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.
Admission Requirements
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 International 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
- 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 Credit Hours: 3
- POS 3703 - Scope and Methods of Political Science Credit Hours: 3
- 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 Credit Hours: 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.
- Students who double minor in Political Science and International and Global Studies shall not count more than one course toward both programs.
- 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.
General Education Program (GEP) (36 Credit Hours)
- At least one course completed in each Foundation area must be a designated State General Education Core Course.
Communication Foundations (9 Credit Hours)
- ENC 1101 - Composition I Credit Hours: 3 (Required)
- ENC 1102 - Composition II Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
- SPC 1608 - Fundamentals of Oral Communication Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
Cultural & Historical Foundations (9 Credit Hours)
For Track 1 (American Politics) students
- AMH 2010 - U.S. History: 1492-1877 Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
For Track 2 (Int’l & Comp) students:
- EUH 2001 - Western Civilization II Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
- WOH 2022 - World Civilization II Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
- Select two courses from Cultural & Historical Foundations, Area 2 Credit Hours: 6
Mathematical Foundations (6 Credit Hours)
Math (3 Credit Hours)
- MGF 1106 - Finite Mathematics Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
- MGF 1107 - Explorations in Mathematics Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
- You may substitute a higher level math with appropriate scores on the Math Placement Test, see: https://www.sdes.ucf.edu/placement-tests/.
Statistics (3 Credit Hours)
- STA 2014 - Principles of Statistics Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
- May substitute a higher level Statistics course. Credit Hours: 3
Social Foundations (6 Credit Hours)
- POS 2041 - American National Government Credit Hours: 3 (Required)
- Select from Social Foundations, Area 2 Credit Hours: 3
Science Foundations (6 Credit Hours)
Common Program Prerequisites (CPP) (3 Credit Hours)
See Acceptable Substitutes for Transfer Courses for possible substitutes for the courses listed below.
- POS 2041 - American National Government Credit Hours: 3 (GEP)
- POS 3703 - Scope and Methods of Political Science Credit Hours: 3
Core Requirements: Basic Level
Courses specifically identified in the preceding Common Program Prerequisites section of this catalog are also required in the Basic Core, and must be taken.
- POS 2041 - American National Government Credit Hours: 3 (GEP/CPP)
Core Requirements: Advanced Level (18 Credit Hours)
Courses specifically identified in the preceding Common Program Prerequisites section of this catalog are also required in the Basic Core, and must be taken.
- POS 3703 - Scope and Methods of Political Science Credit Hours: 3 (CPP)
- Two courses from Area A Credit Hours: 6
- Two courses from Area B Credit Hours: 6
- Two courses from Area C Credit Hours: 6
- POS 4961 - Exit Course Credit Hours: 0
Restricted Electives (12 Credit Hours)
- Choose one of the following tracks.
Track 1: American Politics and Policy
- Two courses from Area A Credit Hours: 6
- Two courses from any Area Credit Hours: 6
Track 2: International Relations-Comparative Politics
- Two courses from Area B Credit Hours: 6
- Two courses from any Area Credit Hours: 6
Track 3: Prelaw
- Please see Political Science - Prelaw Track
Areas of Specialization
A. American Politics and Policy Area
- POS 3076 - American Indian Politics Credit Hours: 3 or
- POS 3122 - State Government and Public Policy Credit Hours: 3 or
- POS 3173 - Southern Politics Credit Hours: 3 or
- POS 3182 - Florida Politics Credit Hours: 3 or
- POS 3233 - Public Opinion Credit Hours: 3 or
- POS 3234 - Protest in American Politics Credit Hours: 3 or
- POS 3235 - Mass Media and Politics Credit Hours: 3 or
- POS 3258 - Politics in Film Credit Hours: 3 or
- POS 3272 - Civic Engagement Credit Hours: 3 or
- POS 3273 - Voting and Elections Credit Hours: 3 or
- POS 3413 - The American Presidency Credit Hours: 3 or
- POS 3424 - Congress and the Legislative Process Credit Hours: 3 or
- POS 3443 - Political Parties and Processes Credit Hours: 3 or
- POS 3463 - Interest Groups Credit Hours: 3 or
- POS 3733 - Designing Political Science Research Credit Hours: 3 or
- POS 4023 - The Politics of LGBTQ+ Policy Credit Hours: 3 or
- POS 4030 - The Politics of Sports Credit Hours: 3 or
- POS 4074 - Latino Politics Credit Hours: 3 or
- POS 4142 - Metropolitan Politics Credit Hours: 3 or
- POS 4204 - Political Behavior Credit Hours: 3 or
- POS 4244 - Political Socialization Credit Hours: 3 or
- POS 4284 - Judicial Process and Politics Credit Hours: 3 or
