northwestern political science thesis

• Arryman Program

Fellows and Scholars

View fellows.

• Arryman Scholars

Luthfi Adam

PhD-2020; 2021-22 EDGS Research Fellow

Dr. Luthfi Adam graduated from the Department of History at Northwestern in 2020. He was awarded "Distinction" upon defense of his dissertation, " Cultivating Power: Buitenzorg Botanic Garden and Empire-Building in the Netherlands East Indies, 1745-1917 ." He also won the 2020 Harold Perkin Prize for the Best Dissertation in the Department of History at Northwestern. As a 2013 Arryman Fellow, Luthfi pursued a comparative study of the rise of native journalism and nationalism movements in post colonial countries. He graduated with a BA in Journalism at Padjadjaran University in 2007 and continued on with a master’s degree in cultural and media studies at Gadjah Mada University where he graduated cum laude in 2011 and then became a lecturer in Padjadjaran University.

Sofyan Ansori

Sofyan Ansori earned his bachelor’s degree in social anthropology at the University of Indonesia in 2009 with the highest GPA in his class. He was awarded a “Future Leadership Scholarship” from PPM School of Management in 2012 for his master’s degree. Since completing his studies, he has worked as an associate researcher and lecturer at the University of Indonesia. An experienced ethnographer, Sofyan will join Northwestern’s anthropology department where he is going to perform research on the sources of Central Kalimantan’s peatland fires.

Muhammad Fajar

Dr. Muhammad Fajar graduated from the Department of Political Science at Northwestern in 2020. He successfully defended his dissertation, " The Path to Preemption: The Politics of the Indonesian Student Movements during the Regime Transition, 1998-1999 ." As a 2013 Arryman Fellow, Muhammad researched democracy promotion policies in Indonesia supported by international agencies. He received his BA in sociology from University of Indonesia (UI). In 2011, he received the Netherlands Fellowship Program (NFP) scholarship for his master’s degree at the Institute of Social Studies, in the Hague, specializing in governance and democracy (G&D).

Sindhunata Hargyono

Sindhunata Hargyono is an anthropology graduate student at Northwestern. Sindhu graduated cum laude from the University of Indonesia’s department of Anthropology in 2013. Sindhu’s interests include digital photography and film, open source mapping and digital illustration. During his Arryman Fellow year his research focused on Indonesia’s Buru Island and how the Indonesian New Order materialized its totalitarian ambition through rendering untried political prisoners superfluous in Buru.

Norman Joshua

Norman Joshua is a history graduate student at Northwestern. Norman graduated from the University of Indonesia’s history department in 2014. Since graduating, Norman has worked as a writer and researcher at Majalah Loka, an online publication primarily concerned with historical, socio-political and cultural issues in Indonesia. During his Arryman Fellow year his research focused on the combination of the Indonesian gas and oil industry, bureaucratic incompetence, corrupt practices, overexpansion and the state of the global financial market during the 1970s oil boom.

Yoes Chandra Kenawas

Yoes Chandra Kenawas   is a political science graduate student at Northwestern .  As a 2014 Arryman Fellow, Yoes studied comparative politics, focusing on the rise of political dynasty and oligarchy at the local level in the post-New Order Indonesia. Yoes graduated from Parahyangan Catholic University, Bandung, with a BA in international relations. He completed a MA in Asian studies at S. Rajaratman School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He was also a visiting lecturer at Parahyangan Catholic University and served as a research associate at the Centre for Innovation, Policy and Governance.

Robie Kholilurrahman

Robie Kholilurrahman completed his bachelor’s degree in international relations at the University of Indonesia in 2016 with a thesis titled, “State and Mobile Investors Relation on Industrialization in Post New Order Indonesia (1998-2014).” Since graduating, he has worked as a researcher at the Research Institute for Crisis and Alternative Development Strategies (INKRISPENA), and as a research associate at the Directorate for Foreign Politics and International Development Cooperation at the Ministry of National Development Planning (BAPPENAS). At Northwestern, Robie will join the Department of Political Science where he will conduct research on the topic of political economy of industrialization.

PhD-2021; 2021-22 EDGS Research Fellow

Bahram Naderil

Bahram Naderil intends to pursue his doctorate at Northwestern in the Department of Anthropology. He completed his bachelor’s degree at the University of Jember, writing a thesis focused on women’s rights in the United States and the 2013 repeal of the Pentagon’s combat exclusion policy. He has received honors of being named the “National Best Speaker” in the 2013 National University Debating Championship. During his Fellow year his research focused on women’s struggles against male domination in Indonesian Islam and Christianity.

Mirna Nadia

Mirna Nadia is a sociology graduate student at Northwestern. Her research is focused on sexual reproductive health and rights and the state’s efforts to regulate sexuality particularly among women and adolescents. She obtained her bachelor degree from the School of Life Sciences and Technology, Bandung Institute of Technology, and was part of the Physiology, Animal Development, and Biomedical Sciences group. She continued her study in international health at the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University with a scholarship award from the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education from 2014-2016.

Aulia Dwi Nastiti

Aulia Dwi Nastiti intends to pursue her doctorate at Northwestern in the political science department. She did her bachelor’s degree in the Department of Communication at the University of Indonesia, where she is currently a researcher and junior lecturer in media studies. She completed her master’s degree at the Universite Jean Mouli Lyon 3 with her thesis entitled, “Culture and Cultural Policy in a Globalized Context: The Case of Indonesia.” During her fellow year she focused her research on how new “digital middleman” technologies, such as Uber, are changing the political economy of commodification, labor and power across a range of societies.

Sabina Satriyani Puspita

Sabina Satriyani Puspita is a political science graduate student at Northwestern. As a 2014 Arryman Fellow, Sabina studied comparative politics, focusing on China, Indonesia and the Philippines. Sabina graduated from Ursuline Wenzao College of Languages, Kaoshiung, Taiwan, with a BA in translation. She graduated with an honor of academic performance. She worked as in-house translator/interpreter to the Public Affairs Division, Taipei Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta. She also freelanced as a translator/interpreter from Mandarin to Bahasa Indonesia and English.

Febi Rizki Ramadhan

Febi Rizki Ramadhan is an anthropology graduate student at Northwestern. As a 2018 Arryman Fellow, he conducted ethnographic research on the performativity of violence towards several minority groups in Indonesia.Febi obtained his bachelor degree from Department of Anthropology, University of Indonesia. Febi has worked as a researcher at various research centers, including the Center for Gender and Sexuality Studies, University of Indonesia. His research interests include gender and sexuality, political-economy and morality.

Sari Damar Ratri

Sari Damar Ratri intends to pursue her doctorate at Northwestern in the Department of Anthropology. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of Indonesia and her master’s degree in medical anthropology and sociology at the University of Amsterdam. Sari was the 1st prize winner of ISRSF’s national women’s essay competition in 2014. Currently she is an associate researcher at the University of Indonesia’s Center for Gender and Sexuality Studies.

Muhammad Ridha

Muhammad Ridha earned his bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of Indonesia. His thesis was, “Hegemonic Contestation of Batang’s Peasant Movement.” Supported by an Australian Development Scholarship, he received his master’s from Murdoch University with a thesis entitled, “The Development of a Universal Social Security System in Indonesia.” He once worked at Pusat Kajian Politik (Puskapol) Universitas Indonesia as researcher prior his to master’s and became an independent consultant and researcher for several non-governmental organizations in Indonesia. He plans to study in the political science department at Northwestern, where he will deepen his research on the political economy of welfare programs.

Perdana Roswaldy

Perdana (Pepe) Roswaldy is a sociology graduate student at Northwestern University. After four years of studying the Russian language and Soviet art politics, she took an unexpected detour to land conflicts and plantation economics in Southeast Asia. She received a Kellogg-DRRC grant for her thesis on land conflict and gendered climatic shock in 2019. Her current project is the afterlives of colonial plantations across postcolonial countries.

Amrina Rosyada

Amrina Rosyada graduated  cum laude  from Cultural Anthropology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia in 2019. At Northwestern, Amrina is a part of the Department of Anthropology. Her research interest concerns the history of Indonesian anthropology, as well as misinformation and “uncanny stories” circulating during the pandemic time among urban Indonesians.

