Advising & Registration

Registering for Courses
Important Registration Info
Capstone & Comprehensive Exam
Advising FAQs

Registering for Courses

Finding Courses

Check schedule release and early enrollment dates here.

Each term, the course offerings can be found here.

For Fall, the catalog is available in early-mid March with registration beginning at the end of March/early April.

For Spring, the catalog is available in early-mid October with registration beginning late October/early November.

For Summer, the catalog is available in early-mid February with registration beginning in late February/early March.

You can find the exact dates here.

Remember that not all of our courses will be offered each term.

Registering in Courses

Between the release of the course schedule and priority enrollment, you should schedule an academic advising appointment with your advisor. Remember you cannot actually register until your specified date/time in MAVLINK.

You will use your Mavlink account to register for the classes. It will list the exact day and time you can begin registering in your Mavlink "messages". If you need help, please contact the helpdesk.

If you are unsure what you are looking for in Mavlink, your messages should be easily identifiable by seeing something like this.

Your course permission numbers have expiration dates on them. If you do not use this number in time, your seat may go to another person. At this time, most electives do not require permission numbers, but your advisor may give you one just in case. This means that these courses are first come-first serve. So make sure you enroll as soon as the system allows you to.

If you have a course in the "fallthrough" area of DegreeWorks, remind your adviser when you request courses next time you register. Usually, the course is there because it's not coded into the system as part of your program plan, and your advisor will need to move it into your plan of study; however, sometimes it indicates that a student has registered for a course that does not count. Examples of this are when a student accidentally registers for the undergraduate version of a course, or they have registered for a third course ending in the number 5. These are situations where the registration will need to changed before the start of the course.

Shelby.2.jpg

Helpful Reminders

You cannot enroll if you have a financial, health, or other holds on your account.

Students who took, for example, foreign policy at UNO at the 3000-level cannot take it at the 8000-level. It will not count towards one's program. It is the student's responsibility to know which courses they took at the undergraduate level at UNO.

Students cannot have more than two courses ending in 5 (i.e. 8_ _ 5) count towards their programs.

You can take as many PSCI seminars as you want but are limited to 4 electives.

If you want to take a course outside of PSCI, please send the course description to me before enrolling for it to be approved.

If you are wanting to enroll for an 8910, 8980, or 8990 please refer to the "Capstone" section of this Canvas "course".

Important Registration Info

Provisional Courses

Provisional Courses

If you have a provisional course, you will need to take this course at an accredited institution for a grade (not pass/no pass or audit), earn a B or above, and send an official transcript to the graduate office (if the course is not taken at UNO).

If you are taking it at UNO, and you can take this from one of our graduate faculty. It is suggested to do so, as you will most likely have that professor again.

If you were assigned a provisional course, in your Degree Works, it will say: PSCI 2310 before PSCI 8300, for example.

Our two most common provisional courses are political philosophy and research methods. If you never want to take a political philosophy course at the graduate level, you will not need to take the provisional course. But you will have to take the research methods provisional course. You can take this while you take another graduate course. This provisional course will NOT count towards your graduate program. You will need to take this course your first term.

If you were assigned a provisional course and believe other coursework will compensate for that, please send the graduate advisor the course description and/or syllabus of said course.

Transferring in Credits

If you have the credit you're wanting to transfer into your UNO program, you must initiate this process. Please send the graduate advisor the course's syllabus and your unofficial transcripts this is on. The graduate chair will review this information and make a decision.

A few things to remember on transfer credit.

1. You must have a grade of B or better.

2. The institution must be accredited.

3. The credits cannot be more than 10 years old by the time you graduate from UNO. So if you plan on graduating in December 2025, all credits that go towards your degree will have to be taken after January 2016.

4. Although officially we accept up to 10 credit hours (1/3rd of our program) due to most classes being work 3 credit hours, usually the most if 9 credit hours.

