Political Science, Intelligence and National Security Track (B.A.)
Program Information
College of Sciences
School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs
Howard Phillips Hall (HPH), 302
407-823-2608
Politics@ucf.edu
Professor: Dr. Tom Dolan
407-823-2608
This track focuses on the fundamentals of intelligence and national security from both a theoretical and practical perspective. It is designed to be helpful to those students who wish to pursue careers in national security and the intelligence community. The required courses in the track constitute a coherent sequence that will give students a familiarity with the functions of the intelligence community and the practice of intelligence collection and analysis. The electives can provide students a solid foundation in regional or functional specialties that are relevant to careers in intelligence and national security.
Admission Requirements
– None
Certificate 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 in the first 60 hours.
Prerequisite Courses
– Students must satisfy each course’s prerequisites before enrolling in the class.
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 Credit Hours: 3
POS 3703 – Scope and Methods of Political Science 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.
– 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.
Program Details
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)
Select two courses from Cultural & Historical Foundations, Area 2.
Select One: (3 Credit Hours)
AMH 2010 – U.S. History: 1492-1877 Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
EUH 2001 – Western Civilization II Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
WOH 2022 – World Civilization II Credit Hours: 3 (Preferred)
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)
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)
Political Science (3 Credit Hours)
POS 2041 – American National Government Credit Hours: 3 (Required)
Social Science (3 Credit Hours)
Select one of the listed courses from Social Foundations. 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 (6 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 2041 – American National Government Credit Hours: 3 (GEP/CPP)
CPO 3103 – Comparative Politics Credit Hours: 3
INR 2002 – International Relations-Theory and Practice Credit Hours: 3
Core Requirements: Advanced Level (6 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)
POS 4407 – The Intelligence Community: 3
POS 4961 – Exit Course Credit Hours: 0 (course during graduating semester)
Restricted Electives (21 Credit Hours)
Take three of the following courses: (9 Credit Hours)
POS 4340 – Research Methods in Intelligence Credit Hours: 3
INR 4360 – Intelligence Process Credit Hours: 3
INR 4363 – Intelligence Analysis and Reporting Credit Hours: 3
POS 4300 – Research Methods and Intelligence Credit Hours: 3
INR 4369: Intelligence Studies Capstone Credit Hours: 3
Take all of the following: (12 Credit Hours)
One course from Area A Credit Hours: 3
One course from Area B Credit Hours: 3
One course from Area C Credit Hours: 3
One course from Any Area Credit Hours: 3
Areas of Specialization
A. American Politics and Policy Area
POS 3076 – American Indian Politics Credit Hours: 3
POS 3122 – State Government and Public Policy Credit Hours: 3
POS 3173 – Southern Politics Credit Hours: 3
POS 3182 – Florida Politics Credit Hours: 3
POS 3233 – Public Opinion Credit Hours: 3
POS 3234 – Protest in American Politics Credit Hours: 3
POS 3235 – Mass Media and Politics Credit Hours: 3
POS 3258 – Politics in Film Credit Hours: 3
POS 3272 – Civic Engagement Credit Hours: 3
POS 3273 – Voting and Elections Credit Hours: 3
POS 3413 – The American Presidency Credit Hours: 3
POS 3424 – Congress and the Legislative Process Credit Hours: 3
POS 3443 – Political Parties and Processes Credit Hours: 3
POS 3463 – Interest Groups Credit Hours: 3
POS 3733 – Designing Political Science Research Credit Hours: 3
POS 4030 – The Politics of Sports Credit Hours: 3
POS 4023 – The Politics of LGBTQ+ Policy Credit Hours: 3
POS 4074 – Latino Politics Credit Hours: 3
POS 4142 – Metropolitan Politics Credit Hours: 3
POS 4204 – Political Behavior Credit Hours: 3
POS 4244 – Political Socialization Credit Hours: 3
POS 4407 – The Intelligence Community: 3
POS 4412 – Presidential Campaigning Credit Hours: 3
POS 4603 – American Constitutional Law I Credit Hours: 3
POS 4604 – American Constitutional Law II Credit Hours: 3
POS 4622 – Politics and Civil Rights Credit Hours: 3
POS 4623 – Guns, Freedom and Citizenship Credit Hours: 3
POS 4700 – Teaching American Politics and Government Credit Hours: 3
POS 4764 – GIS for Political Analysis Credit Hours: 3
PUP 3203 – Environmental Politics Credit Hours: 3
PUP 3204 – Sustainability Credit Hours: 3
PUP 3314 – Minorities in American Politics Credit Hours: 3
PUP 4003 – American Public Policy Credit Hours: 3
PUP 4209 – Urban Environmental Policy Credit Hours: 3
PUP 4323 – Women and Public Policy Credit Hours: 3
PUP 4404 – Education and Politics Credit Hours: 3
PUP 4503 – Government and Science Credit Hours: 3
PUP 4510 – Space Policy Credit Hours: 3
PUP 4744 – Government and Business Credit Hours: 3
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
CPO 3057 – Contemporary Revolution and Political Violence Credit Hours: 3
CPO 3103 – Comparative Politics Credit Hours: 3
CPO 3104 – Politics of Western Europe Credit Hours: 3
CPO 3132 – Canadian Politics Credit Hours: 3
CPO 3403 – Politics of the Middle East Credit Hours: 3
CPO 3614 – Politics of Eastern Europe Credit Hours: 3
CPO 4062 – Comparative Judicial Process Credit Hours: 3
