The Department of Political Science & International Affairs is Ranked #1 for Online Programs
The Department of Political Science & International Affairs was ranked #1 by SR Education Group in national 2017 rankings for value and affordability. According to Dr. Irene Kokkala, director of UNG’s Division of Distance Education and Technology Integration, “These rankings are a testament to how we strive to bring high-quality and affordable education options to students who cannot take traditional courses due to high demand in other areas of their lives.” SR Education Group, an education publisher founded in 2004, said, “This set of rankings represents schools across the nation that are making an effort to provide economical options for students.”
UNG’s associate of arts core curriculum with a pathway to political science and master of arts in international affairs earned the university the Number 1 spot. The Department of Political Science and International Affairs was an early adopter of online programs. The department began offering a fully online master of arts in international affairs (M.A.I.A.) degree in the fall semester of 2009. All courses in the M.A.I.A. program were developed and are taught by full-time faculty members who hold terminal degrees and have active research agendas in international affairs. Since its inception 43 students have graduated from the program. Currently 45 students are enrolled in the program. In fall 2016 the department began offering a fully online Associate in Arts, Core Curriculum – Political Science pathway. In conjunction with UNG Online and eCore, the pathway offers students the opportunity to complete all required courses in Area F (which are offered by the department on a two-year rotation).
Dr. Craig B. Greathouse, associate head of UNG’s Department of Political Science and International Affairs, noted, “We are able to bring these effective and efficient programs directly to students wherever they are and provide an opportunity to get a degree from a fully accredited university while learning from full-time faculty members who also teach in-person classes. We have excellent economic value compared to other online programs, and our graduates leave very well prepared for their next venture, be it professional or academic.” Our third online degree program, the Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) Program, is currently being developed under the direction of Dr. Luisa M. Diaz-Kope.