5. UNO must have an official transcript on file for credits to count.

6. Even if your transfer credit is a seminar, most likely all transfer credits will be counted as electives.

Concentrations & Certificates

Add-on programs are ONLY available for students in the full Master's program and include concentrations, minors, and certificates compatible with your Master's.

Certificate in Government (18 credit hours) is designed to help educators who are completing their MS-PSCI or already have an MS and are needing 18 credit hours in PSCI to teach DE/higher ed courses.

Certificate in Intelligence and National Security (15 credit hours) is designed to help students who are in (or interested in) careers in intelligence.

Concentration in International Affairs or American Government (each 15 credit hours) is designed to help students promote their specialization in said to future employers.

If you would like to add multiple concentrations and/or certificates, we will need to discuss a number of logistical issues, for example, multiple catalog years, catalog updates, and potential limits to cross-counting classes. In short, you may or may not be approved for 2 concentrations, for example.

All concentrations and/or certificates that students are wanting to complete as part of their MS-PSCI must be added on within the first 15 credit hours of the student's program. This is due to a number of logistical reasons. Please note that addition may require students to be updated to the most recent catalog year's MS-PSCI requirements, so please review unintentional consequences with your adviser. With that said, if you are a certificate student and wanting to complete the MS program, it is best to decide that within the first 9 credit hours so you can make sure to take PSCI 8000 within the first 15 credit hours as required by MS-PSCI students.

You are welcome to add a minor to your MS-PSCI program. Generally speaking, we support MS-PSCI students earning minors, but please note that there may be limits to which of your minor courses can be counted towards your MS-PSCI program. Please discuss options with your adviser.

For concentrations and minors, the paperwork is in the registrar's office. You will need to fill it out, sign it, and drop it off/scan and email it to your graduate advisor for further signatures. The advisor will not send this paperwork to you and will only submit the finished paperwork for online-only students.

For certificates, you will need to actually go through an application process to get this included on your transcript. If you do not go through this process, it will not appear on your transcript. You cannot add a certificate with an admission date of your last term.

If you are in a certificate program, do NOT graduate with the certificate before you graduate with your Master's. This can cause issues during your degree audit for your Master's. Graduate with them at the same time.

If you are already in the MS program, please contact the graduate office to transfer your MS application materials to your certificate application materials. Meaning you do NOT need to ask our faculty for LORs if you are already in the program.

Thinking of a Ph.D.?

If you are considering a Ph.D. route, a few things you should think about while going through your Master's.

Temir.2.jpg

Take as many seminars as possible. Many times institutions or programs will limit the number of cross-listed courses (3-4000/8000) a Master's student takes, including not allowing any at all. So take as many graduate-only courses as possible.

Suggested Ph.D. pathway:

Methods: PSCI 8000

Subfield Seminars: PSCI 8040 (American), 8250 (IR), 8300 (Theory), 8500 (Comparative)

Seminar Electives: PSCI 8120 (Leadership), 8150 (Con. Law), 8200 (Security), 8220 (International Leadership)

Capstone (as an elective): PSCI 8980 (directed research)

I would suggest getting a well-rounded, general MS-PSCI so that all courses have a chance to be applied to your Ph.D. program and you leave with a solid foundation on the PSCI field which will allow you to focus on a specific subfield during your Ph.D. program.

A thesis is not required. Sometimes people think that they should do a thesis to be competitive for a Ph.D. program. Usually, competitiveness is rooted in your GRE score, GPA, conferences, letters of recommendation, and other professional experiences. With that said, check with the program you are looking at applying to, to see if they have a preference.

Attend and present at a conference. You will be doing this as a Ph.D. student, so it's good to get experience now at regional conferences. UNO has money to help fund students who are accepted to present at a conference, please contact your supervising faculty member on said project for more details.

Identify faculty researching your area of interest and look into applying for that program. It's always best to learn from faculty directly related to your area of interest.