She has also written several essays that have won national prizes and have been published in national and international online media alike, namely  The Conversation Indonesia ,  IndoProgress, and  Inside Indonesia . Her latest essay about women war victims during Japanese colonialism in Indonesia won the 2 nd  prize in ISRSF Women Essay Competition.

She co-founded and manages a book review blog, The Suryakanta.

Eunike Setiadarma

Eunike G. Setiadarma (Nike) is a history graduate student at Northwestern. She graduated from Parahyangan Catholic University, Bandung with a BA in international relations. She completed her master of science in international development at the University of Manchester, UK with a scholarship award from the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP). Previously she worked as researcher and in 2017, was awarded a research fellowship by the Science and Technology Policy Institute (STEPI), South-Korea. Nike wants to study the course of development idea and scientific institutions in Indonesia after World War II. 

Atmaezer Hariara Simanjuntak

Atmaezer Hariara Simanjuntak (Ara) is an Anthropology graduate student at Northwestern. He graduated  cum laude  from Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, with a BA in Anthropology. Since graduating, he has worked as a researcher for private and public sectors in Indonesia, with a specialization in socio-economic and development issues. His current research project looks at the legacies of colonial plantations in the global south, especially how plantation economies' financialization and moralization organize environments, bodies, and social relations. Always trying to think from and with the plantation landscape, he also writes about multispecies relations, hope, and emerging forms of resistance among indigenous laborers in West Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Kadek Wara Urwasi

Kadek Wara Urwasi is a sociology graduate student at Northwestern. As a 2014 Arryman Fellow, Wara studied urban sociology, focusing on conflicts in cities and the role of urban policies and planning. She graduated from the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Udayana University, Denpasar. She obtained her master of architecture in urban design (first class with distinction), School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, India. Wara is also an award-winning writer and a poet. She is a recipient of Asian Public Intellectual (API) Fellowship from the Nippon Foundation in 2012 – 2013 to conduct a research on the cultural landscape of urban design in Japan and Malaysian cities.

Rahardhika Arista Utama

Rahardhika Utama is a Ph.D. candidate in Sociology at Northwestern University. As an Arryman Scholar, Rahardhika’s research focuses on the variation of development among agrarian economies in the Global South. He examines historical factors that transform and sustain agrarian society by tracing domestic and international forces from colonial to contemporary periods that affect paths of economic development. For his dissertation project, Embedded Peasantry and Economic Transformation in the Asian Rubber Belt , he employs the case of natural rubber plantation and manufacturing industries to examine the bifurcation of development among historically prominent rubber producing countries in Asia. He utilizes a comparative historical framework to analyze evidence collected through extensive archival research at 20 libraries and archive centers in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Netherlands, the United States, and the United Kingdom. He also gathered oral history, interviews, and observations from multi-sited ethnography fieldwork in multiple rubber communities in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Myanmar. Rahardhika’s research paper, Embedded Peasantry: Path-Dependence and Economic Transformation in Indonesia and Malaysia , won an Honorable Mention for the Outstanding Graduate Student Article Award by the Sociology of Development Section, American Sociological Association In 2020. 

Website: www.rahardhika.com

About the Lab

Publications

Past Research

The Northwestern Political Science Research Lab (PSRL) is located in Scott Hall 319. The lab includes 15 networked laptop stations with internet access, MediaLab, and Z-Tree software. (The laptops also can be used for studies off-site.) Use of the lab is available to political science faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students for conducting research and is available to other Northwestern affiliates upon request to Prof. Jamie Druckman.

PSRL also supports the Undergraduate Political Science Research Participation Requirement, which serves to provide a participant pool for those conducting research in the lab. The Research Pool Coordinator for the 2021-2022 academic year is Suji Kang ( [email protected] ). More information about the requirement can be found here .

PSRL participates in the Consortium for Laboratory Experiments in Political Science .

A platform for executing experiments with nationally-representative samples is Time Sharing Experiments for the Social Sciences (TESS). Jamie Druckman currently serves as Co-PI for TESS. More information about TESS can be found here .

Sample Publications from PSRL Research

Busby, Ethan C., Adam J. Howat, Jacob E. Rothschild, and Richard M. Shafranek. The Partisan Next Door: Stereotypes of Party Supporters and Consequences for Polarization in America . New York: Cambridge University Press, Forthcoming. Link

Busby, Ethan C. Should You Stay away from Strangers? Conducting Experiments on the Political Consequences of Intergroup Contact . New York: Cambridge University Press, 2021. Link

Levy, Jeremy, Robin Bayes, Toby Bolsen, and James N. Druckman. “Science and the Politics of Misinformation.” In Howard Tumber and Silvio Waisbord, Routledge Companion to Media Misinformation & Populism . New York: Routledge, 2021.

Shafranek, Richard M. “Political considerations in nonpolitical decisions: A conjoint analysis of roommate choice,” Political Behavior , 43(1): 271-300, 2021. PDF

Anderson, Sarah E., Daniel M. Butler, and Laurel Harbridge-Yong. “Rejecting Compromise: Legislators' Fear of Primary Voters, ” New York: Cambridge University Press, 2020. Link

Michelson, Melissa R. and Brian F. Harrison. “Transforming Prejudice: Identity, Fear, and Transgender Rights, ” New York: Oxford University Press, 2020. Link

Shafranek, Richard M. “Political Consequences of Partisan Prejudice,” Political Psychology , 41(1): 35–51, 2020. PDF

McGrath, Mary C. and Alan S. Gerber. “Experimental evidence for a pure collaboration effect, ” Nature Human Behaviour , 3: 354–360, 2019. PDF

Gans-Morse, Jordan, Alexander Kalgin, Andrei Klimenko, Dmitriy Vorobyev, and Andrei Yakovlev. “Public Service Motivation as a Predictor of Altruism, Dishonesty, and Corruption, ” Institute for Policy Research Working Paper Series , 2019. PDF

Gans-Morse, Jordan. “Self-Selection into Corrupt Judiciaries, ” Institute for Policy Research Working Paper Series , 2019. PDF

Mullinix, Kevin J. “Civic Duty and Political Preference Formation,” Political Research Quarterly , 71(1): 199-214, 2018. PDF

Druckman, James N., Matthew S. Levendusky, and Audrey McLain. “No Need to Watch: How the Effects of Partisan Media Can Spread via Inter-Personal Discussions,” American Journal of Political Science , 62: 99-112, 2018. PDF , ONLINE APPENDIX

Busby, Ethan C., David Doyle, Kirk A. Hawkins, Nina Wiesehomeier. “Activating populist attitudes: The role of corruption.” In Kirk A. Hawkins, Ryan Carlin, Levi Littvay, and Cristóbal Rovira Kaltwasser, eds., The ideational approach to populism: Concept, theory, and method , 374-395, 2018. New York: Routledge.

Rothschild, Jacob E., Adam J. Howat, Richard M. Shafranek, and Ethan C. Busby. “Pigeonholing Partisans: Stereotypes of Party Supporters and Partisan Polarization.” Political Behavior : 1-21, 2018. PDF

Gans-Morse, Jordan, Alexander S. Kalgin, Andrei V. Klimenko, and Andrei A. Yakovlev. “Motivations for Public Service in Corrupt States: Evidence from Post-Soviet Russia, ” Higher School of Economics Public and Social Policy Working Paper Series , 2017. PDF

Robison, Joshua. “The Social Rewards of Engagement: Appealing to Social Motivations to Stimulate Political Interest at High and Low Levels of External Efficacy, ” Political Studies , 65:24-41, 2017. PDF

Mullinix, Kevin J. “Partisanship and Preference Formation: Competing Motivations, Elite Polarization, and Issue Importance, ” Political Behavior , 38:383-411, 2016. PDF

Robison, Joshua, and Kevin J. Mullinix. “Elite Polarization and Public Opinion: How it is Communicated and its Effects, ” Political Communication , 33:261-282, 2016. PDF

Druckman, James N., Mauro Gilli, Samara Klar, and Joshua Robison. “Measuring Drug and Alcohol Use Among College Student-Athletes,” Social Science Quarterly, 96:369-380, 2015. PDF , ONLINE APPENDIX

