Political Science, BA
Program Description
Political science is the study of politics, government, and public policy at the local, state, national, and international levels. It is concerned with the struggle for power and the exercise of power in public institutions. Political science seeks to reveal the patterns of behavior associated with politics, to explain the functioning of political and governmental institutions, to appraise alternative public policies, and to assess government’s role in society.
Political science provides students with the broad-training necessary to become successful professionals in a variety of fields, as well as engaged democratic citizens. As such, the purpose of the political science program is to foster the development of vital skills such as critical thinking, communication, and analytical abilities in our students in order to prepare them for both a broad range of career choices and the pursuit of lifelong learning.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the BA in political science, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate critical thinking skills, to include: creative thinking, innovation, inquiry and analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information.
- Demonstrate communication skills, to include: the effective development, interpretation, and expression of ideas through written, oral, and visual communication.
- Demonstrate empirical and quantitative skills, to include: the manipulation and analysis of numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions.
Program Requirements
To earn a BA in political science, a student must complete a minimum of 33 semester hours of political science courses beyond the requirements of the Core Curriculum Program. Political science majors are advised to take MATH 1324 Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences (3 sch), MATH 1325 Calculus for Business & Social Sciences (3 sch), or MATH 1442 Statistics for Life (4 sch) to satisfy the Mathematics Core Curriculum Program requirement. Students who do not take MATH 1324 Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences (3 sch), MATH 1325 Calculus for Business & Social Sciences (3 sch), or MATH 1442 Statistics for Life (4 sch) to satisfy the core Math requirement will be required to take one to fulfill the requirements for the major. The department recommends taking MATH 1442 Statistics for Life (4 sch) to satisfy both the Core and major requirement. If students have any questions, they should visit with the social science academic advisor.
General Requirements
| Requirements | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Core Curriculum Program | 42 |
| First-Year Seminars (when applicable)1 | 0-2 |
| Political Science Major Requirements | 33 |
| University Electives | 39 |
| Foreign Language Requirements | 6 |
| Total Credit Hours | 120-122 |
- 1
Full-time, first time in college students are required to take the first-year seminars.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time, First Year Students | ||
| First year seminars | 0-2 | |
| University Seminar I | ||
| University Seminar II | ||
| Core Curriculum Program | ||
| University Core Curriculum 1 | 42 | |
| Political Science majors must take the following as part of the University Core Curriculum | ||
| U.S. Government and Politics | ||
| State and Local Government | ||
| Political Science Major Requirements | ||
| POLS 2304 | Introduction to Political Science | 3 |
| POLS 3303 | Contemporary Political Analysis 2 | 3 |
| POLS 4303 | Seminar in Political Science 3 | 3 |
| Upper-division 4 | ||
| List 1: American Politics, Public Policy, and Public Administration | ||
| Select at least three of the following: | 9 | |
| Mexican American and Latinx Politics | ||
| Politics, Groups, & Society | ||
| Political Psychology | ||
| Women and Politics | ||
| Campaigns and Elections | ||
| The Legislative Process | ||
| Public Opinion | ||
| Political Parties | ||
| The American Presidency | ||
| Judicial Politics | ||
| Introduction to Public Administration | ||
| Introduction to Public Policy | ||
| Bureaucracy | ||
| Civil Rights & Liberties | ||
| Urban Politics | ||
| Government Budgeting and Finance | ||
| Media and Politics | ||
| Topics in Political Science 3 | ||
| List 2: Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory | ||
| Select at least three of the following: | 9 | |
| Religion and Politics | ||
| The Politics of War | ||
| Comparative Politics | ||
| International Relations | ||
| Western Political Theory | ||
| Political Theory and Ideologies | ||
| Politics of Love | ||
| The Politics of the European Union | ||
| Comparative Politics of Developing Nations | ||
| Transitions to Democracy | ||
| Politics in Latin America | ||
| American Political Thought | ||
| Topics in Political Science 3 | ||
| Political Science Electives | ||
| Select 6 hours of unrestricted electives from any Political Science course including those above or | 6 | |
| Applied Experience | ||
| University Electives | ||
| Select 39 hours of university electives. | 39 | |
| Foreign Language Requirements | ||
| See the College of Liberal Arts for the college language requirement. | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 120-122 | |
- 1
Please see Core Curriculum Program for more details. Hours will depend on MATH course taken.