Capstone & Comprehensive Exam

The students who were admitted to the program before Fall 2021 will take 3 (non-thesis) or 6 (thesis) credits as their capstone experience. Those who were admitted to the program after Fall 2021 (including it) will take a Comprehensive Assessment (non-thesis) or 6 credits (thesis) as their capstone experience. Your capstone project is ideally taken in your last term and should utilize your coursework, methods training, and research skills.

Capstone for Catalog Year 2020-2021 or Before

You have three options for your capstone.

Seminar Sherwood 3.jpg

PSCI 8980: Directed Research (most common)

A PSCI 8980 is expected to be taken in your last semester. With that said, if you will be graduating in the summer and only have 1 or 2 classes left, faculty may be more available to supervise you the previous spring. In your final semester, you will work directly with one tenure-track or tenured faculty member on a topic of your choice. We call this a mini-thesis. Most research projects end up in a research paper that is larger than a term paper, but not large enough to be a thesis. Ideally, you will be able to present your research at a conference for submission for publication. However, the specifics will worked out directly with your faculty adviser.

Step 1: Pick a topic

Step 2: Find a faculty who specializes in this topic (Please see our faculty's specializations on their bio pages. For example, if you're interested in international organizations you will most likely work with Dr. Chalecki. If you are interested in civil rights, you will most likely work with Dr. Holloway.)

Step 3: Email them with a general proposal of your research topic and ask if they'd be willing to supervise you.

Step 4: Forward that email to your graduate advisor so s/he can issue you a permit and send you additional information on the capstone.

Step 5: Create a plan with your faculty member in order to ensure it's completed in time.

Step 6: Complete and submit it.

***Please keep in mind that the faculty member that you prefer may not be available to take you on as a PSCI 8980 supervisor. Please understand if they decline to take you on and be willing to work with another faculty member and/or adapt your project.

PSCI 8910: Internship

Only one internship is allowed during one's MS program. This can be an elective (before 15 completed hours) or a capstone (after 15 completed hours).

It is the student's responsibility to see out and apply for internships prior to registration. The department may be able to guide you in a direction, but cannot secure internships for you. Please see approval for the internship with your advisor. Students cannot enroll in an internship prior to being hired or filling out the proper paperwork/approval forms.

Guidelines for Internships:

Internships cannot be your existing job and must be clearly distinguishable from your existing job. Our program does not give credit for existing/past work experience.

Internships must be related to political science and your experience gained must be substantial (graduate internships cannot be answering phones/getting coffee) and a minimum of 150 hours.

Ideally, internships take place during the last half of your program (see 15-hour rule). However, if internships overlap two semesters, students should enroll in the internship in the latter semester, but they must be approved in the first semester. Students can also use internships as an elective (see 15-hour rule).

Students will have academic-related supplemental readings with this if it is used as a capstone project. Students will use theories, frameworks, and academic content to analyze, critique, verify, elaborate, etc. on their internship experiences. As a capstone project, students must demonstrate mastery of PSCI content/theories to pass. Students with work with a relevant faculty member to create said reading list. The paper must be submitted to the internship coordinator/cc academic program coordinator.

Students must submit an internship documentation approval form before enrolling (see your advisor).

Temir.2.jpg

PSCI 8990 Thesis

Please see the graduate catalog for the rules on completing a thesis. All students are admitted into the non-thesis track and then must apply to complete a thesis after completing 15 credit hours.

A thesis must be done over two semesters.

A thesis must have a minimum of three committee members, one of which must be a UNO faculty member who is not in the department of political science. If you do not know an outside PSCI, UNO faculty member, or have one in mind, this is an indication you should probably stick with the non-thesis option, perhaps with a research project option.

You must defend both your proposal and your completed thesis.

Students must know what paperwork needs to be done and the deadlines for submission. This needs to be organized between you and your committee members, even if you are an online student.

Students may be denied the thesis option for a number of reasons including the inability of the department to properly support the student's needs/interests during this process. The second semester (defense) of a thesis cannot take place during the summer unless special approval is granted.

Capstone for Catalog Year 2021-2022 or After

You have two options for your capstone.