- POS 4412 - Presidential Campaigning Credit Hours: 3 or
- POS 4603 - American Constitutional Law I Credit Hours: 3 or
- POS 4604 - American Constitutional Law II Credit Hours: 3 or
- POS 4622 - Politics and Civil Rights Credit Hours: 3 or
- POS 4623 - Guns, Freedom and Citizenship Credit Hours: 3 or
- POS 4700 - Teaching American Politics and Government Credit Hours: 3 or
- POS 4764 - GIS for Political Analysis Credit Hours: 3 or
- PUP 3203 - Environmental Politics Credit Hours: 3 or
- PUP 3204 - Sustainability Credit Hours: 3 or
- PUP 3314 - Minorities in American Politics Credit Hours: 3 or
- PUP 4003 - American Public Policy Credit Hours: 3 or
- PUP 4209 - Urban Environmental Policy Credit Hours: 3 or
- PUP 4323 - Women and Public Policy Credit Hours: 3 or
- PUP 4404 - Education and Politics Credit Hours: 3 or
- PUP 4503 - Government and Science Credit Hours: 3 or
- PUP 4510 - Space Policy Credit Hours: 3 or
- PUP 4744 - Government and Business Credit Hours: 3 or
- PUP 4931 - Topics in Public Policy Credit Hours: 3
B. International Relations and Comparative Government Area
- CPO 3034 - Politics of Developing Areas Credit Hours: 3 or
- CPO 3057 - Contemporary Revolution and Political Violence Credit Hours: 3 or
- CPO 3103 - Comparative Politics Credit Hours: 3 or
- CPO 3104 - Politics of Western Europe Credit Hours: 3 or
- CPO 3132 - Canadian Politics Credit Hours: 3 or
- CPO 3403 - Politics of the Middle East Credit Hours: 3 or
- CPO 3614 - Politics of Eastern Europe Credit Hours: 3 or
- CPO 4062 - Comparative Judicial Process Credit Hours: 3 or
- CPO 4074 - Political Economy Credit Hours: 3 or
- CPO 4101 - Politics of the European Union Credit Hours: 3 or
- CPO 4123 - Government and Politics of Great Britain Credit Hours: 3 or
- CPO 4303 - Comparative Latin American Politics Credit Hours: 3 or
- CPO 4400 - Kurdish Politics: Identity, Violence, and Democracy Credit Hours: 3 or
- CPO 4514 - Politics of East Asia Credit Hours: 3 or
- CPO 4541 - Chinese Politics Credit Hours: 3 or
- CPO 4553 - Politics of Japan Credit Hours: 3 or
- CPO 4643 - Government and Politics of Russia Credit Hours: 3 or
- CPO 4710 - Women in Comparative Politics Credit Hours: 3 or
- CPO 4731 - Politics of Democratization Credit Hours: 3 or
- CPO 4754 - Comparative Political Institutions Credit Hours: 3 or
- CPO 4784 - Political and Economic Inequality in Comparative Perspective Credit Hours: 3 or
- CPO 4794 - Indigenous Politics and the Environment Credit Hours: 3 or
- GEO 3471 - World Political Geography Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 2002 - International Relations-Theory and Practice Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 3016 - Global Political Issues Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 3250 - Politics of Pan-Africanism Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 3253 - International Politics of Africa Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4008 - Global Perspectives Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4011 - Politics of Globalization Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4030 - Diplomacy Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4035 - International Political Economy Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4054 - Global Politics of Energy Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4060 - Causes of War Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4063 - The Cold War Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4074 - Immigration Policy Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4075 - Human Rights Policy Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4076 - Global Drug Policy Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4084 - Politics of International Terrorism Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4085 - Women, Gender, and Globalization Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4102 - American Foreign Policy Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4104 - Topics and Cases in American Foreign Policy Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4114 - American Security Policy Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4115 - Strategic Weapons and Arms Control Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4224 - Contemporary International Politics of Asia Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4225 - The Vietnam War Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4243 - International Politics of Latin America Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4274 - International Politics of the Middle East Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4304 - Issues in International Public Policy Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4335 - Coercion in International Politics Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4350 - Global Environmental Politics Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4351 - International Environmental Law Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4363 - Intelligence Analysis and