Mar 28, 2024  
2016-2017 Graduate Catalog 
    
2016-2017 Graduate Catalog [Not Current Academic Year. Consult with Your Academic Advisor for Your Catalog Year]

Political Science, Accelerated BA/MA


College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences  > Department of Political Science  > Political Science, Accelerated BA/MA

Program Description

This program allows outstanding Political Science majors to complete their BA and MA at UH in five years.  This program saves students a year of time and tuition, and gives them a graduate degree that can help them be more competitive in the job market and on their applications to grad school and law school.

Political Science, MA  

Interested students should submit a preliminary application in their Junior year by April 15.  If admitted into the program, students would begin taking graduate-level courses in the Fall of their Senior year.

Shared Course Credit

The most important feature of the program is that 6 semester hours of graduate-level courses can be used as dual credit for both the BA and the MA degrees.  All other requirements for the degrees must still be fulfilled.

Application Process

To be eligible for the program, students must maintain a minimum of 3.33 GPA. 

Preliminary Application: the first stage of the application process begins in the student’s Junior year.  This application consists of a statement of purpose, unofficial transcripts, and one letter of recommendation.  The application would be evaluated by the Graduate Committee in the Political Science department.  Acceptance at this stage only means that a student may begin taking graduate courses his/her Senior year.

Full Graduate Application: Students accepted at the preliminary stage must still apply normally to the Political Science department.  They would do so in February of their Senior year.  The details for application can be found here:

http://www.uh.edu/class/political-science/graduate/admissions/index.php

Capstone Seminar Paper

The capstone project consists in a qualifying paper.  This paper should be of sufficient quality to be presented at an academic conference or to be submitted for publication.

Sample Schedule

Spring Junior Year Preliminary Application due by April 15
Fall Senior Year
  • 3 credits double counted to BA & MA
  • 3 credits to be transferred to MA
Spring Senior Year
  • 3 credits double counted to BA & MA
  • 3 credits to be transferred to MA
  • Full Application due February 15
Summer before 5th year
  • 3 credits
Fall 5th year
  • 9 credits
Spring 5th year
  •  9 credits
Summer after 5th year 
  • 3 credits (Capstone Project)
Total 36 SCH