Political Science (BA) (2024)

Degree Requirements

• 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.

Double major/dual degree policy in Political Science programs and minors

1. Students who double major/degree in any Political Science track and International and Global Studies shall not count more than two courses toward both programs, except the following:
   • POS 2041 - American National Government
   • POS 3703 - Scope and Methods of Political Science
2. Students who major in International and Global Studies, and minor in Political Science, shall not count more than one course toward both programs, except the following;
   • POS 2041 - American National Government
3. Students who major in any Political Science track, and minor in International and Global Studies, shall not count more than one course toward both programs.
4. Students who double minor in Political Science and International and Global Studies shall not count more than one course toward both programs.
5. The myKnight Audit cannot capture overlapping courses between two or more programs; therefore, students should have their program reviewed by the School before filing for graduation.

Online Political Science, BA

Political Science (B.A.) 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.

Degree Requirements

Core Requirements: Advanced Level

18 Total Credits

• Complete all of the following
  • In addition to completing POS2041 (GEP) and POS3703 (CPP), complete two courses from each area and the Exit Course.
  • Complete the following:
    • POS4961 - Exit Course
  • POS4961 is completed during graduating semester.
  Area A: American Politics and Policy
  • Earn at least 6 credits from the following:
    • POS3076 - American Indian Politics (3)
    • POS3122 - State Government and Public Policy (3)
    • POS3173 - Southern Politics (3)
    • POS3182H - Honors Florida Politics (3)
    • POS3233 - Public Opinion (3)
    • POS3234 - Protest in American Politics (3)
    • POS3235 - Mass Media and Politics (3)
    • POS3258 - Politics in Film (3)
    • POS3272 - Civic Engagement (3)
    • POS3273 - Voting and Elections (3)
    • POS3413 - The American Presidency (3)
    • POS3424 - Congress and the Legislative Process (3)
    • POS3443 - Political Parties and Processes (3)
    • POS3463 - Interest Groups (3)
    • POS3733 - Designing Political Science Research (3)
    • POS4023 - The Politics of LGBTQ+ Policy (3)
    • POS4030 - The Politics of Sports (3)
    • POS4074 - Latino Politics (3)
    • POS4142 - Metropolitan Politics (3)
    • POS4204 - Political Behavior (3)
    • POS4244 - Political Socialization (3)
    • POS4284 - Judicial Process and Politics (3)
    • POS4412 - Presidential Campaigning (3)
    • POS4603 - American Constitutional Law I (3)
    • POS4604 - American Constitutional Law II (3)
    • POS4622 - Politics and Civil Rights (3)
    • POS4623 - Guns, Freedom and Citizenship (3)
    • POS4700 - Teaching American Politics and Government (3)
    • POS4764 - GIS for Political Analysis (3)
    • PUP3203 - Environmental Politics (3)
    • PUP3204H - Honors Sustainability (3)
    • PUP3314 - Minorities in American Politics (3)
    • PUP4003 - American Public Policy (3)
    • PUP4209 - Urban Environmental Policy (3)
    • PUP4323 - Women and Public Policy (3)
    • PUP4404 - Education and Politics (3)
    • PUP4503 - Government and Science (3)
    • PUP4510 - Space Policy (3)
    • PUP4744 - Government and Business (3)
    • PUP4931 - Topics in Public Policy (3)
    • POS4682 - National Security Law (3)
    • POS4407 - The Intelligence Community (3)
    • POS4300 - Research Methods and Intelligence (3)
  Area B: International Relations and Comparative Government
  • Earn at least 6 credits from the following:
    • CPO3034 - Politics of Developing Areas (3)
    • CPO3057 - Contemporary Revolution and Political Violence (3)
    • CPO3103 - Comparative Politics (3)
    • CPO3104 - Politics of Western Europe (3)