Reporting Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4364 - The Intelligence Community Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4401 - International Law Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4404 - Space Law Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4502 - International Organizations Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4714 - Politics of International Trade Policy Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4743 - Military Power and Effectiveness Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4744 - Militaries in World Politics Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4764 - Cyberwarfare Policy Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4765 - Emerging Space Powers Credit Hours: 3 or
- INR 4774 - Military Space Policy Credit Hours: 3 or
- POS 3733 - Designing Political Science Research Credit Hours: 3 or
- PUP 3014 - Comparative Public Policy Credit Hours: 3 or
- PUP 4510 - Space Policy Credit Hours: 3
C. Political Theory Area
- INR 4603 - International Relations Theory Credit Hours: 3 or
- POT 3302 - Modern Political Ideologies Credit Hours: 3 or
- POT 4003 - Political Theory Credit Hours: 3 or
- POT 4025 - Ancient, Medieval and Early Modern Political Philosophy Credit Hours: 3 or
- POT 4066 - Contemporary Political Theory Credit Hours: 3 or
- POS 4206 - Political Psychology Credit Hours: 3 or
- POT 4305 - Democracy, Capitalism, and the Individual Credit Hours: 3 or
- POT 4314 - Contemporary Democratic Theory Credit Hours: 3 or
- POT 4331 - Utopia/Dystopia Credit Hours: 3 or
- POT 4345 - Pan-Africanist Thought Credit Hours: 3 or
- POT 4632 - Religion and Politics Credit Hours: 3
- or other courses may be substituted with school approval.
Capstone Requirements
Electives
- 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
Admissions
- Met by graduation requirement
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.
Additional Requirements
Required Minors
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
- 48 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.
Total Undergraduate Credit Hours Required: 120
Additional Information
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.)
Certificates
- Diplomacy Certificate
- Intelligence and National Security Certificate
- Civics Teaching Certificate
Related Minors
- 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”.
Acceptable Substitutes for Transfer Courses
- 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
Plan of Study
- This is one of numerous possible plans of study. See program description for all requirements.
- Consult a school advisor for alternate, new or more appropriate selections.
- Use your Pegasus Path planning tool in your myUCF portal to plan your courses through to graduation.
- Prior to enrolling in Math, take Math Placement Test ~ https://www.sdes.ucf.edu/placement-tests/
- You may be required to complete 9 hours of them during the Summer. Consult with an advisor to determine if you are exempt.
Freshman Year - Fall (13 Credit Hours)
- POS 2041 - American National Government Credit Hours: 3
- ENC 1101 - Composition I Credit Hours: 3
- Foreign Language (XXX1120C) Credit Hours: 4
Select One: GEP 4 - Historical Foundation Credit Hours: 3
- AMH 2010 - U.S. History: 1492-1877 Credit Hours: 3 Recommended for the American Politics and Policy Track
- or
- EUH 2001 - Western Civilization II Credit Hours: 3 Recommended for the International Relations and Comparative Politics Track
- or
- WOH 2022 - World Civilization II Credit Hours: 3 Recommended for the International Relations and Comparative Politics Track
Freshman Year - Spring (13 Credit Hours)
- ENC 1102 - Composition II Credit Hours: 3
- SPC 1608 - Fundamentals of Oral Communication Credit Hours: 3
- Foreign Language (XXX1121) Credit Hours: 4
- MGF 1106 - Finite Mathematics Credit Hours: 3
- or
- MGF 1107 - Explorations in Mathematics Credit Hours: 3
Freshman Year - Summer (6 Credit Hours)
- Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
Sophomore Year - Fall (15 Credit Hours)
- Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3
- STA 2014 - Principles of Statistics Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 3
Sophomore Year - Spring (15 Credit Hours)
- POS 3703 - Scope and Methods of Political Science Credit Hours: 3
- Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 3
Sophomore Year - Summer (3 Credit Hours)
Junior Year - Fall (15 Credit Hours)
- Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3
- GEP Credit Hours: 3
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 3
Junior Year - Spring (15 Credit Hours)
- Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 3
Senior Year - Fall (13 Credit Hours)
- Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Restricted Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 4
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 3
Senior Year - Spring (12 Credit Hours)
- POS 4961 - Exit Course Credit Hours: 0
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 3
- Free Elective Credit Hours: 3
