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				Political Science
			Description Degrees Offered Master of Arts in Political Science Admission Requirement Degree Requirements

Description

College of Arts and Sciences
Department of Political Science
Chair of the Department: Dr. Roger Handberg
Graduate Program Coordinator:  Dr. Philip Pollock, CNH 408E, (407) 823-2608. E-mail: psgrad@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu
Web address: http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~politics/

The University of Central Florida offers a Master of Arts in Political Science degree program that 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.

Degrees Offered

Master of Arts in Political Science (M.A.)

• Political Analysis Track
• Public Policy Track
• Environmental Politics Track

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.; K. Hamann, Ph.D.; A. Jewett, Ph.D.; H. Sadri, Ph.D.

Assistant Professors: H. Bartling, Ph.D.; C. Dolan, Ph.D.; B. Jungblut, Ph.D.; B. Kinsey, Ph.D.; J. Knuckey, Ph.D.; D. Lanier, Ph.D., J.D.; S. Reichert; S. Schraufnagel; B. Wilson, Ph.D.

Master of Arts in Political Science

The Department of Political Science offers students three tracks toward the master’s degree: the political analysis track, the public policy track, and the environmental politics 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 several key areas of government activity: Issues in science and technology, social welfare policy, 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.

The environmental politics track gives students the necessary analytic and substantive tools for understanding the evolving environmental debate in the United States, with particular emphasis on the ecologically sensitive state of Florida. The environmental politics track is recommended for students with a special interest in the science and politics of environmental policy.

Admission Requirements

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 credit 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).

Application Deadlines

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

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, the public policy track, or the environmental politics track. Two tracks require 30 credit hours of credit (24 hours of course work plus 6 hours of thesis), and all share the same core requirements. The environmental politics track requires 33 credit hours (27 hours of course work plus 6 hours of thesis).

Core Requirements—12 Credit Hours

• POS 6746 Quantitative Methods in Political Research (3 credit hours)
• POS 6045 Seminar in American National Politics (3 credit hours)
• POT 6007 Seminar in Political Theory (3 credit hours) AND
• INR 6007 Seminar in International Politics (3 credit hours) OR
• CPO 6091 Seminar in Comparative Politics (3 credit hours)

Political Analysis Track

Requirements for M.A., Political Analysis Track—30 Credit Hours

A program of study in the political analysis track consists of the following course work.

Core Requirements—12 Credit Hours

Three special topics courses—9 Credit Hours

• POS 6938 American Politics (3 credit hours)
• POT 6007 Seminar in Political Theory Political Theory (3 credit hours)
• INR 6XXX International Relations (3 credit hours)
• CPO 6091 Seminar in Comparative Politics (3 credit hours)
• PUP 6938 Political Analysis (3 credit hours)

Elective—3 Credit Hours

Thesis—6 Credit Hours

Public Policy Track

Requirements for M.A., Public Policy Track—30 Credit Hours

A program of study in the political analysis track consists of the following course work.

Core Requirements—12 Credit Hours

• PUP 6007 Public Policy Analysis (3 credit hours)

Two special topics courses—6 Credit Hours

• INR 6086 International Public Policy (3 credit hours)
• POS 6324 Women and Public Policy (3 credit hours)
• PUP 6938 Science Policy (3 credit hours)
• PUP 6938 Social Policy (3 credit hours)
• INR 6107 Seminar in Foreign and Defense Policy (3 credit hours)

Elective—3 Credit Hours

Thesis—6 Credit Hours

Environmental Politics Track

Requirements for M.A., Environmental Politics Track—33 Credit Hours

A program of study in the political analysis track consists of the following course work.

Core Requirements—12 Credit Hours

• POS 6208 Environmental Politics (3 credit hours)

Three specialized and special topics courses—9 Credit Hours

• INR 6XXX International Environmental Law (3 credit hours)
• PUP 6XXX Politics of Sustainability (3 credit hours)
• PUP 6XXX Global Information Systems for Environmental Politics (3 credit hours)
• PUP 6XXX Urban Environmental Policy (3 credit hours)
• PUP 6208 Environmental Politics (3 credit hours)

Cognate Elective—3 Credit Hours

• BOT 5623C Plant Geography and Ecology (3 credit hours)
• ECO 6XXX Benefit/Cost Analysis in Economic Policy (3 credit hours)
• ECO 6XXX Resources and Environmental Management Policy (3 credit hours)
• ECO 6XXX Advanced Resources and Environmental Economics (3 credit hours)
• ECP 6605 Economics of Urban and Regional Problems (3 credit hours)
• ECS 6006 Seminar in Comparative Economic Systems (3 credit hours)
• ECS 6015 Economic Development (3 credit hours)
• PAD 5336 Introduction to Urban Planning (3 credit hours)
• PAD 5337 Urban Design (3 credit hours)
• PAD 5338 Land Use and Planning Law (3 credit hours)
• PAD 5356 Managing Community and Economic Development (3 credit hours)
• PAD 6353 Environmental Program Management Research (3 credit hours)
• PCB 5045C Conservation Biology (3 credit hours)
• PCB 5326C Ecosystems of Florida (3 credit hours)

Thesis—6 Credit Hours

Other Program Requirements

The political science seminars provide the common core of knowledge for students in all three tracks. The specific subject matter of the special 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 special courses may be repeated for credit.

Unless otherwise required, 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. Students are responsible for meeting any prerequisites for elective courses.

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 Filename. 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.

Comprehensive 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 credit 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.