Political Science

Chair of the Department: Robert L. Bledsoe
Graduate Program Coordinator: Dwight Kiel
HFA 415, (407) 823-2608.
E-mail: psgrad@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu

Faculty

Professors: R. Bledsoe, Ph.D.; R. Handberg, Ph.D.; P. H. Pollock, Ph.D.; W. Q. Morales, Ph.D.
Associate Professors: T. S. Fine, Ph.D.; D. Kiel, Ph.D.; J. R. Lilie, Ph.D.; S. A. Lilie, Ph.D.; M. E. Vittes, Ph.D.
Assistant Professors: K. Hamann, Ph.D.; A. Jewett, Ph.D.; J. Knuckey, Ph.D.; D. Lanier, Ph.D., J.D.; D. McCoy, Ph.D.; H. Sadri, Ph.D; B. Wilson, Ph.D.

Master of Arts in Political Science

The Master of Arts in Political Science degree program is designed to accommodate a range of professional and intellectual needs. These include: (1) preparing students to enter positions in government and the private sector in which the ability to comprehend, influence, and respond to government policy is critical; (2) preparing students, through the M.A., for pursuit of a Ph.D. degree in political science at other institutions; and (3) providing a well-rounded substantive curriculum for secondary school teachers seeking higher degrees and for teachers in community colleges.

Application Deadlines

Fall admission July 15
Spring admission December 1
Summer admission April 15

Admission

In addition to the minimum requirements for admission to UCF, any student wishing to enroll in graduate courses in political science must meet the department’s requirements for graduate status (either regular or conditional graduate status) or must hold regular graduate status in another program at UCF.

Requirements for regular status are:

  • At least 12 semester hours of undergraduate course work in political science, including Scope and Methods of Political Science (POS 3703) or its equivalent. Students must have a grade of “B” or better in this course work.
    AND
  • Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to the applicant’s potential for graduate work. These letters should address the applicant’s ability to think analytically and to communicate clearly. These letters should be sent directly to the graduate program coordinator.
    AND
  • An undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 overall.
    OR
  • A combined (quantitative and verbal) GRE score of at least 1000.
International students and students whose native language is not English must score at least 220 (computer-based test; or equivalent score on the paper-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Note: All applicants are required to take the GRE. Admission generally will be denied to any applicant whose GRE score is below 850 (quantitative plus verbal), regardless of his or her undergraduate grade point average.

Conditional Graduate Status

Applicants who are not qualified for regular graduate status may petition by letter the department’s Graduate Committee for admission to conditional graduate status. The applicant’s petition must address the specific reasons behind the failure to qualify for regular status. Students holding conditional graduate status must meet the following requirements before applying for regular status:
  • Removal of any deficiencies in undergraduate preparation. Undergraduate preparation includes completion of Scope and Methods of Political Science (POS 3703), or its equivalent, and at least one upper division course in each of the following areas: American politics, international or comparative politics, and political theory. Students must complete these courses with a grade of “B” or better.
  • For persons otherwise not qualified for regular graduate status, completion of three graduate courses, with grades of “B” or better.
  • Completion of any other requirements determined by the Graduate Committee and stated on the student’s Program of Graduate Study form.

Degree Requirements

The Department of Political Science offers students two tracks toward the master’s degree: the political analysis track and the public policy track. The political analysis track provides an in-depth understanding of political life in the American case and in comparative perspective: The nature of institutions, the role of political organizations, and the effect of mass political behavior. The political analysis track is recommended for students who want to enter community college teaching or who wish to seek a doctorate at another institution. The public policy track prepares students to handle complex questions arising from key areas of government activity: Issues in science and technology, health and environmental regulation, foreign and defense policy, and other important areas. The public policy track is recommended for students most interested in developing professional expertise in a policy specialty or enhancing their current sphere of knowledge.

After being admitted (either as regular or conditional), students must meet with one of the graduate advisers to discuss their plans for graduate study and to obtain permission to enroll in graduate courses in the department. After completing nine hours of course work, all students must determine a preliminary program of study, either in the political analysis track or the public policy track. Both tracks require 30 semester hours of credit (24 hours of course work plus 6 hours of thesis), and both share the same core requirements.

Core Requirements—12 Semester Hours
POS 6746 Quantitative Methods in Political Research (3 hours)
POS 6045 Seminar in American National Politics (3 hours)
POT 6007 Seminar in Political Theory (3 hours) AND
INR 6007 Seminar in International Politics (3 hours) OR
CPO 6091 Seminar in Comparative Politics (3 hours)

Political Analysis Track

30 Semester Hours
A program of study in the political analysis track consists of:

Core Requirements—12 Semester Hours

Three special topics courses—9 Semester Hours
POS 6938 American Politics (3 hours)
POT 6XXX Political Theory (3 hours)
INR 6XXX International Relations (3 hours)
CPO 6XXX Comparative Politics (3 hours)
PUP 6938 Political Analysis (3 hours)

Elective—3 Semester Hours

Thesis—6 Semester Hours

Public Policy Track

30 Semester Hours
A program of study in the public policy track consists of:

Core Requirements—15 Semester Hours
PUP 6007 Public Policy Analysis (3 hours)

Two special topics courses—6 Semester Hours
INR 6086 International Public Policy (3 hours)
POS 6324 Women and Public Policy (3 hours)
PUP 6938 Science Policy (3 hours)
PUP 6938 Social Policy (3 hours)
PUP 6938 Foreign and Defense Policy (3 hours)

Elective—3 Semester Hours

Thesis—6 Semester Hours

The political science seminars provide the common core of knowledge for students in both tracks. The specific subject matter of the topics courses will vary, depending on the specialization of the instructor or the interests of the students in each track. Upon approval of the Graduate Committee, topics courses may be repeated for credit.

Ordinarily, elective credits will be taken within political science. Students wishing to earn elective credits from another department must obtain the approval from the Graduate Committee.

After completion of the 24 hours of course work in the chosen track, the student will form a committee of three advisers and submit a written thesis prospectus which, upon acceptance by the committee, will become a part of the student’s permanent file. Guidelines for the prospectus are available from the graduate program coordinator. The completed thesis must be submitted to the thesis committee at least eight weeks prior to the date on which the degree is to be awarded. The student will then orally defend the thesis.

Examination
All candidates for a master’s degree must take a comprehensive written examination. The examination will usually be administered after satisfactory completion of 24 hours. The examination will be based on the political science course work contained in the student’s program of study. In addition, all students will be tested in the area of quantitative methods. The examination will be offered two times each academic year, during the final examination period for the fall and spring semesters. Students must inform the graduate program coordinator of their intention to take the examination at least six weeks prior to its scheduled date. A committee, consisting of all political science faculty from whom the student has taken courses, will develop questions for the comprehensive examination. Students not passing the examination may take it a second time within one calendar year, but no student will be allowed to take the examination more than twice.

Graduate Certificate in Maya Studies

See College of Arts & Sciences, Interdisciplinary Studies.




| Graduate Studies |
| Home | Index | Search | News | Events | Contact UCF | Help |
Copyright © 2000
University of Central Florida
Orlando, Florida
(407) 823-2000
Page last updated on:
Maintained by Graduate Studies