FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Admissions

We hope this web page will answer some of your questions about graduate school.

1. What documentation do I need to apply to graduate programs in the Department of Political Science?

You need the following documents:
1. A completed application with the $20 fee.
2. An official transcript of college work for each college attended.
3. Official results of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). GRE scores are only valid for 5 years.
4. At least two letters of recommendation that discuss your suitability for graduate study, and
5. A writing sample of your scholarly work.
6. International students must also submit their official TOFEL scores and have their transcripts evaluated to compare to U.S. transcripts.

2. What are the criteria for admission to either the M.A. or MPA programs?

Students are admitted on the basis of their grades, GRE scores, recommendations, writing sample, and other supporting documentation. The College of Humanities and Social Sciences developed a formula for admissions based of GRE scores and undergraduate GPA::

GPA (300) + GRE ≥ 2000

Students who fail to meet or exceed the 2000 point threshold may be considered for conditional or provisional admission if they have at least a 2.5 GPA at graduation.

3. What field of study will qualify me for admission?

For the MA degree, with require at least 18 semester hours in political science or related courses.

For the MPA, we accept any major or minor; however, you must have at least 12 semester hours in social science courses.

4. What is provisional admission?

Provisional students usually take graduate courses and show satisfactory progress in them by earning a B or better in each of the courses. If you show satisfactory results at the end of the semester you will be granted full admission. However, provisional students are not eligible for student financial aid.

5. What if I do not meet the admission criteria?

There are several things you can do to raise the quality of your admissions packet:
• You can take several advanced (300 and 400 level) undergraduate courses to demonstrate your ability to do higher level work.
• If you are an SHSU graduate, you can retake courses in which you earned poor grades and replace them with A’s or B’s. This action will raise your GPA considerably.
• You can retake the GRE. We find that most students can raise their GRE score by taking a preparation course and/or study one of the DVD’s or manuals that are available. It is helpful to take the GRE early enough to have time to retake it if need be.

6. Are any of the criteria waived if I have a master’s degree in a different area of study?

The requirement for the GRE may be waived for U.S. students with graduate degrees for U.S. universities at the discretion of the department or the Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Students with graduate degrees from foreign universities ordinarily must submit recent scores for the GRE.

7. What are the admission deadlines?

The deadlines for the department receiving your application are
July 1, for the fall semester,
November 1, for the spring semester,
May 1, for summer sessions.

Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis. Students may apply at any time during the year, but deadlines apply.

8. What kind of documents do you accept as a writing sample?

Generally a writing sample should be 5 pages or more. You can use any of the following as your writing sample:
• a paper or book review you wrote for an undergraduate class,
• a report that you wrote for your employer, or
• a personal statement of purpose of why you want a graduate degree.

9. What happens to my admission if I am accepted but cannot attend that semester?

You must submit another application for the semester you plan to attend, but the fee is waived. The documentation is retained by the department for 5 years, so the new application is the only document needed.

10. I am a foreign national. What criteria apply to me.

International students must submit official TOFEL scores with the other documents. Students with transcripts from foreign universities must have their transcript evaluated to compare to U.S. transcripts

11. What kinds of funding opportunities are available?

Students can receive funding through SHSU’s Financial Aid Office (link), scholarships and graduate assistantships. Please discuss scholarships with the graduate advisor for more information. There are several scholarships available:

• Recruitment scholarship for new, incoming students

• CHSS scholarship

• The University Center Scholarship

12. How do I apply for a Graduate Assistantship?

You need to fill out an application for the assistantship and supply one additional letter of recommendation (for a total of three).

Send the application form to
The Director of Graduate Studies
Department of Political Science
P. O. Box 2149
Sam Houston State University
Huntsville, TX 77341-2149

13. How much does the graduate assistantship pay?

Currently graduate assistants receive $1,094/month for 9 months. This salary qualifies out-or-state or international students for in-state tuition.

14. What are the requirements to receive a graduate assistantship?

Ordinarily students must be admitted to a graduate program in political science and have a minimum 1,000 score (verbal and quantitative) on the GRE. Application may be made at the time of admission or later.

15. What are the duties of a Graduate Assistant?

Graduate Assistants work for professors in the department. They are usually assigned to 2 professors and work 10 hours a week for each professor, for a total of 20 hours each week during the regular semesters. Professors may use the GA’s in the classroom or for research activities. As employees of the university, they are eligible for health insurance benefits. Their work schedule follows the work schedule of university professors.

16. How long can I have a graduate assistantship?

Normally a student will have an assistantship for up to four semesters.

17. Are foreign students eligible for the Graduate Assistant positions?

Yes, foreign students are eligible and follow the same application process as U.S. students. The salary paid by the university qualifies a foreign student for in-state tuition.

18. Are MPA students eligible for Graduate Assistantships?

Yes, if they have completed their internship requirements.

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FAQ