Political Science Students Study Abroad This past year four Political Science students took their education and traveled to various countries throughout the world to learn about a different society and assimilate into a different culture. We had two students visit East Asia, Daniel Urchick to China and Eric Fowler to Japan; while Kristin Miller journeyed to Ecuador and Sean Martinez traveled to Jordan.
The chance to study abroad is one of the greatest opportunities a student can partake in during their undergraduate education, and the Political Science department is committed to helping students who choose to take advantage of this opportunity. One of the PSC scholarship recipients, Sean Martinez, studied at the University of Jordan in Amman this past fall semester. During his time there he was able to take advantage of his proximity to other counties, and travel to Israel, Turkey, and France. He described his experience as “an unforgettable opportunity, where I was able to experience and study firsthand the subjects that I have been learning about since freshman year, and explore a culture and society that is starkly different from our own”. Opportunities like this represent and advance a diversity of academic interests in the discipline of Political Science and are advantageous in a globalized society. For more information, please contact the Study Abroad Office at studyabr@cmich.edu or (989)774-4308.
Accelerated Master’s Degree Program In May 2013, Ms. Carmen Burlingame became the first graduate of the Political Science Accelerated Master of Arts program. This program allows highly motivated students to advance their academic careers by taking graduate course work toward the traditional Master of Arts degree simultaneously with undergraduate course work. The program allows accepted students to count up to 12 graduate credits toward their undergraduate degree, making it a 5-year dual-degree program. Carmen is currently an adjunct faculty member for CMU’s Global Campus teaching PSC 100 online Summer 2013 and also been hired as an adjunct faculty member at Delta College to teach Introduction to American Government beginning this fall. Carmen is continuing her studies at CMU, by obtaining her NASPAA accredited Master of Public Administration degree prior to pursuing a Ph.D. in Political Science. 6