- 2
Pre-requisite for POLS 4303 Seminar in Political Science (3 sch)
- 3
When POLS 4390 Topics in Political Science (3 sch) courses are offered by faculty, the course description will indicate whether the course applies to List 1 or List 2. POLS 4390 Topics in Political Science (3 sch) will be applied to List 1 or List 2 as approved by department.
- 4
Students must take 18 upper-division hours from the following lists, with at least three courses from each list. The remaining 6 semester hours of unrestricted electives may be any political science course included in these lists or the internship experience (POLS 4398 Applied Experience (3 sch)).
Course Sequencing
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| UNIV 1101 | University Seminar I | 1 |
| POLS 2305 | U.S. Government and Politics | 3 |
| ENGL 1301 | Writing and Rhetoric I | 3 |
| University Core Curriculum | 3 | |
| University Core Curriculum | 3 | |
| POLS 23XX/Lower Division Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| UNIV 1102 | University Seminar II | 1 |
| ENGL 1302 or COMM 1311 | Writing and Rhetoric II or Foundation of Communication | 3 |
| POLS 2306 | State and Local Government | 3 |
| MATH 1442 | Statistics for Life | 4 |
| University Core Curriculum | 3 | |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| University Core Curriculum | 3 | |
| University Core Curriculum | 3 | |
| University Core Curriculum | 3 | |
| POLS 23XX/Lower Division Elective | 3 | |
| Foreign Language Requirements | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| University Core Curriculum | 3 | |
| University Core Curriculum | 3 | |
| University Core Curriculum | 3 | |
| POLS 2304 | Introduction to Political Science | 3 |
| Foreign Language Requirements | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| POLS Upper Division Elective (LIST 1) | 3 | |
| POLS Upper Division Elective (LIST 2) | 3 | |
| Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| POLS Upper Division Elective (LIST 1) | 3 | |
| POLS Upper Division Elective (LIST 2) | 3 | |
| Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| POLS 3303 | Contemporary Political Analysis | 3 |
| POLS Upper Division Elective (LIST 1) | 3 | |
| POLS Upper Division Elective (LIST 2) | 3 | |
| POLS Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| POLS 4303 | Seminar in Political Science | 3 |
| POLS Upper Division Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Upper Divisional Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Courses
Introductory survey of the discipline of political science focusing on the scope and methods of the field, and the substantive topics in the discipline including the theoretical foundations of politics, political interaction, political institutions and how political systems function.
A basic survey of American government, including fundamental political institutions, with special attention to the United States and Texas Constitutions.
The politics, government, and administration of American states, counties, cities, and special districts, with special emphasis on Texas.
The study of Mexican American and Latinx politics within the American political experience. Topics include historical, cultural, socioeconomic, and constitutional issues that pertain to the study of Mexican Americans and other Latinx populations in the United States. Other topics such as political participation, governmental institutions, electoral politics, political representation, demographic trends, and other contemporary public policy debates will also be addressed.
This course explores the role of groups in political and social change in society. In doing so, the course explores the formal and informal institutions which aid and constrain group effectiveness. An emphasis is placed on contemporary examples.
The course will examine the intersection of religion and politics historically and during contemporary times with an emphasis on beliefs, behaviors, institutions, and policies.
This course will focus on immigration in the United States but will also briefly examine it from a cross-national perspective. Some of the topics covered will include the causes and effects of migration, public opinion on immigration, and contemporary state and local immigration policies. The purpose of this course is to inform students on salient aspects of immigrations within the United States and its consequences on the political system. We will use a variety of tools including classroom discussions, lectures, student response systems, in-class activities, and writing assignments to achieve this goal.
This course will examine the politics of war from ancient times to the present. Included in this survey are great generals and military strategists, from Sun Tzu to Napoleon to generals of the American Civil War. Students will study concepts of international law, the law of nations, and the laws of war. The course further examines military strategy and tactics of the 20th century.
Analysis of current problems in national and international politics. Emphasis is on methods of analysis, particularly the use of computers. Includes a segment on career opportunities for political science majors.
Political psychology is interdisciplinary using psychology to explain political behavior. This course exposes students to a range of theoretical and empirical approaches to the study of political behavior ranging from voting behavior to nuclear deterrence, from the politics of race to the politics of genocide. We explore topics including leadership, group behavior, voting, media effects, race, ethnicity, nationalism, political extremism, social movements, genocide, and war and deterrence.