    • CPO3132 - Canadian Politics (3)
    • CPO3403 - Politics of the Middle East (3)
    • CPO3614 - Politics of Eastern Europe (3)
    • CPO4062 - Comparative Judicial Process (3)
    • CPO4074 - Political Economy (3)
    • CPO4123 - Government and Politics of Great Britain (3)
    • CPO4123 - Government and Politics of Great Britain (3)
    • CPO4303 - Comparative Latin American Politics (3)
    • CPO4400 - Kurdish Politics: Identity, Violence, and Democracy (3)
    • CPO4514 - Politics of East Asia (3)
    • CPO4541 - Chinese Politics (3)
    • CPO4553 - Politics of Japan (3)
    • CPO4643 - Government and Politics of Russia (3)
    • CPO3614 - Politics of Eastern Europe (3)
    • CPO4731 - Politics of Democratization (3)
    • CPO4731 - Politics of Democratization (3)
    • CPO4784 - Political and Economic Inequality in Comparative Perspective (3)
    • CPO4794 - Indigenous Politics and the Environment (3)
    • GEO3471 - World Political Geography (3)
    • INR2002 - International Relations-Theory and Practice (3)
    • INR3016 - Global Political Issues (3)
    • INR3250 - Politics of Pan-Africanism (3)
    • INR3253 - International Politics of Africa (3)
    • INR4008 - Global Perspectives (3)
    • IDC5602 - Cybersecurity: A Multidisciplinary Approach (3)
    • INR4030 - Diplomacy (3)
    • INR4035 - International Political Economy (3)
    • INR4054 - Global Politics of Energy (3)
    • INR4060 - Causes of War (3)
    • INR4063 - The Cold War (3)
    • INR4074 - Immigration Policy (3)
    • INR4075 - Human Rights Policy (3)
    • INR4076 - Global Drug Policy (3)
    • INR4084 - Politics of International Terrorism (3)
    • INR4085 - Women, Gender, and Globalization (3)
    • INR4102 - American Foreign Policy (3)
    • INR4104 - Topics and Cases in American Foreign Policy (3)
    • INR4114 - American Security Policy (3)
    • INR4115 - Strategic Weapons and Arms Control (3)
    • INR4224 - Contemporary International Politics of Asia (3)
    • INR4243 - International Politics of Latin America (3)
    • INR4274 - International Politics of the Middle East (3)
    • INR4304 - Issues in International Public Policy (3)
    • INR4335 - Coercion in International Politics (3)
    • INR4350 - Global Environmental Politics (3)
    • INR4351 - International Environmental Law (3)
    • INR4360 - The Intelligence Process (3)
    • POS4407 - The Intelligence Community (3)
    • INR4401 - International Law (3)
    • INR4404 - Space Law (3)
    • INR4502 - International Organizations (3)
    • INR4714 - Politics of International Trade Policy (3)
    • INR4743 - Military Power and Effectiveness (3)
    • INR4744 - Militaries in World Politics (3)
    • INR4764 - Cyberwarfare Policy (3)
    • INR4765 - Emerging Space Powers (3)
    • INR4774 - Military Space Policy (3)
    • POS3733 - Designing Political Science Research (3)
    • PUP3014 - Comparative Public Policy (3)
    • PUP4510 - Space Policy (3)
    • CPO4406 - Minorities and Majorities in the Middle East (3)
    • INR4084H - Honors Politics of International Terrorism (3)
    • INR4942 - Intelligence Studies Capstone (3)
    • POS4300 - Research Methods and Intelligence (3)
  Area C: Political Theory
  • Complete all of the following
    • Earn at least 6 credits from the following:
      • INR4603 - International Relations Theory (3)
      • POS4206 - Political Psychology (3)
      • POT3302 - Modern Political Ideologies (3)
      • POT4003 - Political Theory (3)
      • POT4025 - Ancient, Medieval and Early Modern Political Philosophy (3)
      • POT4066 - Contemporary Political Theory (3)
      • POT4305 - Democracy, Capitalism, and the Individual (3)
      • POT4314 - Contemporary Democratic Theory (3)
      • POT4331 - Utopia/Dystopia (3)
      • POT4632 - Religion and Politics (3)
      • POT3206 - Political Ideals and the U.S. Constitution (3)
      • POT4320 - Conspiracy Theories and Democracy (3)
    • Other courses may be substituted with school approval.