Bolsen, Toby and James N. Druckman. “Counteracting the Politicization of Science, ” Journal of Communication , 65:745-769, 2015. PDF

Mullinix, Kevin J., Thomas J. Leeper, James N. Druckman, and Jeremy Freese “The Generalizability of Survey Experiments, ” Journal of Experimental Political Science , , 2015. PDF

Bolsen, Toby, James N. Druckman, and Fay Lomax Cook. “The Influence of Partisan Motivated Reasoning on Public Opinion,” Political Behavior , 36:235-262, 2014. PDF

Klar, Samara. “Partisanship in a Social Setting,” American Journal of Political Science , 58:687-794, 2014. PDF

Leeper, Thomas J.“The Informational Basis for Mass Polarization,” Public Opinion Quarterly 78:27-46, 2014. PDF

Druckman, James N. “Stunted Policy Support,” Nature Climate Change , 3: 617, 2013. PDF

Druckman, James N., Erik Peterson, and Rune Slothuus. “How Elite Partisan Polarization Affects Public Opinion Formation,” American Political Science Review , 107: 57-79, 2013. PDF

Klar, Samara. “The Influence of Competing Identity Primes on Political Preferences,” Journal of Politics , 75:1108-1124, 2013. PDF

Druckman, James N. and Arthur Lupia. “Experimenting with Politics,” Science 335: 1177-1179, 2012. PDF

Druckman, James N., Jordan Fein, and Thomas J. Leeper. “A Source of Bias in Public Opinion Stability,” American Political Science Review , 106: 430-454, 2012. PDF

Druckman, James N. and Thomas J. Leeper.“Is Public Opinion Stable?: Resolving the Micro-Macro Disconnect in Studies of Public Opinion,” Daedalus 141:50-68, 2012. PDF

Druckman, James N. and Thomas J. Leeper.“Learning More from Political Communication Experiments: Pretreatment and Its Effects,” American Journal of Political Science , 56: 875-896, 2012. PDF

Harrison, Brian F.“Bully Partisan or Partisan Bully?: Partisanship, Elite Polarization, and U.S. Presidential Communication,” Dissertation Chapter 3, 2012. PDF

Druckman, James N. and Toby Bolsen.“How Scientific Evidence Links Attitudes to Behaviors,”in David Dana, ed., The Nanotechnology Challenge: Creating Law and Legal Institutions for Uncertain Risks . New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2012. PDF

Bolsen, Toby. 2011. “A Light Bulb Goes On: Invoking Norms in Appeals for Collective Action.” Political Behavior . PDF

Druckman, James N., and Toby Bolsen. 2011. “Framing, Motivated Reasoning, and Opinions about Emergent Technologies,” Journal of Communication 61: 659-688. PDF

Chong, Dennis, and James N. Druckman. 2011. “Identifying Frames in Political News.” In Erik P. Bucy and R. Lance Holbert, eds., Sourcebook for Political Communication Research: Methods, Measures, and Analytical Techniques . Routledge. PDF

Chong, Dennis, and James N. Druckman. 2010. “Dynamic Public Opinion: Communication Effects Over Time,” American Political Science Review 104: 663-680. PDF

Druckman, James N., Cari Lynn Hennessy, Kristi St. Charles, and Jonathan Weber. 2010. “Competing Rhetoric Over Time: Frames Versus Cues,” The Journal of Politics , 72: 136-148. PDF

Druckman, James N. 2010. “Competing Frames in a Political Campaign,” in Brian F. Schaffner and Patrick J. Sellers, eds., Winning with Words: The Origins and Impact of Framing , 101-120. New York: Routledge. PDF

Druckman, James N., Cari Lynn Hennessy, Martin J. Kifer, and Michael Parkin. 2010. “Issue Engagement on Congressional Candidate Websites (2002-2006),” Social Science Computer Review 28: 3-23. PDF

Druckman, James N., Martin Kifer, and Michael Parkin. 2010. “Timeless Strategy Meets New Medium: Going Negative on Congressional Campaign Websites, 2002-2006,” Political Communication , 27: 88-103. PDF

Druckman, James N., Martin Kifer, and Michael Parkin. 2009. “Campaign Communications in U.S. Congressional Elections,” American Political Science Review 103: 343-366. PDF

Examples of Past Research

Amanda Sahar d'Urso. “What does Muslim/MENA Mean?” Ph.D. Political Science Research (2021).

A recent study (d'Urso, Under Review) suggests white Americans do not assign those from Middle Eastern or North African (MENA) countries as white, despite being legally classified as such under US law. However, this study did not consider how white Americans would classify those from the MENA if a specific 'Middle Eastern and North African' label was not explicitly given. This measurement study found that in the event that no MENA label was presented, on average, respondents did not assign MENA individuals as white. Most often, respondents selected either 'Asian' or 'other'. However, when MENA was presented as an option, respondents overwhelmingly selected this option. This suggests not including the category could result in measurement error when evaluating MENA individuals.

Additionally, we wanted to see how often individuals conflated Muslims with Middle Easterners and vice versa. We randomly assigned respondents to either to write an open-ended response about a typical MENA American or a typical Muslim American. Qualitative coding of the responses found that, on average, when prompted to write about Muslim Americans, respondents mentioned a typical Muslim being from the MENA roughly 10% of the time. On the other hand, when prompted to write about MENA Americans, respondents mentioned a typical MENA individual being Muslim roughtly 25% of the time. This may suggest that MENA individuals are associated with being Muslim more often than Muslims being MENA. These findings are to be used to supplement conjoint analyses on the intersection of Muslim and MENA identity on belongingness in the US.

Caroline Pippert. “Audit Studies Research.” Ph.D. Political Science Research (2021).

Sam Gubitz. “Preference Change Research.” Ph.D. Political Science Research (2021).

Daniel Molden. “Political Affiliation and Student Inferences.” Psychology Faculty Research (2021).

Monique Newton. “Anxiety Research” Ph.D. Political Science Research (2021).

Irene Kwon. “Marginalized and Financial Identities Research.” Ph.D. Political Science Research (2021).

Farhana Islam. “Determining Unawareness in Environmental Justice Issues and Potential Solutions.” Legal Studies Research (2021).

Matthew Nelsen. “Political Empowerment Research.” Ph.D. Political Science Research (2021).

Suji Kang. “Misperceptions Research.” Ph.D. Political Science Research (2021).

Michael A. Spikes. “Efficacy of Teaching Technique of Cognitive Apprenticeship.” Ph.D. Education and Social Policy Research (2021).

Robin Xu Bayes. “COVID Optimism Pilot.” Ph.D. Political Science Research (2021).

Jeremy Levy. “Political Misperceptions and Reality Constraints to Motivated Reasoning.” Political Science Ph.D. Research (2020).

Maya Novak-Herzog. “Consent Vignettes.” Ph.D. Political Science Research (2020).

Dan Molden. “A Pilot Study on Political Prejudice.” Psychology Faculty Research (2020).

Lucas de Abreu Maia, University of California, San Diego. “Consequences of Ideology: Affective, Attitudinal, and Behavioral Effects of Ideological Identification.” Ph.D. Political Science Research (2020).

Irene Kwon. “Financial Identity.” Ph.D. Political Science Research (2020).

Jeremy Levy. “Investigating Demonstrably False Misperceptions and Reality Constraints.” Ph.D. Political Science Research (2020).

Michael Spikes. “Familiarity with Media & News Literacy.” Ph.D. Learning Sciences Research (2020).

Sam Gubitz.“'Knock the f*cking legs off': Black Americans and contentious protests.” Ph.D. Political Science Research (2020).

Margaret Brower, University of Chicago. “Intersectionality & Political Behavior: Why Framing Matters for Women’s Organizations.” Ph.D. Political Science Research (2020).

Amanda Sahar d’Urso. “Does MENA Individuals’ Physical Traits and Self-Identification Influence White Prejudice?” Ph.D. Political Science Research (2020).

Ivonne Montes Díaz. “The Role of Racial Group Identity and Economic Threat on Attitudes Towards Immigration.” Ph.D. Political Science Research (2019).