The course will examine public policies affecting women, political participation, women in public office, and political attitudes of women.
A survey of the literature on campaigns and elections including theories of voter choice; effects of mass media and campaign finance regulations on the conduct and outcome of elections; effects of elections on policy; emphasis on U.S. national elections.
Survey and description of the legislative process in the United States Congress with relevant comparisons to practices within the several states and foreign nations. Emphasis upon the law-making process explained in terms of structure, participants, groups, associations and power relationships.
An analysis of the kinds and distributions of opinions and attitudes in the mass public and the effects of those opinions on activities of policy makers, with special attention to problems of linking public opinion to public policy.
Organization, history, and activities of political parties and functions they serve in national, state, and local politics in the United States and elsewhere.
A study of the federal executive branch with an emphasis upon the American Presidency with its relationships to other American political institutions and processes.
This course examines the political factors that influence judicial selection, decision-making and the policy-making role of courts. Furthermore, attention is directed at the impact of court decisions and the structure of the judiciary.
Concepts, theories and analytical frameworks for comparing different types of political systems around the world. Emphasis is placed on learning about different political systems and using the comparative method to evaluate and develop a richer understanding of politics, political culture, political behavior, and political institutions.
Examination of the structure and function of the international system focusing on the power relationships among states, international organizations, and the critical issues animating contemporary international relations.
Study of organization and management theories and practices of public administration affecting federal and subnational governments. Bureaucratic structures and procedures will be examined for their effects on policy, program development and evaluation.
A survey of the policy process in the United States. The course will examine factors affecting the development, implementation and impact of public policies as well as a discussion of policy alternatives and controversies.
Examines the concept of the political role of the bureaucracy and the impact of other government institutions on bureaucratic structures, functions and behavior. The role of bureaucracy in public policy making and the influence of politics on implementation is analyzed.
This course explores the provision of civil rights and liberties, including First Amendment freedoms and criminal rights, through the lens of Supreme Court decisions. While historical cases are examined, special emphasis is put on contemporary Court decisions.
The fundamental concepts and problems of political theory, as viewed by the major classical philosophers and contemporary theorists, including justice, power, authority, obligation, freedom, equality.
Major 19th and 20th-Century political theorists and ideological movements. Includes a review of capitalism, socialism, fascism, and liberalism.
In this course, we will be exploring the relationship between politics and love. At first blush, politics does not seem to be “lovely.” On closer examination, however, love is found to be an inextricable part of politics. When speaking about politics, we often discuss love of country, honor, freedom, justice, power, glory, victory, and one’s own tribe, people, and opinion. How does love mix together with politics? Which, if any, is the most important of loves? Does it depend on the regime? What is the best regime? To answer these questions we will need to know more about love itself. What is it? How and why is it connected to politics? Does love shape our ideas of politics? Do our political ideas shape our ideas about love? Both? Is love inherently political? What is the relationship between romantic love and politics? In our quest to gain clarity on these questions, we will examine some of the most serious considerations of the relationship between politics and love in the study of political philosophy.
Capstone course for political science majors, examines significant developments and issue in American politics as they are addressed in the professional literature of political science. Offers the opportunity of an intensive study of as selected topic. Emphasis on supervised research on selected topic.
Prerequisite: POLS 3303.
The institutions, political processes and policy issues of urban areas of the United States.
Study of the politics and processes of governmental budgeting at local, state, and federal levels with emphasis on the interrelatedness of governmental units through budgeting.
Impact of mass media coverage on American political institutions, the election process, and public opinion in general and the appropriate role of media and news in a society.
Examination of the institutional, economic and political forces that led to the creation and development of the European Union. Emphasis on the impact the European Union has had on world affairs.
Analysis of contemporary issues within and amongst developing nations. Examines various institutions, political processes, and public policy debates in some or all of the following regions: Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, or Asia.
Analysis of transitions to democracy from authoritarian rule. Various stages of the transition process and theories of democratization are assessed. Emphasis will be placed on "third wave" transitions to democracy.
Latin American governments and politics as related to such topical problems and processes as land reform and expropriation.
A survey of the major developments in American political thought from the Colonial period to the present, followed by an analysis of important recent theoretical developments in American political thought.
May be repeated for credit when topic varies.
See College description.
NCD.