In coursework, students enhance their understanding of how polls are conducted, including the selection of people to be interviewed, the construction of questionnaires, the conduct of interviews, the analysis of data, and the presentation of survey results to the media.
Students also learn about the impact of polls on society.
Students who pursue this undergraduate concentration also are directly involved in the activities of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion , a widely respected survey research center. Through coursework, part-time employment, and internships, students participate in the development and carrying out of numerous regional, statewide, and national surveys. Students are trained on computer assisted telephone interviewing, and learn many valuable and marketable skills. Following graduation, students follow many career paths. Some pursue graduate school in survey research, others enter the workforce to develop careers in media polling, political campaigns, or market research.