Andrew Thompson. “When Others Are Helped: The Effect of Group Beneficiaries, Group Threat, Narratives on Policy Opinion.” Ph.D. Political Science Research (2019).

Tabitha Bonilla, Amanda Sahar d’Urso, and Sam 'S,R.' Gubitz. “Where to Place Sensitive Questions in an Experiment---Pre-treatment or Post-treatment.” Institute for Policy Research and Ph.D. Political Science Research (2019).

Sam 'S.R.' Gubitz. "Political incivility is a feature, not a bug: Why mediated incivility is not bad for democracy." Ph.D. Political Science Research (2019).

Suji Kang. “The Role of Affective in Measuring Supreme Court Legitimacy.” Ph.D. Political Science Research (2019).

Andrew Thompson. “Facing Threat: Analyzing Emotional Reactions to Demographic Change Using Facial Expression Recognition.” Ph.D. Political Science Research (2019).

Jacob Rothschild and Ethan Busby. Ph.D. Political Science Research (2019).

Ethan Busby and Andrew Thompson. “Different (Race) Cards in the Deck: Images and Text Racial Messaging.” Ph.D. Political Science Research (2019).

Brianna White, Kumar Ramanathan, and Denzel Avant. Ph.D. Political Science Research (2018).

Chris Petsko and Daniel Molden. Ph.D. and Psychology Faculty Research (2018).

Richard Shafranek. "Political Considerations in Nonpolitical Choices." Ph.D Political Science Research (2018).

Ethan Busby, Richard Shafranek, Adam Howat, and Jacob Rothschild. "Not all stereotypes are equal: Consequences of partisan stereotypes on polarization." Ph.D Political Science Research (2018).

Ethan Busby and Jacob Rothschild. "Conflict and connections between outgroups." Ph.D Political Science Research (2018).

Chris Petsko and Dan Molden. Ph.D and Psychology Faculty Research(2017).

Tabitha Bonilla. “Bridging the Partisan Divide on Immigration Policy Attitudes through a Bipartisan Issue Area: The Case of Human Trafficking.” Institute for Policy Research (2017).

Tabitha Bonilla. “The Effect of Campaign Promises.” Institute for Policy Research (2017).

Ethan Busby. “It's not who you know, it's how you meet: A lab study.” Ph.D. Political Science Research (2017).

Matthew Gates. Undergraduate Honors Thesis (2017).

Brian Hamel. Ph.D. Political Science Research (2017).

Laurel Harbridge Yong. Political Science Faculty Research (2017).

Adam Howat. Ph.D. Political Science Research (2017).

Mary McGrath. Political Science Faculty Research (2017).

Richard Shafranek. Ph.D. Political Science Research (2017).

D.J. Flynn. “The Scope and Correlates of Political Misperceptions.” Ph.D. Political Science Research (2016).

Ethan Busby, Adam Howat, Jacob Rothschild, Richard Shafranek. “What are They Like? Stereotypes of Party Supporters.” Ph.D. Political Science Research (2016).

Brian Harrison. (2016).

Ethan Busby. "Exploring the Social Side of Populism." Ph.D. Political Science Research (2016).

D.J. Flynn. "Misinformation and Candidate Evaluation." Ph.D. Political Science Research (2015).

Jordan Gans-Morse. "The Correlates of Public Service" Political Science Faculty Research (2015).

Georgia Kernell. "Heterogeneity, Candidate Identity, and Party Perceptions." Political Science Faculty Research (2015).

Heather Madonia. "Private Politics and Public Opinion." Ph.D. Political Science Research (2015).

Yoshikuni Ono. "Social Desirability Bias on Survey Responding." Political Science, Tohoku University (2015).

Laura Rozier. "The Media, the Innocent, and the Public: A Nuanced Look at Exonerations and Public Opinion of Capital Punishment." Undergraduate Honors Thesis (2015).

Julia Valdes. "Individuals’ Choice of Recipient of Political Communication." Ph.D. Political Science Research (2015).

Ethan Busby. "Is it better to be anxious or indecisive? A comparison of two approaches to partisan motivated reasoning." Ph.D. Political Science Research (Spring and Fall 2014).

Christoph Nguyen. Ph.D. Political Science Dissertation Research (2014).

Leslie McCall, Sociology Faculty Research (2014).

Kevin Mullinix. Ph.D. Political Science Dissertation Research (2013-2014).

Rachel Moskowitz. Ph.D. Political Science Dissertation Research (2013-2014).

Joshua Robison. Ph.D. Political Science Dissertation Research (2014).

Yanna Krupnikov. Political Science Faculty Research (2012).

Brian Harrison. Political Science Ph.D. Dissertation Research (2012).

Kevin J. Mullinix. “Deception and Experimental Validity.” Political Science Ph.D. Student Research (2012).

Brian Harrison. “The Partisan Pulpit: Motivated Reasoning and Partisan Evaluations of the President.” Political Science Ph.D. Dissertation Research (2011).

Samara Klar. “Voices of Reason: The Moderating Influence of Diverse Discussion on Strong and Weak Partisans.” Political Science Ph.D. Dissertation Research (2011-12).

Thomas J. Leeper. “Mass Polarization: The Effects of Issue Importance and the Information Environment.” Political Science Ph.D. Dissertation Research (2011).

Joshua Robison. Political Science Ph.D. Dissertation research (2012).

Jon Caverley. Political Science Faculty Research (2012).

Seoyoon Choi. “How Americans Structure Political Attitudes.” Ph.D. Dissertation Research (2011).

Jason Seawright. Political Science Faculty Research (2011).

Kieran Bezila. Sociology Ph.D. Dissertation Research (2011).

Thomas J. Leeper. “How Attentive Do Citizens Need to Be to 'Get' the News?” Ph.D. Dissertation Research (2011).

Erik Peterson. “Competitive Partisan Issue Framing.” Undergraduate Honors Thesis (2011).

Stephanie Letzler. “The Post-Feminist Female Voter: Is 'Sisterhood' Still Powerful?” Undergraduate Honors Thesis (2011).

Monica Prasad. “The Influence of Recipient's Race on Altruism.” Sociology faculty Research.

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Master's in Public Policy and Administration | Northwestern SPS - Northwestern School of Professional Studies

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Program Overview

Master's in Public Policy and Administration

Master of Arts in Public Policy and Administration

Build the analytical, administrative, and leadership skills needed to make an impact. Northwestern’s master's in public policy and administration offers a unique and comprehensive opportunity to delve into both the administrative and analytical sides of policy. This holistic approach is grounded in the perspective that policy challenges are fluid, interconnected, and global. With this perspective, graduates will have the tools needed to rise in the field and drive change at the local, national, and international levels.

Earn your master's degree from Northwestern entirely online or with a blend of online and on-campus courses on Northwestern's Chicago campus.

REQUEST INFORMATION START MY APPLICATION VIEW UPCOMING INFORMATION SESSION

Two facets of policy, one unique program

As a master's in public policy and administration student, you'll earn your master’s degree in one of the only programs that focuses on both policy and administration and build the leadership, administrative, and analytical expertise needed to drive change at the local, national, and international levels.

Students in the MPPA program will:

• Develop the skills needed to drive change in government, education, and nonprofit organizations
• Study under world-class faculty including Fulbright Fellows, DHS Fellows, Congressional advisors, Civitas Scholar recipients, National Institute on Aging grant recipients, among others
• Critically examine public organizations and leadership using the theories and concepts of collaborative systems
• Learn to apply methods for analyzing policies such as cost-benefit analysis, economic evaluation, and statistics
• Leverage the flexible curriculum to enroll in both online and on-campus courses, depending on their specialization and their schedules.

Choose your specialization

Public Administration

Public Policy

Global Policy

Global Health

Data Analytics for Public Policy

Make informed decisions using a global perspective.

