Political Science

Master’s Program

Opportunities for graduate studies

The Department of Political Science at the University of North Texas offers programs of study leading to the master of arts, master of science and doctor of philosophy degrees. Degrees in political science prepare you for a variety of careers. In addition to teaching and research positions in academic settings, political science degree holders are prepared for careers at all levels of government as well as journalism, international business, international risk analysis and political campaign organization. You also may develop special expertise in survey research and statistical analysis. These skills are in high demand in the public and private sectors.

The department has helped place graduates in academic positions at colleges and universities; in federal, state and local government; and in private-sector jobs. Faculty members regularly help students find employment.

Political science faculty members regularly receive university and external teaching awards. Graduate students frequently pursue individual study with faculty members.

The department offers courses in American government and public law, comparative government and politics, international politics, political theory, methodology and public administration. You also may take courses in related departments. UNT belongs to the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research and maintains its own extensive data archive.

About 50 students are enrolled in the master's and doctoral programs.

Admission requirements

You must complete all admission requirements of the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies, in addition to the following program requirements. No single criterion determines whether you are admitted to the masters's or doctoral program. Generally, you need:

• a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• a minimum of 24 hours of undergraduate or graduate work in political science
• acceptable GPA on the last 60 hours of undergraduate study
• acceptable scores on the verbal and quantitative sections of the GRE
• three letters of recommendation from individuals qualified to evaluate your academic potential. Letters from professors are expected, but letters from employers or others may be submitted if faculty references are not available.
• a 500-word statement of purpose stating your primary area of interest within political science and career objectives

Degree requirements

M.A. and M.S. degrees

The master's degree with a major in political science requires a minimum of 30 semester hours, including PSCI 5340, Seminar in Political Science Scope and Methods; PSCI 6320, Quantitative Political Research Methods; and six semester hours of thesis. A minor outside the department is optional.

Candidates for the M.A. degree must demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language. Candidates for the M.S. degree must show they have achieved competence in a non-language research tool. Additional information on the program is available online at www.psci.unt.edu/Graduate/gradindex.html.

Ph.D. degree

The doctoral degree requires a minimum of 90 semester hours beyond the bachelor's degree, or 60 hours beyond the master's degree. Requirements include PSCI 5340, Seminar in Political Science Scope and Methods; PSCI 6320, Quantitative Political Research Methods; and 12 semester hours of dissertation.

You can choose three areas of study in political science for the Ph.D. degree and take qualifying examinations in two. The three areas include a major area and two supporting areas. You will plan a program of study with an advisory committee, which includes a major professor. The committee advises you on the program, assists in administering the departmental examinations, approves the dissertation topic and judges the completed dissertation.

You must present evidence that you have a reading knowledge of a foreign language or a non-language research tool.

Additional information on the doctoral program is available online at www.psci.unt.edu/Graduate/gradindex.html.

Professional development opportunities

Faculty members encourage graduate students to attend and present research papers at national and regional political science conferences. The department has funding available for students giving papers at these conferences. The department also provides financial support for qualifying students to attend the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research political methodology summer school. Faculty members obtaining research grants from agencies such as the National Science Foundation hire students as research assistants. Faculty members are available for discussion outside of classes. They work with students, academically involve them in research and provide advice and counseling. In recent years, students have published articles with faculty in major journals, including the British Journal of Political Science, Journal of Politics and Political Research Quarterly.

Financial assistance

Texas and out-of-state students will find UNT more affordable than many other state-supported or private universities. Teaching fellowships and assistantships are awarded competitively. The application deadline is January 31 each year. Students receiving these awards can normally expect to pay in-state tuition rates. Research assistantships are available for students to work with faculty holding research grants. Universitywide competitive scholarships also are available.

Employment opportunities are available on and off campus for graduate students and their spouses. The region's diversified economic base ensures continued growth and a dynamic work environment.

Living expenses in Denton and the Dallas-Fort Worth region are reasonable. Some graduate students live on campus, but most reside in off-campus housing. Ample housing is available within walking distance of the campus.

Computer technology

UNT has computer resources for a wide range of instruction and research. In addition to easy access to the Internet, which includes wireless access in many areas on campus, UNT has licenses for software packages used in social science research. Students with department assistantships have offices with computers connected to the local network and the Internet. In addition, UNT has 14 general access computer labs, including one lab with access 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The university offers you the ability to schedule classes, check accounts and pay tuition via the Internet. With the use of WebCT software, UNT electronically enhances curriculum in more than 500 classes.

Library system

The UNT libraries contain printed books, periodicals, electronic databases, maps, documents, microforms and audiovisual materials, as well as a large and growing number of electronic journals and books.

The UNT library catalogue is completely online. Catalogs for other major research libraries throughout the world can be searched electronically and documents ordered through UNT's interlibrary loan department.

Through the Tex-Share program, administered by the Texas State Library, UNT has borrowing privileges with academic and public libraries throughout the state. UNT libraries also hold membership in the Center for Research Libraries, giving patrons access to unique materials no longer available in other libraries around the country.