Restricted Electives

12 Total Credits

• Complete 1 of the following
  • Complete one of the following tracks
  American Politics and Policy Track
  • Complete all of the following
    • Earn at least 6 credits from the following:
      • POS3076 - American Indian Politics (3)
      • POS3122 - State Government and Public Policy (3)
      • POS3173 - Southern Politics (3)
      • POS3182 - Florida Politics (3)
      • POS3233 - Public Opinion (3)
      • POS3234 - Protest in American Politics (3)
      • POS3235 - Mass Media and Politics (3)
      • POS3258 - Politics in Film (3)
      • POS3272 - Civic Engagement (3)
      • POS3273 - Voting and Elections (3)
      • POS3413 - The American Presidency (3)
      • POS3424 - Congress and the Legislative Process (3)
      • POS3443 - Political Parties and Processes (3)
      • POS3463 - Interest Groups (3)
      • POS3733 - Designing Political Science Research (3)
      • POS4023 - The Politics of LGBTQ+ Policy (3)
      • POS4030 - The Politics of Sports (3)
      • POS4074 - Latino Politics (3)
      • POS4142 - Metropolitan Politics (3)
      • POS4204 - Political Behavior (3)
      • POS4244 - Political Socialization (3)
      • POS4284 - Judicial Process and Politics (3)
      • POS4412 - Presidential Campaigning (3)
      • POS4603 - American Constitutional Law I (3)
      • POS4412 - Presidential Campaigning (3)
      • POS4764 - GIS for Political Analysis (3)
      • POS4623 - Guns, Freedom and Citizenship (3)
      • POS4700 - Teaching American Politics and Government (3)
      • POS4764 - GIS for Political Analysis (3)
      • PUP3203 - Environmental Politics (3)
      • PUP3204 - Sustainability (3)
      • PUP3314 - Minorities in American Politics (3)
      • PUP4003 - American Public Policy (3)
      • PUP4209 - Urban Environmental Policy (3)
      • PUP4323 - Women and Public Policy (3)
      • PUP4404 - Education and Politics (3)
      • PUP4503 - Government and Science (3)
      • PUP4510 - Space Policy (3)
      • PUP4744 - Government and Business (3)
      • PUP4931 - Topics in Public Policy (3)
      • POS4407 - The Intelligence Community (3)
      • POS4300 - Research Methods and Intelligence (3)
      • POS4682 - National Security Law (3)
    • Earn at least 6 credits from the following types of courses: Additional courses from Area A, B, or C in the Core Requirements: Advanced Level
  International Relations-Comparative Politics Track
  • Complete all of the following
    • Earn at least 6 credits from the following:
      • CPO3034 - Politics of Developing Areas (3)
      • CPO3057 - Contemporary Revolution and Political Violence (3)
      • CPO3103 - Comparative Politics (3)
      • CPO3104 - Politics of Western Europe (3)
      • CPO3132 - Canadian Politics (3)
      • CPO3403 - Politics of the Middle East (3)
      • CPO3614 - Politics of Eastern Europe (3)
      • CPO4062 - Comparative Judicial Process (3)
      • CPO4074 - Political Economy (3)
      • CPO4101 - Politics of the European Union (3)
      • CPO4123 - Government and Politics of Great Britain (3)
      • CPO4303 - Comparative Latin American Politics (3)
      • CPO4400 - Kurdish Politics: Identity, Violence, and Democracy (3)
      • CPO4514 - Politics of East Asia (3)
      • CPO4541 - Chinese Politics (3)
      • CPO4553 - Politics of Japan (3)
      • CPO4643 - Government and Politics of Russia (3)
      • CPO4710 - Women in Comparative Politics (3)
      • CPO4731 - Politics of Democratization (3)
      • CPO4754 - Comparative Political Institutions (3)
      • CPO4784 - Political and Economic Inequality in Comparative Perspective (3)
      • CPO4794 - Indigenous Politics and the Environment (3)
      • GEO3471 - World Political Geography (3)
      • INR2002 - International Relations-Theory and Practice (3)
      • INR3016 - Global Political Issues (3)
      • INR3250 - Politics of Pan-Africanism (3)
      • INR3253 - International Politics of Africa (3)
      • INR4008 - Global Perspectives (3)
      • INR4011 - Politics of Globalization (3)
      • INR4030 - Diplomacy (3)
      • INR4035 - International Political Economy (3)
      • INR4054 - Global Politics of Energy (3)
      • INR4060 - Causes of War (3)
      • INR4063 - The Cold War (3)
      • INR4074 - Immigration Policy (3)
      • INR4075 - Human Rights Policy (3)
      • INR4076 - Global Drug Policy (3)
      • INR4084 - Politics of International Terrorism (3)
      • INR4085 - Women, Gender, and Globalization (3)
      • INR4224 - Contemporary International Politics of Asia (3)
      • INR4104 - Topics and Cases in American Foreign Policy (3)
      • INR4114 - American Security Policy (3)
      • INR4115 - Strategic Weapons and Arms Control (3)
      • INR4224 - Contemporary International Politics of Asia (3)
      • INR4225 - The Vietnam War (3)
      • INR4243 - International Politics of Latin America (3)
      • INR4274 - International Politics of the Middle East (3)
      • INR4304 - Issues in International Public Policy (3)
      • INR4335 - Coercion in International Politics (3)
      • INR4350 - Global Environmental Politics (3)
      • INR4351 - International Environmental Law (3)
      • INR4363 - Intelligence Analysis and Reporting (3)
      • INR4364H - Honors: The Intelligence Community (3)
      • INR4401 - International Law (3)
      • INR4404 - Space Law (3)
      • INR4502 - International Organizations (3)
      • INR4714 - Politics of International Trade Policy (3)
      • INR4743 - Military Power and Effectiveness (3)
      • INR4744 - Militaries in World Politics (3)
      • INR4764 - Cyberwarfare Policy (3)
      • INR4765 - Emerging Space Powers (3)
      • INR4774 - Military Space Policy (3)
      • POS3733 - Designing Political Science Research (3)
      • PUP3014 - Comparative Public Policy (3)
      • PUP4510 - Space Policy (3)
      • CPO4406 - Minorities and Majorities in the Middle East (3)
      • POS4407 - The Intelligence Community (3)
      • POS4300 - Research Methods and Intelligence (3)
      • INR4084H - Honors Politics of International Terrorism (3)
      • INR4942 - Intelligence Studies Capstone (3)
    • Earn at least 6 credits from the following types of courses: Additional courses from Area A, B, or C in the Core Requirements: Advanced Level
  Prelaw Track
  • Earn at least 12 credits from the following types of courses: Please see the catalog copy for Political Science - Prelaw Track
  Intelligence and National Security Track
  • Earn at least 12 credits from the following types of courses: Please see the catalog copy for Political Science – Intelligence and National Security Track

