Political Science Graduate Certificate
Advance your knowledge of political science through focused graduate-level study in government, political institutions, political behavior, policy and related areas of the discipline.
- Offered 100% Online.
- 18 credit hours
- Not eligible for Title IV financial aid if not a degree-seeking student
Program Highlights
Enhanced Expertise: Deepen your understanding of American federal and state politics and examine United States domestic and foreign policy in the context of International Relations or Comparative Politics to provide a more rigorous classroom experience.
Targeted Credentialing: Meet state and regional requirements for teaching college-level courses in high school and community college settings.
Flexible Completion: This program is fully online and can be completed in as few as three semesters to fit an educator's schedule. Courses will be offered in 8-week intervals.
Stackable Credits: Courses completed for this certificate may be paired with 18 hours in Curriculum and Instruction at East Texas A&M to fulfill requirements for the Curriculum and Instruction Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree, or they may be transferable to a master’s degree program in political science at another institution.
What Are My Job Opportunities?
Completing the Political Science Graduate Certificate can help you prepare to teach college-level government and political science courses.
Careers Possibilities
Current Median Salaries from US DOL Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2023. Figures reflect the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metropolitan area.
Some positions may require additional certifications and training.
Program Details
Our program aims to equip you with the expertise to teach college-level government and political science courses in secondary and community college settings.
What Might I Learn?
You will have the opportunity to gain experience in a number of key areas.
American Government and Politics
Develop a deeper understanding of American political institutions, processes and issues.
American Politics in a Global Context
Examine American politics in the context of international relations, comparative politics and political theory.
State and Local Government
Develop a deeper understanding of Texas political institutions, processes and issues.
Taking Classes
Designed for working professionals, our program offers a flexible, fully online format to help you advance your career. Learn from anywhere, at your own pace, while balancing your professional and personal commitments.
For an up to date list of course offerings, locations and times, please check the schedule of classes, which is subject to change.
Curriculum
Our Political Science Graduate Certificate offers a focused, flexible curriculum designed for educators seeking the credentials and expertise needed to teach Dual Credit U.S. Government and other college-level political science courses, such as State Government. Build advanced knowledge of American national and state politics while exploring International Relations and Comparative Politics, with fully online coursework that can be completed in as little as three consecutive semesters and applied toward future graduate study.
I’m Looking for Something Different
Student Organizations
East Texas A&M proudly hosts the Zeta Gamma chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha. In addition to public service projects, the political science honor society provides an outlet for political thought and challenges students to pursue excellence in all parts of their lives. The Zeta Gamma chapter seeks to instill a passion for the political and social realms of our society in their members so they may enlighten and influence our state, nation and world.
finding my community
Robert G. Rodriguez, Ph.D.
Jangsup Choi, Ph.D.
Ozum Yesiltas, Ph.D.
Advance Your Career
Advance Your Career with Dual-Credit Teacher Credentialing for only $6,000.
Unlock opportunities for yourself and your students! Gain the knowledge to introduce high school students to college-level coursework and make higher education more accessible and affordable.
Our flexible program is designed for working professionals. Whether you have a master's and need 18 hours in a content area, or seek a master's and 18 content-area hours, this program will help you prepare to teach dual-credit courses in Political Science.
Note: For those who already have a master’s degree and only need 18 hours in a content area.
Note: Students seeking a master’s and 18 content-area hours may pursue a master’s in their content area or in Higher Education.
How Do I Get Started?
If you have not already done so, complete the Request Information form. You will be connected with your enrollment specialist, who can answer your questions. When you’re ready, go ahead and follow the steps below to apply.
Admissions Requirements
To be considered for admission, you must first meet the following criteria.
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
Admission Process
Once admitted, you must:
- Earn a 3.0 GPA on all required coursework (No course substitutions may be applied on graduate certificates)
- Submit a Completion of Certificate Request while taking your final graduate certificate courses.
Note: This graduate certificate is currently not available to international students.
Submit a graduate application here or create an ApplyTexas account or login if you already have one.
- Create an ApplyTexas account or login if you already have one
- Complete your profile section first once you log into your account
- Select “School Search” and select East Texas A&M
- Choose the semester you wish to begin
- Select “Political Science, Graduate Certificate” as your “Program.”
- Pay the $50 application fee.
Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.
- Within two business days of your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.
Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.
- Upload your documents at myLeo > Apps > Check Admissions Application Status & Test Scores or email your documents to your graduate coordinator unless otherwise specified below.
Your Graduate Coordinator
Domestic Transcripts
Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to your Graduate Student Services Coordinator. We accept transcripts officially via email (directly from the institution), through Parchment, and any other official transcript providing agency. If your university does not offer an electronic transcript service, you may request them to be sent via regular mail to:
East Texas A&M University
Attn: Graduate School
2600 S. Neal St.
Commerce, Texas 75428
If your degree is from East Texas A&M University, you do not have to order a transcript. We will access your transcript.
If we already have your transcript, we will reuse it for a new application as long as it is still on file.
International transcripts
WES ICAP evaluations will be required for certain countries; those are listed below:
- Transcripts/Degrees from universities in Nigeria
- Transcripts/Degrees from universities in China that do not come from CSSD (formerly CHESICC)
- Any country where the official transcript is not in English
For all other countries, an evaluation is not initially required. Original official transcripts are required for admission consideration.
Please know that upon receipt of your official transcript, the Graduate School reserves the right to require an external evaluation at that time.
Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to:
East Texas A&M University
Attn: Graduate School
2600 S. Neal St.
Commerce, Texas 75428
We will need official/original documents.
If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact your graduate coordinator for more information.
Review the Application Packet for more information.
Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status
- Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.
- Apply for scholarships and graduate assistantships once you are admitted.
- Apply for financial aid by submitting a FAFSA and sending it to school code 003565.
- Contact your financial aid advisor with any questions.
Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your graduate enrollment specialist will contact you to complete registration.
View Degree Plan
DegreeWorks is where you track your progress through your program and make sure you are meeting all your requirements for graduation.
- Sign in to myLEO
- Navigate to “Student Resources”
- Select “Grad School DegreeWorks”
Register for Classes
- To register for classes, go to myLEO > Student Resources > Registration Menu.
Contact your graduate enrollment specialist if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.
Your Graduate Enrollment Specialist
Contact Us
- Department of Social Sciences
- 903.886.5317
- 903.886.5318
- [email protected]