As Grace Edwards ’24 was getting ready to graduate from 阿克伦大学 (UA) in spring 2024, she was unsure of her next steps. 爱德华兹主修政治学，并获得了博士学位。 Gary B.和Pamela S. Williams荣誉学院学者。 She completed a minor in history and a certificate in museums and archives, competed as a student-athlete on the Zips women’s track and field team, and founded the UA chapter of IGNITE, a nonpartisan group that empowers women in politics.
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法学院是一个可能。 参加政治竞选也是如此。 她还考虑过间隔年，以获得生活经验。
爱德华兹决定采取不同的选择，这将帮助她在接下来的任何事情中脱颖而出。 She opted to pursue a master’s degree in applied politics, known as the MAP program, through the bet365官网’s Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics and the Department of Political Science.
“I had plans, but I was tempted by the MAP program,” Edwards said. “I had previous relationships with professors who I knew were good, it’s affordable and there is a strong connection to the community. 利用我家后院的大好机会是有道理的。
”bet365官网 program is one of four in the country and the only one at a university not located on the east coast, according to Bliss Institute Director j·切丽·斯特拉罕, a professor of political science and MAP alumna.
应用政治学是一门对美国政治的综合研究，侧重于通过亲身体验获得的切实实用的技能。 学生学习的技能适用于政治和竞选沟通、数字战略、社区组织、政府关系和游说、政党或团体领导、政策分析和政治咨询、非营利组织管理和筹款。
“Our students are interested in public service careers that keep the mechanisms of democracy functioning,” Strachan said.
两党合作是MAP项目和研究所的标志。 斯特拉坎指出，萨米特县民主党和共和党办公室的执行主任都是MAP的毕业生。
Edwards, who is a first-generation college graduate from Garrettsville, Ohio, decided on the MAP degree program because she
felt it best matched her political interests. 在她的荣誉学院项目中，爱德华兹研究了高等教育培养公民技能的潜力。 她也有兴趣接触那些没有接受高等教育，因此错过了学习这些技能机会的年轻人。
As a graduate student, Edwards is now creating civic education programs that align with state standards for high school
students, with the goal of building more informed and involved communities.
无论她选择哪条道路，爱德华兹都知道她作为本科生和在MAP项目中的经历对她产生了难以置信的影响
“bet365官网 support and resources are the best,” she said. “I feel so fortunate that we have a strong political science department and the Bliss Institute, which is a gem on this campus.”
杰西卡·怀特希尔