CPO 4074 – Political Economy Credit Hours: 3
CPO 4101 – Politics of the European Union Credit Hours: 3
CPO 4123 – Government and Politics of Great Britain Credit Hours: 3
CPO 4303 – Comparative Latin American Politics Credit Hours: 3
CPO 4400 – Kurdish Politics: Identity, Violence, and Democracy Credit Hours: 3
CPO 4514 – Politics of East Asia Credit Hours: 3
CPO 4541 – Chinese Politics Credit Hours: 3
CPO 4553 – Politics of Japan Credit Hours: 3
CPO 4643 – Government and Politics of Russia Credit Hours: 3
CPO 4710 – Women in Comparative Politics Credit Hours: 3
CPO 4731 – Politics of Democratization Credit Hours: 3
CPO 4754 – Comparative Political Institutions Credit Hours: 3
CPO 4784 – Political and Economic Inequality in Comparative Perspective Credit Hours: 3
CPO 4794 – Indigenous Politics and the Environment Credit Hours: 3
GEO 3471 – World Political Geography Credit Hours: 3
INR 2002 – International Relations-Theory and Practice Credit Hours: 3
INR 3016 – Global Political Issues Credit Hours: 3
INR 3250 – Politics of Pan-Africanism Credit Hours: 3
INR 3253 – International Politics of Africa Credit Hours: 3
INR 4008 – Global Perspectives Credit Hours: 3
INR 4011 – Politics of Globalization Credit Hours: 3
INR 4030 – Diplomacy Credit Hours: 3
INR 4035 – International Political Economy Credit Hours: 3
INR 4054 – Global Politics of Energy Credit Hours: 3
INR 4060 – Causes of War Credit Hours: 3
INR 4063 – The Cold War Credit Hours: 3
INR 4074 – Immigration Policy Credit Hours: 3
INR 4075 – Human Rights Policy Credit Hours: 3
INR 4076 – Global Drug Policy Credit Hours: 3
INR 4084 – Politics of International Terrorism Credit Hours: 3
INR 4085 – Women, Gender, and Globalization Credit Hours: 3
INR 4102 – American Foreign Policy Credit Hours: 3
INR 4104 – Topics and Cases in American Foreign Policy Credit Hours: 3
INR 4114 – American Security Policy Credit Hours: 3
INR 4115 – Strategic Weapons and Arms Control Credit Hours: 3
INR 4224 – Contemporary International Politics of Asia Credit Hours: 3
INR 4225 – The Vietnam War Credit Hours: 3
INR 4243 – International Politics of Latin America Credit Hours: 3
INR 4274 – International Politics of the Middle East Credit Hours: 3
INR 4304 – Issues in International Public Policy Credit Hours: 3
INR 4335 – Coercion in International Politics Credit Hours: 3
INR 4350 – Global Environmental Politics Credit Hours: 3
INR 4351 – International Environmental Law Credit Hours: 3
INR 4363 – Intelligence Analysis and Reporting Credit Hours: 3
INR 4401 – International Law Credit Hours: 3
INR 4404 – Space Law Credit Hours: 3
INR 4502 – International Organizations Credit Hours: 3
INR 4714 – Politics of International Trade Policy Credit Hours: 3
INR 4764 – Cyberwarfare Policy Credit Hours: 3
INR 4765 – Emerging Space Powers Credit Hours: 3
INR 4744 – Militaries in World Politics Credit Hours: 3
POS 3733 – Designing Political Science Research Credit Hours: 3
POS 4407 – The Intelligence Community: 3
PUP 3014 – Comparative Public Policy Credit Hours: 3
PUP 4510 – Space Policy Credit Hours: 3
C. Political Theory Area
INR 4603 – International Relations Theory Credit Hours: 3
POS 4206 – Political Psychology Credit Hours: 3
POT 3302 – Modern Political Ideologies Credit Hours: 3
POT 4003 – Political Theory Credit Hours: 3
POT 4025 – Ancient, Medieval and Early Modern Political Philosophy Credit Hours: 3
POT 4066 – Contemporary Political Theory Credit Hours: 3
POT 4305 – Democracy, Capitalism, and the Individual Credit Hours: 3
POT 4314 – Contemporary Democratic Theory Credit Hours: 3
POT 4331 – Utopia/Dystopia Credit Hours: 3
POT 4345 – Pan-Africanist Thought Credit Hours: 3
POT 4632 – Religion and Politics Credit Hours: 3
Capstone Requirements
None
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 campaign headquarters.
Students who qualify for Senior Scholars Program may enroll in graduate level courses to satisfy major requirements to take Area courses.
The following courses are not required, but serious students should consider taking these as free electives:
ACG 2021 – Principles of Financial Accounting Credit Hours: 3
ACG 2071 – Principles of Managerial Accounting Credit Hours: 3
BUL 3130 – Legal and Ethical Environment of Business Credit Hours: 3
ENC 3241 – Writing for the Technical Professional Credit Hours: 3
ENC 3250 – Professional Writing Credit Hours: 3
LIN 4105 – History of the English Language Credit Hours: 3
MHF 3302 – Logic and Proof in Mathematics Credit Hours: 3
PHI 2101 – Formal Logic I Credit Hours: 3
PLA 3108 – Legal Research Credit Hours: 3
PLA 3155 – Legal Writing Credit Hours: 3
POS 4941 – Political Science Internship Credit Hours: 3-9
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
None
Required Minors
None
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
42 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 admission 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.)
Philosophy (B.A.)
Legal Studies (B.A. or B.S.)
Criminal Justice (B.A. or B.S.)
Certificates
Diplomacy Certificate
Intelligence and National Security Certificate
Civics Teaching Certificate
Related Minors
Business Minor
Criminal Justice Minor
Diplomacy Minor
Economics Minor
English, Creative Writing Minor
English, Technical Communication Minor
History Minor
Human Communication Minor
Intelligence and National Security Minor
Legal Studies Minor
Mass Media Minor
Philosophy Minor
Public Administration Minor
Sociology Minor
Writing and Rhetoric Minor
Advising Notes
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
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/