Exploring the UCF Political Science Program: A Comprehensive Overview
Politics is a dynamic force, influencing lives at every level, from local communities to the global stage. A career in this field offers the opportunity to shape the discussions and actions surrounding critical issues. The University of Central Florida (UCF) offers a comprehensive Political Science program, both on-campus and online, designed to prepare students for diverse career paths and advanced studies. This article delves into the various aspects of the UCF Political Science program, including its undergraduate and graduate offerings, specializations, career prospects, and resources for students.
Undergraduate Programs: Building a Foundation in Political Science
The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Political Science at UCF provides a broad foundation in political knowledge, encompassing both American and international politics. The program emphasizes the development of critical thinking and writing skills, essential for success in various fields. Students can choose from multiple tracks to tailor their studies to their specific interests and career goals.
Degree Requirements and Curriculum
The Political Science major requires a total of 36 credit hours, including core courses such as:
- POS 2041 - American National Government
- POS 3703 - Scope and Methods of Political Science
In addition to the core courses, students select electives from areas such as American politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory. The curriculum is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the political science discipline. Students who change degree programs and select this major must adopt the most current catalog. Co-op or internship credit cannot be used in this major without prior school approval. Students should consult with a school advisor. The School Residency Requirement consists of at least 21 semester hours of regularly scheduled courses taken from the UCF School of Politics, Security, and Intl Affairs. All prerequisites of courses taught within the College of Sciences will be enforced. Courses designated in 1 (General Education Program) and 2 (Common Program Prerequisites) are usually completed in the first 60 hours.
Track Options: Specializing Your Studies
The political science major offers three distinct track options: American Politics & Policy, International Relations-Comparative Government, and Pre-Law.
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- American Politics & Policy: This track focuses on the study of American political institutions, processes, and policies.
- International Relations-Comparative Government: This track explores the relationships between countries, the dynamics of international organizations, and the comparative analysis of different political systems.
- Pre-Law: Designed for students interested in pursuing a career in law, this track provides a strong foundation in legal studies and prepares students for law school. The pre-law track also requires specialized coursework in judicial politics and law.
Intelligence and National Security Track
UCF also offers a specialized track in Intelligence and National Security. This track focuses on the fundamentals of intelligence and national security from both a theoretical and practical perspective. It is designed to be helpful to those students who wish to pursue careers in national security and the intelligence community. The required courses in the track constitute a coherent sequence that will give students a familiarity with the functions of the intelligence community and the practice of intelligence collection and analysis. The electives can provide students a solid foundation in regional or functional specialties that are relevant to careers in intelligence and national security. Students who major in the Political Science, Intelligence and National Security Track (B.A.) shall not enroll in the Intelligence and National Security Minor or the Intelligence and National Security Certificate.
Double Major/Dual Degree Policy
Students pursuing a double major or dual degree in any Political Science track and International and Global Studies should be aware of the course overlap policy. No more than two courses can be counted toward both programs, with the exception of POS 2041 and POS 3703. Students majoring in a Political Science track and minoring in International and Global Studies can only count one course toward both programs. Due to the limitations of the myKnight Audit system, students should have their program reviewed by the School before applying for graduation.
Online Program
The Political Science (B.A.), Prelaw Track may be completed fully online, although not all elective options or program prerequisites may be offered online. Newly admitted students choosing to complete this program exclusively via UCF online classes may enroll with a reduction in campus-based fees.
Graduate Program: Master of Arts in Political Science
UCF's Master of Arts (M.A.) in Political Science program is designed to train students to be skilled analysts of politics and policy. The program equips students with contemporary approaches to understanding politics and cutting-edge social science methods.
Program Objectives
The M.A. program prepares students for:
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- Positions in government and the private sector
- Advancement in careers such as consultation, defense, environment, and philanthropy
- Further graduate studies, such as a Ph.D.
- A well-rounded substantive curriculum for secondary school teachers seeking higher degrees and for teachers in community colleges.
Faculty Expertise
Students are taught by full-time faculty with expertise in areas such as:
- American political institutions
- Political behavior and public opinion
- Survey methods
- Security studies
- Terrorism
- Intelligence
- Judicial politics
- Labor politics
The faculty also possess regional expertise in areas such as Latin America, Africa, Russia and Central Asia, the Middle East, East Asia, and Europe.
Admission Requirements
Applicants who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Regular admission requires an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. The CGS will first calculate your Last60 GPA and if that is below a 3.0, they will then calculate your Cumulative GPA. As long as one of the two calculations meet the requirement, you qualify to be admitted regularly. If they fall below a 3.0 you can still be admitted in a provisional status but it is even more important to spend time on your personal statement/statement of purpose. Applications are processed on a rolling basis after they are received, so early application is encouraged. In the personal statement, applicants should address any academic shortfalls and highlight their efforts to improve their knowledge and skills. The statement should convince the admissions committee of the applicant's potential for success in graduate-level coursework and how UCF's program aligns with their academic and career goals.
Recommendation Letters
Applicants should seek recommendation letters from faculty members who know them well and can speak to their academic abilities and potential. It would also be useful to include a resume that details any extracurricular activities or achievements. Focus on courses you performed well in when thinking of faculty.
Funding Opportunities
The department offers limited funding opportunities in the form of a GTA Assistantship. In exchange for up to 20 hours a week of GTA work assisting faculty members with their undergraduate courses, you will receive a tuition waiver, non-residency waiver, health insurance, and a stipend. This funding, if offered with admission, is awarded for two years / 4 semesters (fall 1, spring 1, fall 2, spring 2) assuming satisfactory academic progress and good academic standing. This funding opportunity is highly competitive and to be considered you must have a completed application submitted by the fall priority deadline of January 15. There are also limited summer funding opportunities available for those interested in enrolling in summer semesters. These positions are not offered with admission, instead a call for applications is sent out to all active students every spring. Occasionally one semester positions also open up.
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Graduate Deanâs Fellowship
UCF offers the Graduate Deanâs Fellowship to superior graduate students who are newly enrolling in one of UCFâs eligible graduate programs. This award supplements a qualifying assistantship or external fellowship for one year. Every fall admission cycle the SPSIA is able to nominate one promising new applicant for this award. Studentâs being nominated for this award will also be offered a GTA position with SPSIA. This fellowship, if awarded, provides an additional $5,000 for one year ($2,500 Fall, $2,500 Spring).
Alternative Funding Options
If you are unable to secure an assistantship with the Political Science MA program, then I would encourage you to seek out assistantships with some of the administrative units around campus. Most offices around campus employ a few graduate students as GAs (Graduate Assistants) to assist with administrative duties.
Career Opportunities
A political science degree from UCF can open doors to a variety of career paths. Graduates have found success in:
- Local, state, and national government
- Domestic and international appointed positions
- Private sector
- Legal field
- Nonprofit organizations
- State and federal government
- Non-profit
- Think-tanks
- International organizations and businesses
Salaries for political science graduates vary depending on the specific role and experience level.
Career Development Resources
Students at UCF Online are fully supported by academic advisors who help tailor course selections to career goals. In addition, a limited number of internships are available for students to be placed in an office of local, state or national government, a campaign headquarters or a law office in order to gain real-world experience.
Rankings and Recognition
The Political Science & Government major is part of the social sciences program at University of Central Florida. The median salary of political science students who receive their bachelor's degree at UCF is $35,937. This is great news for graduates of the program, since this figure is higher than the national average of $35,631 for all political science bachelor's degree recipients.
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