The master's in public policy and administration program helps students put their analytic skills and administrative knowledge together into a new, synergistic perspective and understand how these connect to achieve global solutions in an increasingly interdependent world. The program prepares students to do the following:

• Compare the methods international governments use to make policy decisions with the U.S. policy-making milieu.
• Examine the effects of international organizations on world politics.
• Collaborate with global client organizations on live projects in the MPPA Global Policy Lab . Past clients include the American Red Cross and The Urban Institute.
• Develop a theoretical and technical understanding of demographic, economic and sociological tools.
• Discuss the current debates surrounding topics such as world economic systems, international trade, monetary policy, and global resource allocation.

Choose the pace that's right for you

Accelerated full-time and part-time options.

The MPPA program is offered in part-time and accelerated full-time formats. The part-time option offers a flexible curriculum with five specializations and a wide range of electives that enable you to create the course of study you need to meet your career goals while maintaining full-time commitments through part-time study. The full-time option offers a curated curriculum with three specializations comprising mostly on-campus courses. You can complete your degree through part-time, nonresidential study or the one-year accelerated option . Whatever you choose, you will learn from experienced, engaged faculty who are thought leaders in their fields.

Please note: the part-time program cannot satisfy any visa eligibility requirements; only students in the full-time, accelerated option may use the program for visa eligibility.

Find out more about the differences between the accelerated full-time and part-time options. 

(The MPPA) gives you an opportunity to study public administration and public policy. If you want to be an effective agent of change, I think you need both skills.”

Santiago Ernesto Castrillon, MPPA student

Law is reactive. If you want change, you have to effect it at the policy level.”

I loved my time at Northwestern. The people that I've met and the resources that I've been able to connect to will serve me well throughout my career.”

Nick Mathiowdis (MPPA '17) Housing Authority of Cook County

Not only was [behavioral economics] interesting to me academically, but those ideas have helped inform my professional work. In the world of politics, a lot of the questions are about how people are going to react to situations.”

Prepare for roles in government, education, NGOs, and nonprofit organizations

During the master's in public policy and administration program, students build skills that are relevant to a variety of fields — public and private. After successful completion of this interdisciplinary professional program, graduates will possess the knowledge and aptitude to:

• Evaluate the collaborative inter-organizational, inter-governmental, and international public policy and administrative environment
• Apply a standard of ethics to policy and administrative context
• Design public policies and programs
• Assess the effectiveness and efficiency of public policies and programs
• Communicate relevant policy or program information to diverse stakeholders
• Lead public organizations to implement policy decisions with respect and understanding for the broader institutional, societal, economic and political environment
• Manage public resources to achieve organizational goals

More about the MA in Public Policy and Administration

• Request Information about MPPA
• MPPA Areas of Specialization

Public Policy and Administration Curriculum

Public policy and administration course schedule.

• Admission for Master's Programs

MPPA Tuition and Financial Aid

• Registration Information for Master's Programs

Public Policy and Administration Careers

Public policy and administration faculty, mppa student leadership council.

Before applying to the master's in public policy and administration, be sure to review curriculum details and elective choices to make sure they align with your future goals.  The MPPA program requires the successful completion of 13 courses. The curriculum covers nine core courses, three elective courses corresponding to a declared specialization, and a capstone (498) or thesis (590) project. 

• MPPA 401: Research Methods
• MPPA 402: Public Finance and Budgeting
• MPPA 403: Fundamentals of Public Administration
• MPPA 404: Microeconomics for Public Policy and Administration
• MPPA 405: Statistics for Research
• MPPA 406: Program Evaluation and Policy Analysis
• MPPA 407: Scope and Theory of Public Policy
• MPPA 408: Public Organization Theory and Management
• MPPA 418: Ethics and Leadership
• Three specialization courses
• MPPA 498: Capstone Project or MPPA 590: Thesis Research

MA in Public Policy and Administration Areas of Specialization

Students can focus on a particular area of interest by selecting one of the MA in Public Policy and Administration specializations as part of the application process. Students can also choose the "generalist" designation, which allows them to take their electives from different specializations.

Explore the  Public Policy and Administration course schedule . You can narrow your course search by day, location or instructor.

Master's in Public Policy and Administration Admission

A variety of factors are considered when your application is reviewed. Background and experience vary from student to student. For a complete list of requirements, see the admission page for SPS graduate programs.

Tuition for the Master's in Public Policy and Administration program at Northwestern is comparable to similar US programs. Financial aid opportunities exist for students at Northwestern. Complete details can be found on the MPPA tuition and financial aid  pages.

Registration Information for Public Policy and Administration

Already accepted into the Master's in Public Policy and Administration program? Get ahead and register for your classes as soon as possible.

• COURSE SCHEDULE & REGISTRATION
• REGISTRATION POLICIES & CONTACTS

Professional opportunities for graduates of Northwestern's MPPA program are as broad and varied as the field of public policy and administration itself. With five concentrations to choose from, MPPA graduates set their sights on leadership roles in government at the local, regional and federal levels, in nonprofit organizations or in private enterprise .   Explore fulfilling careers in public policy and administration .

Faculty in the Master's in Public Policy and Administration program at Northwestern are leading scholars and practitioners in their field. They bring real-world experiences to the  classroom and engage with students on a personal level.

Learn about the MPPA Student Leadership Council and their efforts to create and host network events for the program.

Find out more

Northwestern master's in public policy and administration, frequently asked questions, what can you do with a master’s in public policy and administration.

A master’s in public policy and administration is a versatile degree that can lead to fulfilling careers in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Take an active role in creating a better world by putting your MPPA degree to work on environmental policy, urban planning, or non-profit advocacy. Or, consider a job in government and legislative affairs to influence important topics such as economic development, healthcare, education policy, and public program evaluation which shape the lives of countless constituents every day. A public policy master’s from SPS also provides graduates with a solid foundation for their own entrepreneurial goals as well as fast-paced opportunities in research, risk management, strategic planning and law. Learn how some of our Northwestern graduates are using their master’s in public administration and policy by reading their student stories .

Should I get a master’s in public policy?

Going back to school for a master’s in public policy and administration can feel like a daunting decision, but there are many compelling reasons why you might choose to pursue this degree. If you are looking to get ahead in your current career or switch fields, earning a public policy and administration master’s can help you attain your professional goals by making you eligible for leadership roles, expanding your network, and equipping you with the skills and confidence needed to assess and develop effective policies. Looking for greater fulfillment in your work? Customize your MPPA degree experience by choosing the specialization that speaks to your interests and consider a role in a public or non-profit organization for the opportunity to effect positive change in your world.

What are the benefits of earning an MPPA from Northwestern?

Our multi-disciplinary master’s in public policy and administration curriculum challenges students to expand their perspectives and abilities with courses in statistics, global policy, data analysis, non-profits and more. You’ll have the opportunity to learn from award-winning faculty with robust field experience and forge valuable connections to strengthen your professional network. To further prepare you for your plans after completing your public policy master’s, Northwestern also offers all degree-seeking students access to comprehensive career development resources during and up to six months after graduation to help you achieve your goals. Find out why U.S. News and World Report   has ranked Northwestern ninth nationally among U.S. universities; submit your application today to begin classes next quarter.

How does an MPPA degree differ from an MPP or MPA?

Northwestern’s master’s in public policy and administration differs from traditional MPP or MPA programs in that it combines elements and coursework from both areas of study to give students a more comprehensive education. While an MPP prepares you to analyze and create the policies that shape our world, an MPA focuses more on policy implementation through budgeting and management. Graduates of Northwestern’s combined MPPA program—one of the only degrees of its kind—will be well prepared to pursue careers in fields related to both or either of those associated with MPP or MPA degrees.

What are the prerequisites for the MPPA program?

All applicants to the accelerated and online master’s in public policy and administration programs must have a four-year college degree from a U.S.-accredited institution or foreign equivalent. While the admissions committee does review each application holistically, strong candidates will have academic and/or professional experience, field experience, and a solid understanding of how the master’s in public administration and policy degree will advance their future goals.

Which version of the MPPA program is right for me?

The SPS master’s in public policy and administration offers two different tracks—the part-time online option and the one-year accelerated option. Students in the online public policy master’s program can take courses at their own pace, typically one or two classes per quarter, and learn from anywhere through virtual classes. This option is best for those who prefer to continue working full-time while enrolled in the program or who cannot commute to the Chicago and Evanston campuses. Local students, however, still have the option to attend select evening classes in-person. In the one-year accelerated master’s in public administration and policy, students take a blend of day, evening, and online classes at a rate of three per quarter. This option is great for students who can devote more time to their studies and are looking to obtain their degree on a shorter timeline. International students enrolled in the accelerated public policy master’s are also eligible for student visas .

