Graduate Links
More Policies & Procedures
Forms and Deadlines
The College of Graduate Studies requires and specifies deadlines for the filing of a number of forms as students move through the program. The forms and deadlines are available by clicking below.
Selection of Advisor for the Master's Program
Each student in the Masters program officially selects his or her advisor
at the time the Memorandum of Courses form is filed with the Graduate
Chair and Graduate Studies (viz., before half the program is completed).
The student should consult with the faculty in the field of the thesis
or concentration before making this decision. Students pursuing the Option
II Masters will have as their advisor the chairperson of the Graduate
Committee.
Annual Review of All Graduate Students
During the spring semester a review of all graduate students is conducted
by the faculty. This review involves recommendations concerning the continuation
of students in various degree programs and assistantships. The evaluation
is compiled and recorded by the chairperson of the Graduate Committee.
Recommendations concerning assistantships are forwarded to the chairperson
of the department.
Deficiency Requirements
Applicants to degree programs without some political science background
or related training may be required to take up to nine (9) credit hours
of 400/800 level course work in the department before a final determination
will be made on acceptance to full standing in a specific degree program.
Such work will not count in the degree program.
Funding and Evaluation of Graduate Students
The Department makes funding decisions on a yearly basis and can only commit to one year of funding at a time. Future funding depends on satisfactory performance in course work, satisfactory performance as a GA/TA, timely progress toward degree, and availability of funds. Future funding is also affected by the number of years a student has already received funding from the Department: funded students who enter the MA program can expect funding for no more than two years; funded students who enter the Ph.D. program with an MA degree from outside of the Department can expect funding for no more than four years; funded students who both enter the MA program and subsequently pursue a Ph.D. in the Department can expect funding for no more than a total of five years. A fellowship awarded by an agent other than the Department shall not count toward the above limits, except that no student shall receive funding from the Department if he or she has already had six years of funding from any source.
In funding decisions, the Graduate Committee shall evaluate new students based on their undergraduate and, if appropriate, graduate GPA, letters of recommendation, GRE scores, departmental needs, and other materials and criteria deemed relevant. For students currently in the program, the Graduate Committee shall invite all faculty to report on the performance and progress of students. The evaluation shall be done by distributing to each faculty member a form containing the name of every graduate student. The basis of the evaluation shall include performance as a GA/TA, performance in course work, number of outstanding incompletes, progress on thesis or dissertation, and other materials and criteria deemed relevant. Students who are denied funding shall receive an evaluation in writing outlining how they can improve their prospects for funding in the future. Students failing in their program of studies or responsibilities shall also be informed in writing regarding what they need to do to improve.
Funded
students serving as instructors or recitation leaders shall be required
to take the course "Professional Development in Political Science."
Inactive File
Students who have not enrolled for two successive semesters shall be informed
in writing that they have been placed in the inactive file. Such students
shall not be counted as part of the graduate program. Students who wish
to return to active status may request a change of status from the Graduate
Committee. The request shall be in writing and include a timetable for
the student's anticipated completion of the program.
Miscellaneous
The teaching load for TAs shall be one course each semester.
Each
year the Department, if it deems it warranted, will award an Outstanding
Teaching Assistant Award and a Best Graduate Paper Award. A cash award
will go to the award winners. The award for both is $100. The
winner of the Outstanding TA award shall be the Department's nominee for
the College (Alumni Association) TA award.
Unclassified
graduate students (those not enrolled in a degree program) may take no
more than six (6) graduate credit hours in political science.
Unclassified students may apply for admission to a degree program, and
if admitted, count the six hours toward their degree. Graduate faculty
shall inform the chairperson of the Graduate Committee of unclassified
students in their classes at the start of each term.
Graduate
students presenting conference papers and desiring Department support
shall submit a form available from the chairperson of the Graduate Committee.
Support shall be awarded on a competitive basis. Students who wish to
attend the ICPSR summer methods program may also apply to the Department
for funds. Students who receive Department funding shall present their
paper to the Department or in the case of ICPSR make a presentation to
the Department on material covered in the program. It will be the responsibility
of the graduate representatives to make arrangements for these presentations.
The chairperson of the Graduate Committee shall conduct an orientation for new graduate students in the fall of each academic year. At the orientation, each student shall be presented with materials deemed appropriate. The Graduate Chair shall review the curriculum, core seminars, and research seminars; program requirements for the MA and Ph.D. degrees; the purpose and procedures of comprehensive examinations and how to prepare for them; sources of funding for graduate students available through the Department and University and the criteria used in allocating Department and University funds; procedures for obtaining an advisor and when this decision should be made; the role of advisor, and for Ph.D. candidates, supervisory committee; the role of Graduate Chair and Graduate Committee; services and resources available at UNL and through the Department such as computer facilities and funding for travel to professional meetings. The Graduate Chair may invite other faculty to share their thoughts on teaching, research, the profession, and other points of interest to new students.
All students who teach their own courses or lead recitation sections in the department are required to take POLS 802 (Professional Development), which includes a component on teaching political science.
