Bachelor of Art in Political Science to Master of Art in Political Science Fast Track
About This Program
Bachelor of Art in Political Science to Master of Art in Political Science Fast Track allows outstanding senior undergraduate Political Science (POLS) students to take up to three graduate courses (5000-level courses) to replace up to nine credit hours of advanced POLS undergraduate courses (3000- or 4000-level courses); the credit hours earned in these graduate courses can then be applied to both the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and to the Master of Arts (MA) in Political Science. Those who successfully complete the program will be automatically admitted to the Graduate School. They will not be required to take any qualifying test, complete an application for admission to the Graduate School, arrange for letters of reference, or pay an application fee. This enables students to complete their MA degree in a shorter time period
Associated Programs
For detailed information about the programs associated with this Fast Track, refer to their individual degree pages.
Admissions Criteria
Undergraduate students apply to the Department of Political Science by completing a fast track application form available from the POLS academic advisor. Students will be notified by the Department of their acceptance into the fast track program.
Unconditional Admission
- The student must be within 30 hours of completing a BA in Political Science at UTA.
- The student must have completed 30 hours of coursework at UTA.
- The student must have an overall GPA of at least 3.3 in all coursework at all schools and an overall GPA of at least 3.3 in all coursework completed at UTA.
- The student must have an overall GPA of at least 3.5 in all POLS courses completed at UTA.
- The student must have completed 12 credit hours of the following specific undergraduate POLS courses, with a GPA of at least 3.5 in these courses. (Courses from other universities or colleges that cover the same or similar material cannot replace any of these specific UTA courses.)
- POLS 2312 STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
- POLS 3310 RESEARCH METHODS AND POLITICAL ANALYSIS
- POLS 3302, POLS 3303, POLS 3304, POLS 3305, POLS 3307, POLS 3311, POLS 3312, or POLS 3333
- A 4000-level POLS course from any area of concentration (excluding internships and conference or directed readings courses).
Provisional Admission
A student may gain provisional admission if, by the semester in which application is made, he or she has already completed 3 out of the 4 required POLS courses (listed above) with a GPA of at least 3.5 in them, with the 4th course to be completed in the semester of application. All other requirements above must be met. Provisional admission will be changed to unconditional admission upon satisfactory completion of remaining requirements. Students failing to meet all requirements at the end of their semester of application will be removed from the fast track program. Any credits earned prior to removal from the program will be applied to the undergraduate degree only. None of the other benefits of the fast track program will apply. Provisionally admitted students who have been removed from the program may subsequently apply to graduate programs via the normal application process, paying all fees and meeting all relevant admission criteria. Admission will not be automatic as it will be subject to the normal admission practices of the Department of Political Science and of the Office of Graduate Studies.
Denial
Students who do not meet the requirements set out shall be denied admission to the fast track program. They may still apply to the graduate program through the regular application process. Admission will not be automatic as it will be subject to the normal admission practices of the Department of Political Science and of the Office of Graduate Studies.
Admission to the graduate program
To progress to the MA students must complete at least two graduate courses prior to receiving their bachelor’s degree, and receive at least a B in each course.
