While no specific major is prescribed for admission to law school, many prelaw students elect to major in political science. These individuals usually choose the prelaw emphasis within the political science major. Prelaw students are encouraged to work closely with a prelaw advisor in planning their program. By judicious use of electives, students build a firm foundation for law school entry and acquire a broad training which can result in career options upon graduation. For further information, consult one of the School's prelaw advisors or the College of Sciences Prelaw Advisor. The following curriculum meets the requirements for a Political Science degree and prepares you for professional school.
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.
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
- 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 courses;
- POS 2041 - American National Government
- POS 3703 - Scope and Methods of Political Science
- 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.
- 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.
Degree Requirements
Core Requirements: Advanced Level
3 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- In addition to completing POS2041 (GEP) and POS3703 (CPP),
- Complete the following:
- POS4284 - Judicial Process and Politics (3)
- POS4961 - Exit Course
- POS4961 is completed during graduating semester.
Restricted Electives
27 Total Credits
- Complete all of the following
- Complete at least 1 of the following:
- INR4401 - International Law (3)
- POS4603 - American Constitutional Law I (3)
- POS4604 - American Constitutional Law II (3)
- Complete all of the following
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)
- POS3235H - Honors 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)
- POS4764 - GIS for Political Analysis (3)
- POS4023 - The Politics of LGBTQ+ Policy (3)
- POS4764 - GIS for Political Analysis (3)
- POS4074 - Latino Politics (3)
- POS4023 - The Politics of LGBTQ+ Policy (3)
- POS4204 - Political Behavior (3)
- POS4244 - Political Socialization (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)
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)
- 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)
- CPO4541 - Chinese Politics (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)
- 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)
- 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)
- POS4407 - The Intelligence Community (3)
- INR4401 - International Law (3)
- INR4404 - Space Law (3)
- INR4502 - International Organizations (3)
- INR4714 - Politics of International Trade Policy (3)
- INR4764 - Cyberwarfare Policy (3)
- INR4765 - Emerging Space Powers (3)
- INR4744 - Militaries in World Politics (3)
- POS3733 - Designing Political Science Research (3)
- PUP3014 - Comparative Public Policy (3)
- PUP4510 - Space Policy (3)
Area C: Political Theory- Earn at least 3 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)
- POT4305 - Democracy, Capitalism, and the Individual (3)
- POT4331 - Utopia/Dystopia (3)
- POT4632 - Religion and Politics (3)
Any Area- Earn at least 9 credits from the following types of courses: Three courses chosen from Area A, B, or C.
Grand Total Credits: 30