About PSIA
The Department of Political Science & International Affairs (PSIA) currently offers six undergraduate degrees and two graduate degrees in the areas of political science, international affairs, and strategic and security studies. We also offer minors in International Affairs, Political Science, and Public Administration & Public Service. We currently have students enrolled in our various degree programs across UNG’s five campuses, assisted in their academic careers by a diverse corps of full-time faculty members, all with advanced degrees in their respective fields and dedicated to supporting each student’s academic growth via research and practicum opportunities. While a student can start his or her academic career at any of the five campuses, certain degrees are unique to a particular campus.
Our Political Science program (both Bachelor of Science and Associate’s) focuses on the study of government and political processes, institutions, and behavior. Students can choose to complete their bachelor’s degree with their choice of minor program or complete a concentration in American politics or pre-Law. An important part of the program is participation in an internship program. In addition to traditional brick and mortar classroom opportunities, our Bachelor of Science in Political Science and our Associate’s degree in Political Science can be pursued completely online.
Our International Affairs Bachelor of Arts program offers students the opportunity for in-depth study on one of four regions of the world: East Asia, Europe, Latin America, or North Africa & Middle East. This degree program provides the opportunity to study and intern internationally.
The Strategic and Security Studies Bachelor of Arts program seeks to prepare the next generation of Army and civilian leaders in understanding and navigating America’s future strategic challenges. Students choose from among seven areas of concentration: Cyber-Security, Geo-spatial Intelligence, History, Intelligence, International Affairs, Language and Military Science.
In addition to our undergraduate degrees, the department also offers two fully on-line graduate degrees. The Master of Arts in International Affairs (MAIA) program is designed to impart an advanced understanding of world politics and further a student's academic and professional career through a strong theoretical and analytical understanding of issues that drive the international system. The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program features a curriculum designed to enhance theoretical and practical skills in the areas of public policy and public administration. All courses in our graduate programs are developed and taught by full-time faculty members who hold terminal degrees and have active research agendas.
Contact PSIA
Craig Greathouse, Ph.D.Profile page
Professor & Department Head
Office locationHansford Hall, 328,
Dahlonega
Area(s) of Expertise: Security and Defense Policy, European Politics
Raluca Viman-Miller, Ph.D.Profile page
Associate Professor & Associate Department Head
Office locationStrickland Academic, 159,
Gainesville
Area(s) of Expertise: Comparative Politics, International Relations, European Politics
For information or questions, you can also reach out to polsia-dah@ung.edu
Area(s) of Expertise: American National Institutions, Political Parties, Elections
Bibek Chand, Ph.D. Profile page
Associate Professor
Office locationStrickland Academic, 148,
Gainesville
Area(s) of Expertise: Security studies, Sino-Indian relations, small states in international politics, geopolitics
Area(s) of Expertise: Collaboration and Watershed Grassroots Protection
Douglas Ealey, Ph.D., M.Div.Profile page
Professor
Office locationStrickland Academic, 152,
Gainesville
Area(s) of Expertise: American Government, Religion, Religion and Politics, Leadership, and Conflict Management and Mediation
Joseph Gershtenson, Ph.D.Profile page
Assistant Professor
Office locationBarnes Hall, 123,
Dahlonega
Area(s) of Expertise: Authoritarianism and anti-democratic attitudes; Incivility in American politics; Political polarization; American elections
Area(s) of Expertise: Public Administration
Cristian Harris, Ph.D.Profile page
Professor
M.A.I.A. Program Coordinator
Office locationHansford Hall, 316,
Dahlonega
Area(s) of Expertise: International Political Economy, Comparative Global Development, Latin American Politics, Global Governance
Area(s) of Expertise: Policy innovation and diffusion; Risk and risk management; Gender issues (such as gender equality); Big data and Public Administration
Charlene Hudson, M.P.A.Profile page
Senior Lecturer
Office locationStrickland Academic, 209,
Gainesville
Area(s) of Expertise: Public Administration, Nonprofit Organizations, U.S. Government, State and Local Government
Area(s) of Expertise: Public Administration, Networks, Organizational Theory
Area(s) of Expertise: National Security; International Relations; Chinese Philosophy; Foreign Policy of the People’s Republic of China; Indo-Pacific Security
Edward Mienie, Ph.D.Profile page
Executive Director, Strategic Studies Program & Partnerships and Professor of Strategic & Security Studies
Office locationHansford Hall, 314,
Dahlonega
Area(s) of Expertise: Strategic & Security Studies; State Fragility; Why Nations Fail
Area(s) of Expertise: U.S. Foreign Policy, Middle East Politics, International Law
Area(s) of Expertise: History of Political Philosophy; Modern Political Philosophy; Enlightenment Thought; Jean-Jacques Rousseau; Civic Education
Larry Morton, MIPPProfile page
Part-Time Communications Assistant
Office locationHansford Hall, 304,
Dahlonega
Area(s) of Expertise: International Affairs / Security Studies
Christopher Newkirk, M.A.Profile page
Administrative Assistant IV
Office locationHansford Hall, 304,
Dahlonega
Area(s) of Expertise: Public Administration, Complexity/Network Theory, Organizational/Group Behavior
Area(s) of Expertise: Populism, the European Union, Voting behavior in Western Europe and the United States
Area(s) of Expertise: Secession, Maritime Crime, Terrorism, and Leadership Style and Trait Analysis
Area(s) of Expertise: Public Law, Interest Groups, Bureaucracy, American Political Development
Seyed Hamid Serri, Ph.D.Profile page
Associate Professor
Office locationHansford Hall, 313,
Dahlonega
Area(s) of Expertise: Strategic & Security Studies, Foreign Policy Analysis, Quantitative & Qualitative Text Analysis, Middle Eastern Politics
Area(s) of Expertise: Media, Political Psychology, Research Methods
Area(s) of Expertise: International relations of East Asia; Chinese foreign policy; US-China relations; and politics on the Korean Peninsula
Eric Wilk, Ph.D.Profile page
Assistant Professor
Office locationStrickland Academic, 210,
Gainesville
Area(s) of Expertise: American Politics and Empirical Methods
Charles (Trey) Wilson, J.D.; Ph.D.Profile page
Professor
Office locationStrickland Academic, 106,
Gainesville
Area(s) of Expertise: Early American Law and Legal History, History of women's higher education
Dwight Wilson, Ph.D.Profile page
Associate Professor
Office locationStrickland Academic, 158,
Gainesville
Area(s) of Expertise: Latin American Politics, Political Theory