Certificate Requirements
If you are not sure if you want to major/minor in Political Science, but you're interested in certain aspects of the ever evolving field, obtaining a certificate can give you a comprehensive knowledge and practicums that can compliment any major/minor at Portland State University. The Department of Political Science now offers two undergraduate certificates: Campaigning to Win a U.S. Political Campaign Undergraduate Certificate and Women's Leadership Undergraduate Certificate. The information below will give you a better sense of what the certificate offers and who to contact to express your interest.
Campaigning to Win a U.S. Political Campaign Undergraduate Certificate
About This Program
Political campaigns are a fast-paced, high-stakes endeavor. Campaign workers operate in a highly competitive environment where both collaboration and individual skill and initiative are required for team success. Campaigns can be stressful and chaotic, and campaign workers need to have a broad-based skill set in communication, organization, leadership, data analysis, and strategic thinking to thrive in the dynamic landscape of a modern campaign. While these skills can be, and often are, acquired on the go, campaigns benefit greatly from workers who enter with the necessary skills and experience.
Building on the foundation of academic training provided by a Political Science or related major, this certificate takes participants into the real world of political campaigns, showing them what it takes to win and giving them an opportunity to develop the skills needed to contribute to a winning effort. Students completing the certificate will acquire marketable skills at the same time that they are developing a well-grounded understanding of the mechanics and dynamics of the campaign process and its linkages with the party system and the broader political system.
Who Should Attend
This certificate program is intended for undergraduate students studying Political Science or a related field who want to obtain high-level, meaningful work on a political campaign at the entry-point of their career in politics.
What You’ll Learn
Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:
- describe in detail how election campaigns are organized and run at the local, state, and national level;
- explain how campaigns function within the political culture, party system, and electoral environment of the United States;
- demonstrate essential skills utilized by campaigns, such as fundraising, networking, field organizing, speech-writing, polling and poll;
- interpretation, candidate management, media relations, etc.;
- function as a productive team member in the high-intensity, high-stakes, and highly competitive environment of a present-day political campaign.
Who to contact if you're interested in this certificate:
Dr. Jack Miller
| Required Courses (3 of 4 options) = 12 credits |
Elective Courses (3 of 8 options) = 12 credits |
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| PS 310 How to Win a U.S. Political Campaign (4 credits) |
PS 318U Media, Opinion, and Voting (4 credits) OR PS 427 The Politics of Public Opinion (4 credits) |
| PS 416 Political Parties and Elections (4 credits) |
Comm 314U Persuasion |
| PS 318U Media, Opinion, and Voting (4 credits) OR PS 427 The Politics of Public Opinion (4 credits) |
Comm 420 Political Communication |
| PS 318U and PS 427: The course not taken as a requirement may be taken as an elective |
PS 331 Oregon Politics |
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PS 413 Congress |
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PS 417 Interest Groups |
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PS 475 Comparative Political Parties and Elections |
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PS 318U and PS 427: The course not taken as a requirement may be taken as an elective |
Internship (PS 404 for 4-12 credits)
Students will be placed with a candidate or ballot-measure campaign. Students who have previously worked on a campaign can apply for a waiver of this requirement by obtaining a letter of performance from the campaign manager and writing a report for the instructor of PS 399/PS 310 outlining duties and examining lessons learned and skills acquired. Internship will be supervised by the program director or assigned to another full-time PS faculty member.
The required courses (12 credits) + Elective Courses (12 credits) + Internship = 28 total credit hours
Women's Leadership Undergraduate Certificate
The Undergraduate Certificate in Women’s Leadership provides undergraduate students with a focused course of study on women leaders across disciplines, with an emphasis on the challenges that they face and techniques for overcoming those challenges. Certificate requirements include both political science and women’s studies courses, in addition to electives drawn from departments across campus. This certificate offers an interdisciplinary understanding of the current issues facing women leaders today, and also requires participation in a skill-building seminar (PS 381) designed to foster students’ confidence and leadership ability. This certificate is open to any undergraduate with interest in women’s leadership.
Students are required to complete degree requirements specified in their major in order to be awarded the Women’s Leadership Certificate. In addition, students must complete all certificate requirements.
If you're interested in obtaining this certificate, feel free to reach out to Dr. Melody Valdini.
| Required Courses = 12 credits |
Elective Courses (2 of 7 options) = 8 credits |
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| PS 380U Women and Politics (4 credits) |
CCJ 350U Ethical Leadership in Criminal Justice (4 credits) |
| PS 381 Women's Leadership (4 credits) |
NAS 344 Indigenous Women Leadership (4 credits) |
| WS 101 Introduction to Women's Studies (4 credits) |
PA 312U Foundations of Community Leadership (4 credits) |
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PS 425/WS 424 Women and the Law (4 credits) |
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PS 471 Gender & Politics: A Comparative Perspective (4 credits) |
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WS 307 Resistance, Activism, and Social Change (4 credits) |
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WS 451 Interrupting Oppression (4 credits) |
The required courses (12 credits) + Elective Courses (8 credits) = 20 total credit hours