Semester 2 (10 credits)
	PS		6110		International Relations (2 credits)
	PS		6120		Constitutional Law (2 credits)
	PS		6130		Biblical Law (2 credits)
	PS		6140		Public Policy II (2 credits)
	PS		6190		Thesis Prospectus I (2 credits)
Semester 3 (10 credits)
	PS		6210		Federalist Papers (2 credits)
	PS		6220		Tocqueville (2 credits)
	PS		6230		Political Economy II (2 credits)
	PS		6240		Political Economy III (2 credits)
	PS		6290		Comprehensive Examination (2 credits)
Semester 4 (8 credits)
	PS		6300		Thesis Prospectus II (2 credits)
	PS		6310		Thesis I (3 credits)
	PS		6320		Thesis II (3 credits)
Semester 5 (8 credits)
	PS		6410		Thesis III (3 credits)
	PS		6420		Thesis IV (3 credits)
	PS		6490		Thesis Defense (2 credits)*
	* A student's oral thesis defense takes place during the first two weeks of May after the completion of the Winter semester.

 

PS6010 Political Philosophy I (2 credits)

Education has too often been confused with the reciting of facts, timelines and the opinions of teachers. True education is discovery: being exposed to original sources and discovering, for yourself, strengths and weaknesses, truths and fallacies. This course is designed to begin your exposure to original works that can only be fully understood by careful reading, studying, cross-referencing and pondering. Statesmanship requires firsthand knowledge of the core political principles and philosophies upon which good government is founded.

• Roots of American Order, by Russell Kirk
• The Communist Manifesto, by Marx and Engels
• The Prince, by Nicolo Machiavelli
• The 5,000 Year Leap, by Cleon Skousen
• Other readings may be assigned in addition to or in place of those listed above.

PS6020 Political Economy I (2 credits)

Until approximately 100 years ago, the field of Political Economy I entailed an in-depth study of human nature, encompassing the fields of Political Philosophy I, Economics and Psychology. This course will bring these various areas of philosophy back into one whole, offering a far deeper understanding of the mind of man. In this course you will analyze why people do what they do, buy what they buy, and think what they think.

• Essays on Political Economy I, by Fredric Bastiat
• Selected Readings from John M. Keynes
• The Wealth of Nations, by Adam Smith
• Das Kapital, by Karl Marx
• Other readings may be assigned in addition to or in place of those listed above.

PS6030 Political Philosophy II (2 credits)

Plato and Aristotle are said to be two of the most influential pioneers in political thought, setting a foundation of questions and assumptions that directly influenced the philosophers who followed. Great political philosophers from Plato down through Locke not only challenged prevailing assumptions, they asked questions of humanity, causing those who heard them to stop and think. Even the political discussions of our day have roots in these and other great political philosophies. Knowing the arguments they used and the conclusions they adopted will help prepare students to engage in meaningful discussions of the ways of man and his political nature.

• Politics, by Aristotle
• The Republic, by Plato
• Selected Readings from David Hume
• Selected Readings from Jean Jacque Rousseau
• Other readings may be assigned in addition to or in place of those listed above.

PS6040 Public Policy I (2 credits)

A statesman must know and understand the policy that is being created in the world around him.  Learn the methods, techniques and current processes of applying ideas, concepts and principles--political and cultural--into the public policy arena.  This course is a primer on how to take idealistic principles and analyze and apply them with an eye towards real life utilization in the public sector.

• Directed Research
• Other readings may be assigned in addition to or in place of those listed above.

PS6110 International Relations (2 credits)

As analysis and study of the principles of international relations particularly among developed nations in the post-145 era, with emphasis on scholarly research into international issues and concepts.

• Directed Research
• Other readings may be assigned in addition to or in place of those listed above.

PS6120 Constitutional Law (2 credits)

For centuries, the U.S. Constitution  has been heralded as a Banner of Liberty to the world.  This course has been designed to significantly increase students' knowledge and understanding of the Constitution and to familiarize the student with the long train of philosophers and political history which led to its creation.

• The Making of America, by Cleon Skousen
• Selected Readings from Polybius
• Selected Readings from Cicero
• Directed Research from The Founders' Constitution, by Kurland and Lerner

PS6130 Biblical Law (2 credits)

Great Political Philosophers throughout history, including the founders of America, studied ancient Biblical Law.  Rather than focusing on federal jurisdiction, Biblical Law focuses on local government giving express detail on representation.  The purpose of this course is to give the student an in-depth understanding of the governmental laws of the ancient Israelites as found in the Bible.

