Political Science MA

Applying to the Political Science M.A. Program

Applicants for UCF’s MA in Political Science Students must apply on line using UCF’s online graduate application system, and should expect to submit:

• Official transcripts (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended.
• Three letters of reference that evaluate the applicant’s academic performance and their suitability and potential for undertaking MA level study, at least two of which were written by faculty members at the higher education institution(s) the student attended.
• A personal statement of 500 words identifying areas of research interest in political science, faculty with whom they would like to work, and describing the applicant’s academic and professional experiences and future career goals.
• CV/Résumé.
• Applicants applying to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.

Applications are processed on a rolling basis after they are received. International students and students interested in being considered for GTA positions or fellowships should apply by published deadlines.

Application Tips:

• Apply early! Recommendation letters often take some time to receive after your recommenders are sent their email prompts. Your application cannot be reviewed and decided on until all application materials are received. 

• Spend some time on your personal statement! Your personal statement is your opportunity to paint the full picture of why you are interested in joining the Political Science MA, how your prior academic experiences have prepared you for graduate level coursework, and why you think UCF would be the best place for you to achieve your academic and professional goals. Be sure to also mention any faculty you would like to work with and why.  

• Low GPA? You can still apply! Be sure to spend extra time on your personal statement. Explain any academic shortfalls and what you have done to improve your knowledge and skills. You want to convince the admissions committee that you can succeed in graduate level coursework and that UCF’s program can best serve your academic and career goals. Regular admission requires an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. The CGS will first calculate your Last60 GPA and if that is below a 3.0, they will then calculate your Cumulative GPA. As long as one of the two calculations meet the requirement you qualify to be admitted regularly. If they fall below a 3.0 you can still be admitted in a provisional status, but it is even more important to spend time on your personal statement/statement of purpose. Programs are limited on how many students they can admit in provisional status. 

• Unsure if graduate coursework is for you? Instead of enrolling in a Masters program you can sample some coursework by either applying as a non-degree seeking student in a graduate certificate that relates to your academic interests. Qualifying courses taken prior to admission to the MA program can be transferred into the program once you are admitted (this should be limited to 9 credit hours). If you are still working on your undergraduate degree, you should also consider the Senior Scholars Program. This program allows you to take graduate level coursework during your undergraduate degree. Graduate courses completed with a “B” or higher can count towards both your undergraduate degree and future graduate program at UCF! To apply for non-degree seeking status or a graduate certificate program just visit the CGS Application portal. To apply for the Senior Scholars Program visit: sciences.ucf.edu/politics/undergraduate/senior-scholars-program    

• Unsure how to approach getting recommendation letters? Often students fail to establish close faculty connections during their undergraduate programs so identifying faculty that can provide you with recommendation letters can be a struggle. In these cases, it is best to review your course history and identify faculty you have had the most contact with over your time at UCF. Send them an email detailing your intentions to apply to the graduate program, the courses you took with them, your grade in the course, what skills you learned in their classes, and the careers goals you have that would be supported by attaining a Political Science MA. It would also be useful to include a resume that details any extracurricular activities or achievements. You may choose to meet with them at this point to request a recommendation letter or inquire via email about their ability or interest to provide a recommendation letter for you. Keep in mind that you only want GOOD recommendation letters so you should only be focusing on courses you performed well in when thinking of faculty. Not all faculty will be willing to provide a letter and that’s okay! Reach out to multiple faculty and politely follow up if you don’t receive a response after a reasonable amount of time. If you cannot identify 3 faculty to write you recommendation letters, you can substitute 1 or 2 letters with recommendations from supervisors or other individuals who can speak to your professional skills and likelihood to succeed in graduate level coursework and a Political Science MA program. 

• Interesting in funding? The department has limited funding opportunities in the form of a GTA Assistantship. In exchange for up to 20 hours a week of GTA work assisting faculty members with their undergraduate courses, you will receive a tuition waiver, non-residency waiver, health insurance, and a stipend. This funding, if offered with admission, is guaranteed for two years / 4 semesters (fall 1, spring 1, fall 2, spring 2) assuming satisfactory academic progress. This funding opportunity is highly competitive and to be considered you must apply for a Fall admission term and by the priority deadline of January 15th. We also have limited summer funding available for those interested in enrolling in summer semesters. These positions are not offered with admission, instead a call for applications is sent out to all active students every spring.  Occasionally one semester positions also open up. If that occurs all active students will receive an email encouraging them to apply for the funding if they are interested. 

• What if I apply and I am not accepted? There are various reasons why you may not be admitted to the Political Science MA, and often it is not because you performed poorly as an undergraduate student. The committee considers far more than GPA when holistically reviewing your application and coming to an admissions decision. We want our graduate students to thrive in our program and sometimes the research interests and career goals that an applicant communicates in their personal statement cannot be supported by the design of our academic program and current resources. In these cases, an applicant may be declined admission but encouraged to apply for another program that can better support those goals. Other times the committee may conclude that an applicant would benefit from additional academic or professional experience before entering our program. In these cases, you may be encouraged to reapply as a Non-Degree Seeking student or identify a Graduate Certificate Program at UCF that aligns with your interests. This would allow you to complete some graduate level coursework before re-applying to the Political Science MA program with that additional academic knowledge and new faculty references that can directly speak to your likelihood of succeeding in a graduate program. Keep in mind that some or all the graduate courses you take prior to entering the Political Science MA can be transferred into the program but be sure to have a conversation about this with the program advisor before applying to ensure your plan aligns with the program and University policies. 

• I took graduate classes as a Senior Scholar; can I use those towards the Political Science MA? Yes, you can use up to 9 credit hours of graduate coursework you completed as part of your undergraduate degree towards the Political Science MA. If you received a “B” or higher in each of these courses and they align with the current catalog, the Political Science MA Coordinator can approve their transfer into the program. 

• What can I do with an MA? If you are interested in learning more about what kind of career opportunities are available for those with a Political Science MA or you would like to get a better idea of what topics you will be studying if you pursue this degree at UCF, you can reach out to the Political Science MA Coordinator, Dr. Kelsey Larsen (Kelsey.larsen@ucf.edu). Dr. Larsen is the advisor for the MA program and will serve as your main faculty contact if admitted to the program.