Curriculum
| BA Foundations | ||
| Complete general core and Political Science foundations per catalog. | 63 | |
| Political Science BA Specialization | ||
| The following general education requirements must be completed as preparation for work in the major: | ||
| GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES | ||
| STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT 1 | ||
| POLS 3310 | RESEARCH METHODS AND POLITICAL ANALYSIS 1 | 3 |
| Select one course from each of following areas: | 12 | |
| Area 1: American Politics | ||
| LEGISLATIVE ORGANIZATION AND PROCEDURE | ||
| COMPARATIVE STATE AND LOCAL POLITICS 1 | ||
| PUBLIC OPINION 1 | ||
| WOMEN IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS 1 | ||
| ETHNIC GROUP POLITICS IN THE UNITED STATES 1 | ||
| POLITICS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS 1 | ||
| POLITICS OF MEXICAN AMERICANS 1 | ||
| CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, CIVIL SOCIETY, AND COMMUNITY 1 | ||
| ELECTION STRATEGY AND CAMPAIGN MANAGEMENT 1 | ||
| THE U.S. PRESIDENCY 1 | ||
| PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP IN DOMESTIC POLICY MAKING 1 | ||
| Area II: International Studies | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL ISSUES | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1 | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS | ||
| MEXICAN POLITICS AND U.S.-MEXICO RELATIONS | ||
| CAUSES OF WAR | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO MIDDLE EAST POLITICS | ||
| LATINO POLITICS | ||
| LATINO POLITICAL THOUGHT | ||
| INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS 1 | ||
| CONTEMPORARY UNITED STATES FOREIGN POLICY 1 | ||
| CITIZENSHIP IN THE AMERICAS 1 | ||
| THEORIES OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1 | ||
| WAR, PEACE, AND POLITICS IN THE FORMER SOVIET UNION 1 | ||
| RUSSIA AND THE POST-SOVIET STATES TODAY 1 | ||
| RUSSIAN FOREIGN POLICY 1 | ||
| THE ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT 1 | ||
| INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF THE MIDDLE EAST 1 | ||
| THE POLITICS AND FOREIGN POLICY OF ISRAEL 1 | ||
| VIOLENCE AND SCARCITY IN WORLD POLITICS 1 | ||
| POLITICS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW 1 | ||
| SCIENCE FICTION AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1 | ||
| Area III: Law & Courts | ||
| JUDICIAL POLITICS | ||
| CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN CIVIL LIBERTIES | ||
| JURISPRUDENCE AND CONSTITUTIONAL CONFLICT 1 | ||
| STATE COURTS | ||
| U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: GOVERNMENT POWER 1 | ||
| U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS 1 | ||
| Area IV: Public Policy | ||
| BUREAUCRATIC POLITICS 1 | ||
| GOVERNMENT IN URBAN AMERICA 1 | ||
| HEALTH POLITICS, POLICY, AND ADVOCACY | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS 1 | ||
| PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND THE POLITICAL PROCESS 1 | ||
| POLICY ENTREPRENEURSHIP 1 | ||
| FEDERAL SOCIAL POLICY 1 | ||
| HEALTH POLITICS AND POLICY 1 | ||
| Optional Concentration | ||
| Select electives sufficient to complete 120 hours (with at least 36 at the 3000/4000 level). Complete at least 36 hours in POLS (with at least 6 hours at the 3000/4000 level, and at least 6 hours at the 5000 level). Up to three 5000 level courses may count for both the BA and the MA. | 42 | |
| Poltical Science MA | ||
| Complete Thesis or Non-Thesis MA requirements per catalog. | 24-30 | |
| Total Hours | 144-150 | |
- 1
This course satisfies foundation requirement for admission to fast track. See admission criteria.
Program Completion
Good Standing
In order to remain in the Fast Track program, students must meet the following requirements:
1. Students must maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0 and must earn grades of B or better in all Fast Track-approved graduate courses that will be used to satisfy undergraduate and graduate degree requirements of the Fast Track program.
2. Students must enroll in at least 2 graduate courses prior to receiving their bachelor’s degree, and receive at least a B in each course.
Students who, at any time, do not meet these requirements will be obliged to leave the fast track program. Any graduate credits earned will be applied only to the undergraduate degree, and none of the other benefits of participation in the fast track program will apply. They may apply to the MA program as a regular student after receiving their BA.
For more information about the Political Science BA to MA Fast Track, please contact the undergraduate advisor in the Department of Political Science.
Advising Resources
The faculty and staff of Political Science are here to help you however we can. Please consult your adviser on a regular basis regarding your degree plan. It’s okay to ask for help, so reach out if you need information about your academic work or other campus resources. GO MAVS!
Location:
University Hall 449
Email:
polsinfo@uta.edu
Phone:
817-272-9194