Grand Total Credits: 30

Total Undergraduate Credit Hours Required: 120

Electives

• To fulfill the 120 hours required of this degree, select primarily from upper level courses after meeting with a school advisor. Courses may be outside the school.
• Internship Program: For students who excel, a limited number of internships may be available each semester for three to six hours of credit. Under the Internship Director, the student is typically placed in an office of local, state, or national government, a law office, or a campaign headquarters.
• No more than 9 credits of a combination of Honors in the Major, Independent Study, and Internship may be counted toward the major in Political Science, provided that no more than 50% of an Area be covered by such credits.
• Students who qualify for Senior Scholars Program may enroll in graduate-level courses to satisfy major requirements to take Area courses.

Foreign Language Requirements

Graduation

• Proficiency equivalent to two semesters of college instruction in a foreign language or in American Sign Language (ASL). Standardized examinations for foreign languages may be used. ASL proficiency is met by successful completion of ASL 2140 and ASL 2150 or an appropriate score on the ASL proficiency exam. Contact the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders (https://healthprofessions.ucf.edu/csd/) regarding the ASL proficiency examination.

Program Exit Requirements

• Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in all courses used to satisfy major requirements.
• Complete the POS 4961 Exit Course during the student's graduating semester.

University Minimum Exit Requirements

• A 2.0 UCF GPA
• 42 semester hours of upper division credit completed
• 60 semester hours earned after CLEP awarded
• 30 of the last 39 hours of course work must be completed in residency at UCF.
• A maximum of 45 hours of extension, correspondence, CLEP, Credit by Exam, and Armed Forces credits permitted.
• Complete the General Education Program, the Gordon Rule, and nine hours of Summer credit.

High Impact Learning Experiences

High Impact Learning Experiences are available to all students. Interested students may select from the following options:

• POS 3940 Internship*
• POS 3955 Study Abroad*
• POS 4903H Honors Directed Reading I*
• POS 4904H Honors Directed Reading II*
• POS 4912 Directed Independent Research*
• POS 4941 Internship*
• POS 4955 Study Abroad*
• POS 4970H Undergraduate Honors Thesis*
• Any course designated as Research Intensive
• Any course designated as Service Learning
• Any course designated as an Integrated Learning Experience

* These courses may also be taken with an INR, CPO, PUP, or POT prefix.

Honors In Major

• Application and admissions through The Burnett Honors College. More information about Honors in the Major can be found at honors.ucf.edu/research.
• Interested students who meet the requirements are encouraged to participate in the HIM program. Contact the school for information about the program and the HIM coordinator.

Related Programs

• Economics (B.S.)
• History (B.A.)

• Diplomacy Certificate
• Intelligence and National Security Certificate
• Civics Teaching Certificate

• Economics Minor
• History Minor
• Psychology Minor
• Sociology Minor
• Philosophy Minor

Advising Notes

• Students should consult with a School advisor.
• Contact your college advisor in the College of Sciences Advising Services (COSAS) office (CSB 250) for more information about overall progress toward your degree, GEP and other university requirements, academic probation, special problems as well as general academic advising.

Transfer Notes

• Lower division courses do not substitute for upper division courses.
• Courses transferred from private and out-of-state schools must be evaluated for equivalency credit. The student must provide all supporting information.
• Submit your requests for course evaluations at https://sciences.ucf.edu/cosas/ and click on "COS Course Evaluation".
• The following substitutions for common program prerequisites are acceptable if taken prior to transferring to UCF:
  • POS 2041: any three hours of introductory Political Science classes will satisfy the CPP. However since this course is required in the core of the major and is a prerequisite to subsequent courses, it still must be taken.
  • POS 3703: any three hours of introductory Political Science classes will satisfy the CPP. However since this course is required in the core of the major, it still must be taken.

Program Academic Learning Compacts

• Program Academic Learning Compacts (student learning outcomes) for undergraduate programs are located at: http://www.oeas.ucf.edu/alc/academic_learning_compacts.htm

Equipment Fees

• Part-Time Student: $5 per term
• Full-Time Student: $10 per term