Comprehensive Assessment

Graduating political science master’s degree students will complete a written comprehensive essay synthesizing their knowledge of at least three political science subfields to answer one prompt. Passing answers must demonstrate proficiency in each of the four MS-PSCI student learning objectives: research methods, writing in the discipline, critical thinking, and proficiency of subfields.

Students must write their assessment during the spring or fall semester of the year in which they graduate. Students graduating in the summer may write their essay the prior spring if they have 6 or fewer credit hours remaining to complete in the degree program to be taken over the summer term, AND they have completed at least three subfield seminars.

PSCI 8990 Thesis

Please see the graduate catalog for the rules on completing a thesis. All students are admitted into the non-thesis track and then must apply to complete a thesis after completing 15 credit hours.

A thesis must be done over two semesters.

A thesis must have a minimum of three committee members, one of which must be a UNO faculty member who is not in the department of political science. If you do not know an outside PSCI, UNO faculty member, or have one in mind, this is an indication you should probably stick with non-thesis option, perhaps with an elective that includes a research experience (such as PSCI 8980).

You must defend both your proposal and your completed thesis.

Students must know what paperwork needs to be done and the deadlines for submission. This needs to be organized between you and your committee members, even if you are an online student.

Students may be denied the thesis option for a number of reasons including the inability of the department to properly support the student's needs/interests during this process. The second semester (defense) of a thesis cannot take place during the summer unless special approval is granted.

Advising FAQs

Click on the question to expand the answer.

Can you take my advising hold off?

See registration information. If it's still on and you don't have permissions yet. Read the registration processes. If you already have permission, your advisor may have overlooked lifting your flag, just let her/him know and send your student ID for a faster response.

I have health/financial/parking/etc. hold, can you lift it?

No. You must talk with the said office before you can enroll.

Can you save me a seat in the (fill in the blank) course?

Nope. Make sure that your holds are taken care of and you enroll during priority enrollment.

I just need this class to graduate, but it's all full, can you fit me in?

Most likely...Nope. You should have contacted your advisor to get a permission number so that you could enroll during priority registration. With that said, seats may shift before the start of the term, so a seat may open up.

My permission number for my course doesn't work.

First, make sure you are trying to enroll for the correct term with the correct class. Second, make sure sure that the permission didn't expire. Third, if all is in line and it's not working, contact your advisor.

Can I take 4 classes this semester?

Nope, unless there is a really, really good justification and you have proven yourself an outstanding student. Full time is 3 courses, if you're also working and/or have a family, we suggest not taking more than 2 in any given term.

How long should I plan each week to work on my classes?

Each class will take you between 10 and 15 hours each week. Online classes may take longer given that you need to do more typing and reading given that you don't have the advantage of an in-class discussion.

Can I take an online class if I'm here on-campus?

This depends. Generally speaking, yes, specifically, for seminars that will not be offered on-campus during your tenure here. On-campus students are expected to take as many courses on-campus as possible. If there is a good reason for a student needing a course that is usually offered only online, then we can make adjustments as necessary. On-campus students can also enroll in online classes if needed, but usually, after priority registration given that our online-only students have priority for the online electives.

Can I take a history/public administration/criminal justice/etc course?

Potentially, if related to PSCI. First, send your advisor the course description. Second, remember that all other rules still apply regarding undergraduate courses and courses ending in -5. Third, this course can only be counted as an elective, even if it's a seminar unless there is previous approval.

I am having a baby/getting deployed/getting married, can I take a term off?

Yes. You can take a term or two off, just keep in touch with the department and keep your eye out for registration notices for the term you're wanting to start back up again. Just remember that you'll need to re-apply to the program if you haven't successfully completed a course in 2 years (also note that credits expire after 10 years).

Do I have to be a full-time student?

Nope, unless you're an international student, graduate assistant, or have other requirements for funding.

I can't access my MavLINK.

Please contact the HelpDesk.

How much will my tuition cost for this term?

Please ask student accounts. The department cannot advise or quote students on money matters.