Government, Public Service, and International Studies
The Department of Government, Public Service, and International Studies is home to the political science, public administration, and international studies degree programs at the University of Central Arkansas. Originally established in 1971, the department currently has eleven full-time faculty members with expertise in all of the major fields of political science and public administration. The department, which is located within the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences at UCA, offers on-campus and online courses during Fall and Spring semesters, as well as during the summer sessions. For current UCA students, the department offers a pre-law curriculum, including upper-division courses in constitutional law and international law, as well as pre-law advising and a Legal Studies minor. For more than 50 years, alumni of the department have pursued successful careers in government, public service, law, international affairs, education, military, business, and many other professions.
Department News
UCA students participate in NextGen Service Corps Summer Policy Academy
Two students pursuing BPA degrees in Public Administration at UCA - Kylie McGraw and Abigail Wells - participated in the Next Generation Service Corps Summer Policy Academy in June 2026. The Summer … [Read More...]
Remembering Dr. Mark Elrod
It is with heavy hearts and profound sorrow that our department's faculty and staff share the news of the passing of our cherished friend and esteemed colleague, Dr. Mark Elrod, earlier this week … [Read More...]
UCA students participate in Inside Washington Seminar
Fifteen UCA students had the opportunity to participate in The Washington Center (TWC) Inside Washington Seminar in Washington DC on January 6-14, 2026. The UCA students, who were instructed by Dr. … [Read More...]
Department graduate accepted into Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies
Nick Tollison, who graduated from UCA in May 2020 with a BA degree in International Studies, was recently accepted into the Master of Arts in International Relations (MAIR) Program at Johns Hopkins … [Read More...]
GPI Department students participate in May 2026 commencement ceremony
Several students and faculty members from the Department of Government, Public Service, and International Studies (GPI) participated in UCA's commencement ceremony at the Farris Center on Friday … [Read More...]