• 2023 Winter
• Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
• Political Science

Select a Class

101-6 first-year seminar.

• 20: Whales, Bombs, Genocide - First-Year Seminar - Ian F Hurd - Tues, Thurs 11:00AM - 12:20PM
• 22: Politics of Debt - First-Year Seminar - Stephen C Nelson - Tues, Thurs 2:00PM - 3:20PM

201-0 Introduction to Political Theory

• 20: Introduction to Political Theory - Jacqueline Stevens - Tues, Thurs 9:30AM - 10:50AM

212-0 Evaluating Evidence

• 20: Evaluating Evidence - Leoandra Elaine Rogers - Mary Caroline McGrath - Mon, Wed 2:00PM - 3:20PM

220-0 American Government and Politics

• 20: American Government and Politics - Chloe Nicol Thurston - Tues, Thurs 2:00PM - 3:20PM

240-0 Introduction to International Relations

• 20: Introduction to International Relations - Ian F Hurd - Mon, Wed 11:00AM - 12:20PM

250-0 Introduction to Comparative Politics

• 20: Introduction to Comparative Politics - Kevin Andrew Mazur - Mon, Wed 3:30PM - 4:50PM

307-0 Deportation Law and Politics

• 20: Deportation Law and Politics - Jacqueline Stevens - Wed 9:00AM - 11:50AM

325-0 Congress and the Legislative Process

• 20: Congress and the Legislative Process - Laurel Harbridge Yong - Tues, Thurs 9:30AM - 10:50AM

327-0 African American Politics

• 20: African American Politics - Reuel R Rogers - Tues, Thurs 12:30PM - 1:50PM

334-0 Latino Politics

• 20: Latino Politics - Jaime Dominguez - Tues, Thurs 11:00AM - 12:20PM

336-0 Immigration Politics and Policy

• 22: Immigration Politics and Policy - Ivonne Montes Diaz - Mon, Wed 2:00PM - 3:20PM

348-0 Globalization

• 20: Globalization - Stephen C Nelson - Mon, Wed 3:30PM - 4:50PM

351-0 Politics of the Middle East

• 20: Politics of the Middle East - Wendy R Pearlman - Tues, Thurs 3:30PM - 4:50PM

368-0 Political Economy of Development

• 20: Political Economy of Development - Busra Nur Karakoc - Tues, Thurs 12:30PM - 1:50PM

390-0 Special Topics in Political Science

• 20: Ethical AI and the Politics of Tech - Special Topics in Political Science - Sirus Bouchat - Mon 3:30PM - 6:20PM
• 22: Bad News - Special Topics in Political Science - Lawrence L Stuelpnagel - Mon, Wed 11:00AM - 12:20PM
• 23: South African Politics - Special Topics in Political Science - Eddine Nabil Bouyahi - Tues, Thurs 9:30AM - 10:50AM

394-LK Professional Linkage Seminar

• 20: Politics & The Presidency - Professional Linkage Seminar - Jonathan J Allen - Wed 6:00PM - 9:00PM

395-0 Political Research Seminar

• 20: The American Border - Political Research Seminar - Elizabeth S Hurd - Mon, Wed 2:00PM - 3:20PM
• 22: Politics in the Digital Age - Political Research Seminar - Susan Sara Monoson-Berns - Tues 2:00PM - 4:50PM
• 23: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict - Political Research Seminar - Wendy R Pearlman - Tues 9:00AM - 11:50AM
• 24: American Racial Politics from Obama to Trump - Political Research Seminar - Reuel R Rogers - Wed 2:00PM - 4:50PM

398-2 Senior Thesis Seminar

• 20: Senior Thesis Seminar - Busra Nur Karakoc - Wed 10:00AM - 12:00PM

405-0 Linear Models

• 20: Linear Models - Mary Caroline McGrath - Thurs 4:00PM - 5:00PM

411-0 Theories of American Political Institutions

• 20: Theories of American Political Institutions - Laurel Harbridge Yong - Wed 2:00PM - 4:50PM

440-0 International Relations Theory

• 20: International Relations Theory - Karen Alter-Hanson - Thurs 1:00PM - 3:50PM

458-0 Political Institutions

• 20: Political Institutions - Andrew L Roberts - Fri 9:00AM - 11:50AM

490-0 Special Topics in Political Science

• 20: Machine Learning and Text as Data - Special Topics in Political Science - Sirus Bouchat - Tues 3:30PM - 6:20PM
• 21: R Workshop - Special Topics in Political Science - Brian Daniel Libgober - Tues 12:30PM - 2:00PM
• 25: American Political Economy - Special Topics in Political Science - Chloe Nicol Thurston - Wed 9:00AM - 11:50AM
• 26: Special Topics in Political Science - Karen Alter-Hanson - TBA

519-0 Responsible Conduct of Research Training

• 20: Responsible Conduct of Research Training

• Graduate & Professional
• Human Development and Social Policy
• PhD Students

PhD Students in Human Development and Social Policy

Lara Altman

MSW, Washington University in St. Louis, 2013 MPH, Washington University in St. Louis, 2013 BA, Economics, University of Pennsylvania, 2006

Research Interests

I study the spread, implementation, and institutionalization of trauma-informed approaches (TIAs) in education and beyond. I draw on a combination of institutional theory, sensemaking theory, and critical theories of race to explore the connection between TIAs and equitable organizational change.

Julia Callegari

[email protected]

Master in Public Administration, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, 2020 Master in Economic Analysis, University of Sao Paulo, 2015 Bachelor of International Relations, Pontificia Universidade Catolica de Sao Paulo, 2013

The interplay between identity development, culture, and learning; the implementation of pedagogical practices and policies that can shift the development of students’ ethnic-racial identities to the center of the educational experience; the impacts of culturally sustaining pedagogies on students' academic and social lives.

Jennifer Cowhy

AM, Social Service Administration, University of Chicago, 2013 MPP, University of Chicago, 2013 BA, Sociology, University of Michigan, 2010

Jennifer Cowhy is interested in researching how schools can better serve students who have experienced adverse childhood experiences ad students with IEPs. Prior to studying at Northwestern, Jen worked at the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research, where she studied the implementation of several policy and program implementations in Chicago Public Schools.

Varun Devakonda

MS, Education, Johns Hopkins University, 2020 BA, Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2018

I am interested in topics related to educational neuroscience; more specifically, exploring how neuroscience can be applied within academic contexts to improve instructional practices, school policies, and educational outcomes within underserved communities.

Kanika Dhanda

Ed.M., Human Development and Social Policy, Harvard Graduate School of Education, 2018 BA.LLB., ILS Law College Pune, 2012

I am interested in the implementation of education policies in school systems by stakeholders who play a leadership role, school and district leaders as well as players in the private sector like curriculum providers and non-profit leaders. I am using institutional analysis as an overarching framework in my current work. I am exploring questions related to social justice leadership and social capital generation as they intersect with school leaders' personal identities and their (mis)match with the student demographics.

Fortunate Kelechi Ekwuruke

MS in Education, Culture and Society, Graduate School of Education at University of Pennsylvania, 2020 MS in Nonprofit Leadership, School of Social Policy and Practice at University of Pennsylvania, 2020 BA in Secondary Education: English, Brooklyn College, 2018

My research explores the challenges that housing insecurity and homelessness have on young people, particularly as it relates to their education and social and emotional development. It also looks at the ways that social policies and programs interact with young people who experience these conditions and ways that these interactions can be improved to best support them.

Nicole Guarino

EdM, International Education Policy, Harvard Graduate School of Education, 2013 BA, Mathematics and English, University of Iowa, 2007

Transition from high school to postsecondary education; college access and success; identity development; quantitative methods; casual methods

Julia Honoroff

[email protected]

BA, Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2015

Early care and education, poverty and welfare, child and family policy.

