The Double Dawgs program was created to give ambitious and motivated students a competitive advantage in today’s knowledge economy. By earning both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in five years or less, students can save time and money while positioning themselves for success after graduation. SPIA offers five different Double Dawgs programs with the AB in Political Science. For more general information about the Double Dawgs program, click here.
How to Apply
- All of these programs have a two-step application process. The first step is the Application to the Pathway. The requirements to apply to the Pathway are:
- Minimum 3.5 UGA GPA
- Minimum 60 hours in-progress with at least 30 hours of UGA coursework (excluding AP, IB, or transfer credits)
- 9 hours of major coursework completed or in-progress
- Once those requirements are met, an interested student submits an application to Paul Welch in 103 Candler Hall for initial eligibility review. Eligible applications are forwarded to the Double Dawg Coordinator of the graduate program for approval. Admission to the Pathway does not imply admission to the graduate program. The Pathway allows students to take graduate courses and the graduate program to test the student.
- Accepted Pathway students begin graduate coursework as early as the fall term of the third year. 12 hours of graduate coursework applies towards both degrees and may count towards undergraduate major or general elective requirements. Students must graduate with the A.B. at the end of their fourth year.
- SPIA will host further events with information specific to each graduate Double Dawgs program covering in-depth descriptions of the academics of each graduate program, differences in the Pathway, and time-lines for application to the Graduate School. There will also be information available via https://spia.uga.edu in the near future.
- SPIA Double Dawgs Program Contacts:
- Eligibility and A.B. Questions: Paul Welch [email protected]
- Double Dawg Coordinators:
- MPA Programmatic Questions: Sam Cannon [email protected]
- M.A. & M.I.P. Programmatic Questions: Megan Morgan [email protected]
- M.A. Graduate Coordinators: Dr. Shane Singh (International Affairs) and Dr. Geoff Sheagley (Political Science)
- M.I.P. Coordinator: Dr. Joshua Massey
AB in Political Science & Master of Public Administration
The A.B. in Political Science offers a broad and deep understanding of politics within a structured program of study. In addition to a liberal arts foundation, it focuses on a range of courses covering politics in the United States, important debates in political philosophy, legal and constitutional issues, research skills and other topics. Students focused on public service, public policy, government, politics, and law find a ready home in the program.
The Master of Public Administration is designed to develop professionals who can use their educational expertise to work productively at all levels of public sector management as well as in research. This makes it an ideal graduate program for the political science major interested in a professional career in public service, politics, and government.
The MPA program requires 41 credit hours including a public management core, a research methods sequence, and a cognate of elective courses which can be shaped into an area of specialization or offer a generalist approach. More information on the MPA program and requirements can be found at the program website.
Double Dawgs students begin their MPA coursework with PADP 6910 “Public Administration and Democracy” no later than the second term of their third year. They continue with two additional Public Management Core classes in the first term of the fourth year and at least PADP 7110 “Research Methods in Public Administration” in the second term of the fourth year. Ideally, Double Dawgs students will also take two additional MPA courses in their final term of undergraduate studies.
Double Dawgs students apply to the Graduate School for admission to the graduate program in the first term of the fourth year.
Individual students’ timelines will vary, so it is important to plan in consultation with both the undergraduate and graduate program advisors for any Double Dawgs program.
AB in Political Science & MA in Political Science & International Affairs
The A.B. in Political Science offers a broad and deep understanding of politics within a structured program of study. In addition to a liberal arts foundation, it focuses on a range of courses covering politics in the United States, important debates in political philosophy, legal and constitutional issues, research skills and other topics. Students focused on public service, public policy, government, politics, and law find a ready home in the program.
The Master of Arts (MA) in Political Science and International Affairs is administered jointly by the Departments of Political Science and International Affairs and is designed as a preparation for the PhD. The program is designed for students who wish to study politics in its many forms, but who also want to develop the analytic skills necessary to achieve mastery in their areas of study. The degree offers the opportunity to specialize in international relations, comparative politics, American politics, or political theory (including methodology).
Most M.A. students will continue on to Ph.D. programs, but others will find opportunities in public service, policy organizations, data analytics companies, political consulting, and government.
The M.A. program offers two options: non-thesis or thesis.
