UT Tyler Master of Arts in Political Science

Graduate Program

Admission Requirements

1. Apply for admission to the graduate program. There is no paper application. You must apply online.
2. Submit an official transcript from the college or university that awarded the baccalaureate or higher degree to the Office of Graduate Studies.
   
   IMPORTANT Things to Remember:
   There is a deadline each semester for submission of applications. Missing this deadline will result in your enrollment being delayed by a semester. In considering admission to our program, consideration may also be given to one or more of the following: the applicant's demonstrated commitment to his or her chosen field of study; socioeconomic background; first generation college graduate; multilingual proficiency; geographic region of residence; and level of responsibility in other matters including extracurricular activities, employment, community service, and family responsibilities.
   
   Since a limited number of students are accepted, meeting or exceeding all the admission requirements is not a guarantee of admission to the program.

Admission Status

The university recognizes five categories of graduate admission for Master's students: (1) Full Graduate Admission; (2) Conditional Admission; (3) Provisional Admission; (4) Special Admission; (5) Non-degree Seeking. The requirements for each category are determined as follows:

FULL GRADUATE ADMISSION

1. Obtain a baccalaureate degree from an accredited University or College.
2. Submit a directed essay designed to demonstrate the candidate's motivation for study in political science as well as the student's facility with analytical writing.
3. Obtain at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on your last 60 hours of junior and senior level undergraduate or graduate coursework.

CONDITIONAL ADMISSION

This status is granted to applicants who have not satisfied, at the time of enrollment, the minimum GPA or test score requirements, or who have other deficiencies in their preparation. The status of conditional admission is established at the program level. An applicant who has been admitted conditionally will complete a degree plan with the graduate advisor that specifies the conditions to be met. The conditions may not include more than nine (9) hours of graduate work. Upon completion of the requirement(s), the student's academic record will be reviewed for consideration to be granted full graduate status.

PROVISIONAL ADMISSION

This status is granted to those whose application files lack required items such as transcripts, official report of test scores, or verification of licensure. An applicant who has been admitted provisionally must contact the program graduate advisor to review specific entrance requirements of the selected degree program before being allowed to enroll. Provisional admission allows the applicant to enroll for only one semester with a maximum of nine (9) graduate hours. Provisional admission will not be continued beyond one semester.

SPECIAL ADMISSION

A student seeking teaching certification, a graduate certificate, or other non-degree program (such as licensure) may be admitted as a special student. The student must submit a Graduate Application and meet all admission requirements set by the particular program. Individual programs determine the number of hours to be taken and other requirements.

Students may enroll only in graduate courses for the specific non-degree program. Registration is approved by the program advisor and College Graduate Coordinator. Graduate hours completed prior to admission as a special student may not be accepted by a particular program. If a student subsequently decides to pursue a degree, the selected degree program will determine which courses taken while classified as a special student will apply to the degree.

NON-DEGREE SEEKING

A student who desires to take graduate courses for personal enrichment, for job advancement, or for transfer to another institution, may do so by completing a graduate application. Non-degree seeking students are limited to enrolling in a total of nine graduate hours unless approval is given by the advisor.

A maximum of nine (9) graduate hours of UT Tyler credit earned as a non-degree seeking student may subsequently be applied toward a master's degree if approved by the degree granting program. Individual programs may limit the number of hours applicable to the program.

TRANSFER OF CREDITS

A student may transfer from approved institutions a maximum of 9 semester hours of graduate work in which a grade of "B" or better has been earned. All transfer work is subject to approval by the Graduate Coordinator.

Scholastic Load

The minimum credit hour load to be considered a full-time graduate student is nine (9) semester hours of graduate level courses during a fall or spring semester or six hours during a regular summer session. The maximum credit hour load permitted is twelve (12) hours during a fall or spring semester, six (6) hours during a regular summer session and three (3) hours during intersession.

GRADING SYSTEM

At the end of each regular semester and summer session, grades are available to the student through the student information system by telephone or web access.

Grades, levels of performance, and grade points are awarded for graduate per attempted semester credit hour at UT TYLER are as follows:

Grade level of performance grade points

A: Excellent
B: Average
C: Poor
D or F: Failing

CALCULATION OF GRADE POINT AVERAGE

Grades A, B, C, D, and F and the associated semester credit hours will be used to calculate grade point average. The designations I, W, CR, and NC and the associated semester credit hours will not be used.

GRADE REPLACEMENT

A student repeating this course for grade replacement must file an "Intent to Receive Grade Forgiveness" with the Registrar by the 12th class day of the semester. Failure to file an intent to use grade forgiveness will result in both the original and the repeated grade being used to calculate one's overall grade point average. As a graduate student, a student will receive grade forgiveness (grade replacement) for only two course repeats during his or her career at UT Tyler.