Vishal Jain

Master in Education Policy and Management, Harvard University, 2021 Bachelor in Business Administration, Emory University, 2015

Vishal’s research interests are in studying gender identity development to create and support social policies that foster responsible, healthy masculinity. Previously Vishal has worked as an independent DEI consultant, non-profit director, undergraduate career advisor, and management consultant.

Rebecca Lawrence

B.A. Health Behavior and Society, B.A. Brain & Cognitive Sciences (University of Rochester)

I'm interested in studying the impact of systemic racism, inter-generational poverty, and educational disparities on the psychological health f racially/ethnically diverse youth and ways that policy makers can promote culturally relevant and accessible mental health and academic supports for students of color.

[email protected]

BA, Economics with Public Policy, University of Virginia, 2014

Inequality and stratification, race and ethnicity, gender, migration, welfare policy, knowledge production, mixed methods.

Shanequewa Love

[email protected]

BA, African American Studies, Loyola Marymount University, 2021

My research interest consist of residential policies and its effect on the behavioral and educational outcomes of foster youth.

Claire Mackevicius

[email protected]

BA, Economics, University of Chicago, 2014

Critical Quantitative Methods // K-12 Education Finance // Mixed Methods // Resource (Re)distribution Policy

Matias Martinez

[email protected]

BS, Economics, Universidad de Chile, 2008 MPP, Universidad de Chile, 2014 MA Human Development and Social Policy, 2023, Northwestern University

School policy, causal inference, bullying, mental health.

Melanie Muskin

[email protected] Website

MA in Organization and Leadership, Teachers College at Columbia University BA in Cognitive Science, Vassar College

Teacher Activism; Social Movements; Professional Dignity; Early Childhood Education; Educational Leadership; Participatory Design Research

[email protected] Website

BA, International Affairs, Lewis & Clark College, 2013 M.Ed, International Education Policy, Harvard Graduate School of Education, 2019 Post-Bac, Early Childhood Education Policy, University of Minnesota, 2020

My research focuses on the intersections between early childhood development and civic society development, exploring how social policy and individual children and their families interact with and influence one another. My current research utilizes critical and ecological theories to unpack identity development among multiracial children, new parents, and early educators within the context of U.S. family and child policy. Early childhood policy; Early care and education; social policy; identity development; critical theory

Leah Ouellet

[email protected]

MS from the Department of Criminal Justice at Wayne State University BA from the Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan

I study human development and punishment in the context of carceral policy and practice.

Eleni Packis

B.S. Economics and Public Policy Analysis, The Ohio State University (2018)

K-12 education policy; social inequity; economics of education

Caroline Roddey

[email protected]

BA, Political Science, Davidson College, 2020

Social identity development; Implementation of welfare policies; Societal perceptions of belonging and deservingness

Andrew Stein

[email protected]

MA in History, Yale University BA in History, Yale University

I research the history and politics of educational policymaking, with a focus on how racial and sexual politics since the Civil Rights Movement have shaped educational research and decisions at federal and state levels about curriculum, testing, school quality, and school choice.

Carolyn Swen

MA, Human Development and Social Policy, Northwestern University, 2016 MA, International Relations, University of Chicago, 2009 MA, Public Policy, University of Chicago, 2009 BA, Politics, Princeton University

Intersection of vocational psychology and sociology of work, sense of calling in the work role, meaning, purpose, vocation, narrative identity, cultural discourses about work and motivation, work orientation, adult development, generativity, pro-social work, educational leadership, artists, gig economy, precarious work.

Karla Thomas

[email protected]

MA, Human Development and Social Policy, Northwestern University, 2024 MBA, Management & Organizations, Northwestern University, 2005 BS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Mississippi, 2000

Karla Thomas is a Critical Race Scholar who is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Human Development and Social Policy at Northwestern, where she researches parent, teacher, and community acts of resistance, defiance, and dream-building in the face of anti-Black and anti-LGBTQ education policy. Her current dissertation, “Smuggling Black Truths: Blackcrit Sensemaking Amidst the Disruption and Expansion of Black Liberatory Educational Possibilities,” interrogates how Black parents, Black educators, and Black churches make sense of and resist Florida’s regressive education policies while also expanding opportunities for Black education. Her ongoing collaborative research efforts explore the invisible ways Black parents and communities participate in the struggle for a just Black education in the face of anti-Blackness through activism, political advocacy, and educating the educators and community on issues of race and racism.

Nancy Vegas

[email protected]

MEd in Development, Education, and International Cooperation; Minor on Educational Leadership, University of Jyväskyla, Finland, 2021 BA in International Relations; Concentration in East Asia, Boston University, 2013

My work focuses on women and explores the concept of agency and intersectionality in relation to political learning, civic education, leadership, and networking.

[email protected]

M.A., Economics, University of Virginia B.S., Mathematics, Morehouse College

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

Beiming Yang

MS, Policy Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2016 BA, Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2014

Adolescent social, emotional, academic, and neurocognitive development; age discrimination; cross-cultral comparison; parental influence on adolescent development

Chen-Wei Yu

MS, Psychology, National Taiwan University BA, English, National Taiwan Normal University

Emotion and motivation; self- and emotion regulation; interpersonal relationships; well-being; goal pursuit; culture; health

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• Postdoctoral Affairs
• Training Grant Support
• Request Information

THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

• TGS Spotlight

Michalis Mamakos (he/him)

Postdoctoral Fellow in the Center for Enlightened Disagreement in the Kellogg School of Management

Achieving goals is not about rigidly following a plan, but rather about adapting to unforeseen situations.”

Michalis Mamakos is a postdoctoral fellow in the Center for Enlightened Disagreement in the Kellogg School of Management. His research focuses on understanding and navigating conflicts within complex social structures. Michalis combines psychological theory with computational methods, using large language models to depolarize cross-party political conversations.  

How would you describe your research and/or work to a non-academic audience?   My research seeks to understand and constructively navigate conflict.  

Diversity of perspectives broadens intellectual horizons, but it also gives rise to detrimental conflicts. For example, over 60% of Americans find it stressful to talk politics with people they disagree with. Thus, when disagreement is mismanaged, the advantages of intellectual diversity can turn into disadvantages. My research first examines what drives conflict in complex social structures, such as political polarization on social media. It then focuses on designing online platforms for effective communication by constructively navigating disagreements.  

What have been some of the most memorable twists and turns of your career?   In my fourth year as a PhD student in computer science, I signed up out of curiosity for a course in psychology. Little did I know that this would define my academic trajectory. This course sparked an interest in me that eventually led to doing my thesis on the intersection of computer science and psychology. This is a direction that I now identify with and that I happily pursue.  

What is a mistake you have learned from in your career?   My experiences taught me to not get disappointed when things do not instantly go my way. A failed attempt is a piece of information to learn from. Sometimes it signals that more effort is needed, which should be seen as a challenge to overcome rather than a defining obstacle. Other times it informs us that we need to readjust our plans, which should be seen as making a step forward rather than backwards. In all cases, a failed attempt is something to learn from, and our ability to constructively interpret it improves with experience.  

What do you find both rewarding and challenging about your research and/or work?   What I find both rewarding and challenging about my research is coming up with solutions to problems where opposing sides struggle to see eye-to-eye. These are problems that heavily affect the lives of everyday citizens. The inherent difficulty of these problems is tied to their societal impact, making it incredibly rewarding when progress is made toward resolving them.  

What is the biggest potential impact or implication of your work?   The biggest potential impact of my work is enabling the marketplace of ideas to advance society through the diversity of perspectives. This requires creating spaces where people with different viewpoints feel equally free to speak their minds. It is when we see alternative perspectives as missing pieces of a common puzzle that our differences can unite rather than divide us.  

Tell us about a time when things did not go as you planned, what did you learn?   The beginning of my studies as an international graduate student was no bed of roses. There were many difficulties I had to adjust to, from the requirements at school to socializing out of it. Through my struggles, I learned many things. Achieving goals is not about rigidly following a plan, but rather about adapting to unforeseen situations. It is a combination of persistence and adaptability that finally leads to the original goal.  

