Political Science Department Becomes New UCF School

UCF has added a new school to its roster with the change of the Department of Political Science to the School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs.

While political science remains at the heart of the school and the academic curriculum, the new designation better reflects the broader scope of its mission and programs, says Kerstin Hamann, Ph.D., the school’s director and a Pegasus Professor.

“The scope of the school is much greater than that of a traditional department. The school designation immediately signals we have numerous opportunities for faculty and students interested in political science in general, but also more broadly in security and global affairs,” Hamann says.

College of Sciences Dean Michael Johnson, Ph.D., says the new designation makes it easier to attract top academic talent from around the globe and meet the growing demand from students entering careers in international affairs.

“The department has developed rapidly in recent years, both in the scope of its programs and influence in the world. It is important for us to seize this opportunity to continue expanding UCF’s global impact,” Johnson says.

The school will continue to offer the same degree options to its graduate and undergraduate students, including those interested in American politics and pre-law. Among the program academic offerings are international and global studies, a master’s degree in political science, and a doctoral program in security studies.

“This renaming recognizes the growing prominence and scope of these valuable programs within the College of Sciences,” says Elizabeth A. Dooley, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. “The change signals a bright future of service and impact as our academic enterprise evolves to better serve students, faculty, and workforce needs.”

Additional programs provide opportunities for partnerships, students and faculty, many of which have an international and interdisciplinary focus. These include UCF’s India Center and the Center for Global Economic and Environmental Opportunity (GEOO); the Kurdish Political Studies Program; the Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence; and the Prince Mohammed bin Fahd Program for Strategic Research and Studies; and the Lou Frey Institute of Government and Politics, which has a broad focus on civics, especially K-12 civics education, in Florida.