The nonthesis option is 33 credit hours includes 9 graduate seminars and a 2-course sequence in methodology. Seminars include at least one preseminar in American politics and topical courses like “Constitutional Law: Rights and Liberties” and “Problems in Democratic Thought: Social Justice” among many others. The research sequence includes consecutive courses in POLS 7012 “Introduction to Political Methodology” and POLS 7014 “Intermediate Political Methodology.” Additionally, nonthesis students must complete an article with a faculty major professor.
The thesis option is 30 credit hours including 7 graduate seminars, a 2-course methodology sequence as above, and an additional course of thesis work (. A master’s thesis must be completed to earn the degree.
Double Dawgs students begin M.A. coursework in the second term of their third year with a graduate seminar. In the first term of the fourth year, students being the methodology sequence with POLS 7012. POLS 7014 completes the methodology sequence in the second term of the fourth year while the student finishes all A.B. requirements. An additional upper-level seminar completes the 12 graduate credits earned during the undergraduate degree.
Double Dawgs students apply to the Graduate School at the end of their third year and first graduate courses.
Individual students’ timelines will vary, so it is important to plan in consultation with both the undergraduate and graduate program advisors for any Double Dawgs program.
AB in Political Science & Master of International Policy
The A.B. in Political Science offers a broad and deep understanding of politics within a structured program of study. In addition to a liberal arts foundation, it focuses on a range of courses covering politics in the United States, important debates in political philosophy, legal and constitutional issues, research skills and other topics. Students focused on public service, public policy, government, politics, and law find a ready home in the program.
The Master of International Policy (MIP) prepares students for careers in the international arena through a rigorous course of study in policy analysis and international affairs. The program relies on a problem-oriented approach so as to prepare students for the complex work of defining, analyzing, and solving real-world challenges.
MIP students explore a range of contemporary national and international security issues and examine how political, economic, and social forces affect policy formation and implementation. Additionally, the program offers a highly specialized focus on nuclear nonproliferation and strategic trade.
MIP courses are taught by nuclear security experts at the Center for International Trade and Security (CITS), as well as by scholars in the School of Public and International Affairs and the School of Engineering. The MIP program of study consists of a minimum of 36 credit hours (12 classes) and the completion of a capstone project.
Double Dawgs students begin their MIP coursework with INTL 6200 “Pre-Seminar in International Relations” no later than the second term of their third year. They continue with INTL 6000 “Foundations of International Policy” and INTL 6010 “Research Methods in International Policy” in the first term of the fourth year and continue with 1 more topical course in the second term of the fourth year.
Double Dawgs students apply to the Graduate School for admission to the graduate program in the first term of the fourth year.
Individual students’ timelines will vary, so it is important to plan in consultation with both the undergraduate and graduate program advisors for any Double Dawgs program.
AB in Political Science & Master of Arts in Teaching
The A.B. in Political Science offers a broad and deep understanding of politics within a structured program of study. In addition to a liberal arts foundation, it focuses on a range of courses covering politics in the United States, important debates in political philosophy, legal and constitutional issues, research skills and other topics. Students focused on public service, public policy, government, politics, and law find a ready home in the program.
The social studies Master of Arts in Teaching program uses a cohort model, and cohorts begin in the fall semester each year. We accept applications on a rolling basis, beginning Oct. 15, for the first cohort of Double Dawg students. Prospective students can apply during the entire year before their intended fall semester start, up to July 1 before fall semester begins in August.
Application decisions are usually made within two to three weeks of a complete application. Late applications that come in after the mid-March target deadline will be considered on a case-by-case basis, and those decisions generally will be made within two to three weeks of a complete application.
If you are admitted to the Double Dawgs pathway that leads to a Master of Arts in Teaching, you will need to obtain a preservice certificate. More information about the steps to apply will be provided after admission.
For more information about the MAT, click here.
AB in Political Science & Juris Doctorate
The A.B. in Political Science remains one of UGA’s leading pre-law majors. It offers a broad and deep understanding of politics with a liberal arts foundation and focuses on a range of courses covering politics in the United States, important debates in political philosophy, legal and constitutional issues, research skills and other topics. Students interested in preparation for law studies find a ready home in the program.
Students in the School of Public and International Affairs may apply to the University of Georgia School of Law 3+3 Program. Qualified UGA undergraduates may apply to the UGA School of Law during the Spring Semester of their 3rd or Junior Year of Undergraduate Study, and begin Juris Doctor course work full time during their 4th or Senior year of Undergraduate Study if admitted. More information is available at the 3+3 Program website.
