Political Science

M.A. and Combined Programs

M.A. in Political Science
General Program M.A. in International
Relations Combined
B.A./M.A. Program J.D./M.A.
Combined Degree Program

Certificates

Political Campaigning Public Affairs (admission paused)

The Department of Political Science at the University of Florida offers several M.A. programs designed to address a variety of interests and career goals.  Students who pursue the M.A. in Political Science are permitted, but not required, to pursue a companion certificate program in Public Affairs or Political Campaigning. We also offer the M.A. in International Relations.

Certificate Application

Students may apply here. NOTE: the Department has paused acceptances for the PA Certificate for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 academic years.

Curriculum

All MA students are required to complete

POS 6736 Conduct of Inquiry (offered in the fall)

POS 6737 Political Data Analysis (offered in the Spring)

Additional requirements for each program are included in the descriptions below and on the separate webpages.

Combined JD/MA Program

M.A. students may pursue a combined JD/MA program with the Levin College of Law, which would allow students to earn both the Master of Arts and the Juris Doctor degree in approximately four years. Students in the combined program may pursue the general M.A. in Political Science, the certificate programs in Public Affairs or Political Campaigning, or the M.A. in International Relations.

Combined BA/MA program

The combined BA/MA degree program is designed for superior students who have the ability to pursue an accelerated program in political science leading to the Master of Arts in Political Science or the Master of Arts in Political Science-International Relations. The main feature of the program is that UF undergraduates may take twelve graduate hours that double-count toward the BA and the MA degree programs. Students in the combined program may pursue the general M.A. in Political Science or the certificate programs in Public Affairs or Political Campaigning.

Supervisory Committee

Supervisory Committee Chairs and members act as MA students’ primary advisors and evaluate final examinations (thesis defense for MA Thesis students, final examinations, paper, or project defenses for non-thesis MA students).

All MA students must have a supervisory committee no later than the end of the third semester in the MA program.  This committee consists of these three members (four for Political Campaigning):

1. Supervisory Chair (A graduate faculty member in Political Science)
2. Graduate Faculty member from Political Science
3. Graduate Faculty member from Political Science or another department
4. (Political Campaigning only) A special member who is a practitioner

Financial Assistance

The Department generally does not provide assistantships for students in our MA programs.  However, M.A. students in Political Campaigning are considered for partial support through funds appropriated and donated to that program. In addition, under the Academic Common Market, residents of Alabama, Arkansas, Maryland, Mississippi, and West Virginia who are admitted to our M.A. Program in Political Campaigning may be eligible to waive out-of-state tuition fees. For more information, contact the Academic Common Market Coordinator in your state.

MA students are encouraged to seek further information on financial aid from the UF Student Financial Affairs website.

Satisfactory Progress in the M.A. Program

The Department will dismiss from the M.A. program students not making satisfactory progress toward the degree. The grounds for dismissal include the following:

A graduate GPA of less than 3.25 for more than one semester.

Two grades less than “B-” (either in the same semester or in different semesters).

A judgment supported by a majority of the supervisory committee including the Chair of the Committee meeting in the “final examination” for the MA program in question that the student’s performance is unacceptable. What constitutes the “final examination” differs between degrees (i.e., M.A. in Political Science versus M.A. in International Relations) and among programs (general M.A. in Political Science, Certificate in Political Campaigning, and Certificate in Public Affairs).

 

Master of Arts in Political Science (general program)
Designed for	The M.A. program introduces students to the research methods of political science and to the research traditions in its various fields. Some students who complete the M.A. apply for admission to the PhD program either at UF or elsewhere.
Semester Hours Required	36
Required courses	Must include a minimum of two graduate-level courses in one field of political science. The fields are American Government and Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations, Methodology, and Political Theory.
Internship?	Optional, but not common
Thesis option?	Yes
Capstone / Final Examination requirement	Thesis option – defense of a thesis
	Non-thesis option – submission and defense of two qualifying papers.
Available for BA/MA combined program?	Yes
Available for JD/MA combined program?	Yes
Application deadline	March 15 (hard deadline)
Eligible for Academic Common Market?	No
Program Website	https://polisci.ufl.edu/graduate/ma-programs/m-a-in-political-science-general-program/
Faculty contact	Dr. Michael Martinez Graduate Coordinator martinez@ufl.edu phone (352) 273-2363

 

Master of Arts in International Relations
Designed for	The M.A. in International Relations program provides education those whose primary interest is a professional career in foreign relations in either the public or private sector. The program does not offer narrow, specialized training in policy making; it is rather designed to broaden students’ intellectual horizons by introducing them to a variety of conceptual perspectives on international relations and to a variety of substantive international issues.
Semester Hours Required	36
Required courses	INR 6607 (International Relations Theory) At least two (2) of the following survey seminars: INR 6039 (International Political Economy) INR 6337 (Survey of International Security) INR 6305 (Politics of American For. Policy Making) INR 6507 (International Organization)
Internship?	Optional, but not common
Thesis option?	Yes
Capstone / Final Examination requirement	Thesis option – defense of a thesis
	Non-thesis option – Comprehensive final exam – written and oral components given in November (Fall) and April (Spring)
Available for BA/MA combined program?	No
Available for JD/MA combined program?	Yes
Application deadline	March 15 (hard deadline)
Eligible for Academic Common Market?	No
Program Website	https://polisci.ufl.edu/graduate/ma-programs/ma-in-international-relations/
Faculty contact	Dr. David Siroky Field Chair davidsiroky@ufl.edu

 

Master of Arts in Political Science with Certificate in Political Campaigning
Designed for	The Graduate Program in Political Campaigning is designed to provide students with the basic skills, insights, and experiences that are so critical for success in today’s ever-changing profession of politics and political management. Unlike other programs that prepare students for a career in politics, this program combines the best of both academic study and practical experience.
Semester Hours Required	39
Required courses	POS6207 Political Behavior POS6274 Political Campaigning POS6278 Advanced Campaign Strategy POS6757 Survey Research
Internship?	Required, usually completed in the summer between the academic years
Thesis option?	No
Capstone / Final Examination requirement	Comprehensive final exam – written and oral components given in November (Fall) and April (Spring)
Available for BA/MA combined program?	Yes
Available for JD/MA combined program?	Yes
Application deadline	March 15; late applications accepted if space is available
Eligible for Academic Common Market?	Yes, for residents of Alabama, Arkansas, Maryland, Mississippi, and West Virginia
Program Website	https://campaigning.polisci.ufl.edu/about/courses/
Faculty contact	Dr. Suzanne Robbins Program Director suzanne.robbins@ufl.edu