Publish Date: September 3, 2024    

If you know a graduate student, postdoctoral scholar, graduate faculty member, staff member, or a member of our TGS alumni population who would make a great candidate for our TGS Spotlight Series, please complete this brief  TGS Spotlight Series Nomination Form .  

Political Science, Master of Arts

Department of Politics and International Affairs

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

We designed this Master's degree to provide you with broad training suitable for pursuing doctoral work or a career in government, teaching, or the private sector. You choose your primary field of study from one of these three areas: American Politics and Public Administration, Comparative Politics and International Relations, or Public Policy.    The MA in Political Science is available in two forms: Non-thesis and Thesis.

University Requirements

To receive a master’s degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses from one or more subject areas, consisting of at least 30 units of graduate-level courses. Many master’s degree programs require more than 30 units. You must additionally complete:

• All requirements for your specific academic plan(s). This may include a thesis.
• All graduate work with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0.
• All work toward the master's degree must be completed within six consecutive years. The six years begins with the semester and year of admission to the program.

Read the full policy here .

In addition to University Requirements:

• Complete individual plan requirements.

Purpose Statement The Master of Arts in Political Science degree provides students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to understand and participate in the political systems of the United States and the world. This degree provides a broad perspective on experiences, international and domestic, from both theory and practice.   This degree builds a strong foundation in the advanced knowledge of the political world and enables students to be able to use key concepts and analytical approaches from Public Policy, American Politics, Public Administration, Comparative Politics, and International relations.   Building upon this fundamental knowledge, our curriculum ensures that students can define, design, and implement effective scholarly research projects in political science. In addition, they will be able to make clear and effective demonstrations of their work in writing and public presentations, including scholarly presentations to academics at professional political science conferences. Students will also leave this program ready to work in government, non-academic research institutions, and governmental and non-governmental organizations.   Our goal is to train students to be active, engaged, and informed participants in the global system who can not only understand the world around them but also shape and influence it. Student Learning Outcomes

• Identify and use salient political science concepts and analytical methods to evaluate current public policies, political actors’ behavior, political events, and institutional arrangements within a diverse world.
• Evaluate the strengths and limitations of a variety of significant analytical approaches used in political science.
• Analyze, synthesize, and evaluate the interconnectedness and interdependence of the human experience on a global scale.
• Engage in original research contributing to the larger field.
• Devise an advanced research design.
• Test hypotheses with basic empirical data.
• Write findings in scholarly publishable-quality original research papers.
• Students will demonstrate advanced writing skills and be able to summarize and explain scholarly political science articles.
• Analyze and critique the material read /discussed.
• Suggest and discuss alternative possibilities and outcomes.
• Speak in public settings, including oral defense of thesis (thesis option) or an oral exam (non-thesis option).
• Demonstrate an ability to apply the discussion to policy and “real world” applications.
• Students will be able to communicate at an advanced level with other academics in the field of political science, including presenting their research work at academic conferences.
• Demonstrate professional behavior in terms of demeanor, personal presentation, ethics, and civic participation in experiential learning, classroom settings, and professional conferences.
• Acquire the skills and knowledge base to understand the importance of and options for environmental sustainability and its tenuous relationship to economic development in local and global terms.
• Critically reflect upon the nature and consequences of diversity (e.g., race, gender, class, ethnicity, religion, culture, nation), and develop an understanding of how this diversity both alters and is altered in a world characterized by increasing global interaction.

Graduate Admission Information

The NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Graduate College. Admission requirements include the following:

• Transcripts.
• Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale ("A" = 4.0), or the equivalent.

Visit the NAU Graduate Admissions website for additional information about graduate school application deadlines, eligibility for study, and admissions policies. Ready to apply? Begin your application now.

International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the International Graduate Admissions Policy .

Additional Admission Requirements

Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

• A bachelor’s degree in a closely related discipline
• Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above or  6 units of subsequent coursework at the graduate level with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better
• Three letters of recommendation
• A writing sample
• A personal statement or essay
• Resume or curriculum vitae

Master's Requirements

This Master’s degree requires 36 units distributed as follows:

• Politics and International Affairs Core Coursework: 9 units
• American Politics/Public Administration
• Comparative Politics/International Relations
• Secondary Coursework: 6 units
• Thesis or Non-Thesis Option - Select one: 12 units

Take the following 36 units:

Politics and International Affairs Core Courses (9 units)

• Prerequisite: Graduate Status">POS 602 , POS 607 (6 units)
• Prerequisite: Graduate Status">POS 604 , Prerequisite: Graduate Status">POS 609

Primary Coursework Specialization Areas - Select one (9 units)

American Politics/Public Administration (9 units)

• POS 527 , POS 610 , POS 612 , POS 641 ,  POS 642 , POS 644 , Prerequisite: Graduate Status">POS 652 , POS 659 , POS 671
• POS 603 (Topic selected with your advisor)
• POS 658 (Topic selected with your advisor)

Comparative Politics/International Relations (9 units)

• POS 552 , Prerequisite: Graduate Status">POS 652 , POS 670 , POS 672 ,   POS 680
• POS 679 (Topic selected with your advisor)

Secondary Coursework (6 units)

• At least one additional POS course as approved by your advisor.
• Electives as approved by your advisor.

Thesis or Non-Thesis Option - Select one (12 units)

Thesis Option (12 units)

• POS 699 , for the research, writing, and oral defense of an approved thesis. Please note that you may end up taking more units of thesis credit than the 6 units you can count toward your degree because you must enroll for it each term while you work on your thesis. (6 units)
• Additional POS courses or electives related to your primary or secondary coursework. (6 units)

Students selecting a thesis option are required to complete 18 units of formal letter-graded coursework.

Non-Thesis Option (12 units)

• POS 597 (3 units)
• Additional POS courses or electives related to primary or secondary coursework. (9 units)
• A final oral exam with satisfactory performance.

Students selecting a non-thesis/coursework/track option must complete 24 units of formal letter-graded coursework.

Please note that you choose all courses in consultation with your plan advisor.

You may count up to two 400-level courses toward this academic plan if they haven't previously been counted toward a bachelor's degree.

Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Program

This program is available as an Accelerated Undergraduate/Graduate Plan wherein a student may start a master's degree while simultaneously completing their bachelor's degree.

Students enrolled at the Flagstaff campus for both undergraduate and graduate programs are eligible to complete the Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Government and start a Master of Arts in Political Science, non-thesis option at NAU. OR Students enrolled at the Flagstaff campus for both undergraduate and graduate programs are eligible to complete the Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs and start a Master of Arts in Political Science, non-thesis option at NAU. OR Students enrolled at the Flagstaff campus for both undergraduate and graduate programs are eligible to complete the Bachelor of Science in Political Science and start a Master of Arts in Political Science, non-thesis option at NAU.

• Students must apply to the master's program by the graduate program's application deadline, meet all admissions requirements listed in the policy Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Programs , as well as the admissions requirements for the specified master's plan to be considered for admission. Admission to programs is competitive and qualified applicants may be denied because of limits on the number of students admitted each year. Be sure to speak with the Master's Program Director/Coordinator regarding your interest in the accelerated plan.

Students accepted into the Accelerated Program should complete the following requirements:

• Undergraduate Coursework: 6 units
• Non-Thesis Requirements: 12 units

Undergraduate Coursework (6 units)

• Prerequisite: POS 100, POS 301W, POS 304, and 75 cumulative units">POS 421C (3 units)
• POS 408 , POS 423 ,  POS 466 , Prerequisite: POS 100, POS 301W, POS 304, and 75 earned units">POS 485
• POS 552 , Prerequisite: Graduate Status">POS 652 , POS 670 , POS 672 , POS 680

Additional Information

Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.

Campus Availability

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

• Core Faculty

Gustavo Diaz

Assistant professor of instruction.

• [email protected]

Research Interest(s): Statistics, research design, causal inference, experiments, computational social science.

Program Area(s): Methods

Regional Specialization(s): Latin America

Subfield Specialties: Experimental Methods

Gustavo Diaz studies how to improve research design in quantitative social science, focusing on tools from design-based causal inference and computational methods. He applies these ideas to research on the challenges to accountability, governance, and representation in the Global South and beyond. He teaches courses on statistics, statistical programming, and computational social science.