• The Holy Bible The Pentateuch/Torah
• Other readings may be assigned in addition to or in place of those listed above.

PS6140 Public Policy II (2 credits)

A statesman must know and understand the policy that is being created in the world around him.  Learn the methods, techniques and current processes of applying ideas, concepts and principles--political and cultural--into the public policy arena.  This course builds upon Public Policy I.

• Directed Research
• Other readings may be assigned in addition to or in place of those listed above.

PS6190 Thesis Prospectus I (2 credits)

After roughly one-third of required coursework is complete, candidates will begin planning their Thesis.  In this course, candidates are mentored in the process of choosing their thesis topic, and determining initial steps in the ultimate completion of the thesis portion of this degree.

PS6210 Federalist Papers (2 credits)

The Federalist Papers give deep insight into the original intent of at least three of the major thinkers of the founding era and their purposes for nearly each section and clause of the United States Constitution.  This is designed to be an intense and thorough study of The Federalist Papers--what some have called the greatest political work ever.

• The Federalist Papers, by Jay, Madison and Hamilton

PS6220 Tocqueville (2 credits)

During this course, students will gain an in-depth and personal knowledge of Tocqueville's view of 1830's America and see the immediate results of 50 years of freedom as vouchsafed by the United States Constitution. This course will help the student to compare it with the less effective governmental structures in places like Europe and the southern United States. The student will complete an intense review of the political, social, economic, cultural, educational, and other factors which made America great. This course will provide an exciting review of Tocqueville's predictions, many of which have come true, and an analysis of the future. The student will learn how to think like Tocqueville and analyze current systems and cultures with an eye toward future prediction.

• Democracy in America, by Alexis de Tocqueville

PS6230 Political Economy II (2 credits)

Political Economy cannot be completely understood without looking closely at the Austrian School of Economics as taught through Ludwig von Mises, as well as general cycles.  This course gives candidates a closer look at both, and prepares them to develop informed opinions as they finish up coursework and engage in their thesis research. 

• Human Action, by Ludvig von Mises
• Money, Bank Credit and Economic Cycles, by jesus Huerta de Soto

PS6240 Political Economy III (2 credits)

Candidates look closely at the theories that have shaped monetary policy in the US and world over the last century by studying John Maynard Keynes as well as general monetary history in the United States.

• A General Theory of Employment Interest and Money by John Maynard Keynes
• A Monetary History of the United States by Freidman and Schwarts

PS6290 Comprehensive Examination (2 credits)

PS6300 Thesis Prospectus II (2 credits)

After all required coursework is complete, candidates will take their thesis planning to the next step, working with their mentor to solidify their plan for the research and writing portions of the thesis requirement.  Upon completion of this course, focused research and writing will then take place, until the thesis is completed and defended.

PS6310 Thesis I (3 credits)

Upon completion and acceptance of the prospectus, candidates will engage in focused research on the thesis topic of their choosing.  They will gather data, and other information that will help them make their case in the final thesis.

• Research
• Other readings may be assigned in addition to or in place of those listed above.

PS6320 Thesis II (3 credits)

Upon completion and acceptance of the prospectus, candidates will engage in focused research on the thesis topic of their choosing.  They will gather data, and other information that will help them make their case in the final thesis.

• Research
• Other readings may be assigned in addition to or in place of those listed above.

PS6410 Thesis III (3 credits)

Thesis III and Thesis IV are dedicated to intense writing and working with the thesis committee to edit and refine content and presentation.  Candidates should also spend time during these two courses preparing to defend both their coursework and their thesis. 

• Research
• Other readings may be assigned in addition to or in place of those listed above.

PS6420 Thesis IV (3 credits)

Thesis III and Thesis IV are dedicated to intense writing and working with the thesis committee to edit and refine content and presentation.  Candidates should also spend time during these two courses preparing to defend both their coursework and their thesis. 

• Research
• Other readings may be assigned in addition to or in place of those listed above.

PS6490 Thesis Defense (2 credits)

Candidates will spend two hours preparing to defend their thesis, and then actually defending it.  In the event that the defense has to be retaken one or more times, additional fees will be required for each retake.

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