POLITICAL SCIENCE (POLS)
The program in Political Science at the University is especially designed to develop analytical skills, combining organized knowledge with practical experience that introduces and prepares students for career opportunities in the public and private sectors. Many occupations today require a college educated individual who can write and speak well, solve problems, learn new information quickly and work well with others on a team. This means that Political Science graduates use their education in a wide variety of fields. By selecting appropriate courses and internships, students of politics can prepare themselves for professional training in public policy, law, graduate education in the policy sciences, as well as employment in government and non-governmental public and private sector organizations. Future careers may relate more to personal career interests, work values, and transferable skills than any specific academic major.
Major
in Political Science
Minor in
Political Science
Pre-Law Program
Justice and Peace Studies Concentration
Major Requirements for a Bachelor or Arts
36 semester hours in Political Science as follows:
- 21 semester hours of required courses:
POLS 1315 American Politics
POLS 1316 State and Local Politics
POLS 2300 Social Science Research Methods
POLS 2305 Introduction to Political Studies
POLS 2310 Comparative Politics
POLS 2320 International Relations
SOCI 3381 Statistics for Behavioral Sciences
- 18 semester hours selected from courses listed under one of the following areas of concentration (A,B):
A. American Politics:
POLS 1391 Human Rights
POLS 2350 Environmental Politics
POLS 2392 Introduction to the U.S. Legal System
POLS 3300 U.S. Congress
POLS 3305 U.S. Presidency
POLS 3353 Texas Legislative Process
POLS 3371 Political Theory
POLS 4315 Constitutional Law and Politics
POLS 4317 Public Policy
POLS 4321 United States Foreign Policy
POLS 4325 Political Behavior
COMM 4332 Law and the Media
POLS 4335 Comparative Political Parties
POLS 4362 Topics in American Politics
B. International Relations/Comparative Politics:
POLS 1391 Human Rights
POLS 2350 Environmental Politics
POLS 2375 International Organizations
POLS 2376 Model Organization of American States
POLS 3356 Terrorism and Conflict in the International Arena
POLS 3365 Comparative Latin American Politics
BINT 4310 International Economics
BLAW 4320 International Business Law
POLS 4321 United States Foreign Policy
POLS 4330 International Law
POLS 4363 Political Globalization
POLS 4387 Topics in International Relations/Comparative Politics
3. Students are strongly encouraged to take at least one internship course. Up to 6 hours of Internships can be substituted for the same number of hours in the area of concentration. To enroll in an internship, students must have a 2.5 GPA overall and a 3.0 GPA in the major.
4. A minor in any other discipline. With the approval of their academic advisor, students may construct an individualized interdisciplinary minor. Political Science majors may not minor in Pre-Law. Those planning to attend law school should select American Politics as their area of concentration within the major.
Washington Internship
Qualified juniors and seniors have an opportunity to earn up to 15 credit hours (9 hours toward the major) by serving an approved internship in Washington, D.C. for a semester. Placement opportunities include Capitol Hill, the White House, the Department of Justice, the State Department, major law firms, American Civil Liberties Union, U.S. Information Agency, and other government agencies and private sector organizations. Applicants must have a 2.5 overall GPA and a 3.0 GPA in the major.
Requirements for a Minor in Political Science
24 semester hours in Political Science as follows:
- Twelve semester hours of required courses:
POLS 1315 American Politics
POLS 1316 State and Local Politics
POLS 2305 Introduction to Political Studies
POLS 2310 Comparative Politics or
POLS 2320 International Relations
- Nine additional semester hours in other POLS courses, 6 of which must be upper division. Internships do not meet requirements for the minor.
Pre-Law Program
A Concentration in Pre-Law is available.
Requirements for a Concentration in Pre-Law.
- 12 hours of specified courses within the Core Curriculum:
PHIL 1381 Introduction to Philosophy
SOCI 1311 Introduction to Sociology, or PSYC 1301 Introduction to
Psychology, or ANTH 1311 Cultural Anthropology
POLS 1315 American Politics
- 21 hours as follows:
SPCH 1311 Public Speaking
PHIL 2312 Logic
POLS 2392 Introduction to the U.S. Legal System
ECON 2301 Principles of Macroeconomics
ACCT 2301 Accounting for Non-Business Majors
6 Hours Upper Division English--3 hours Rhetoric and 3 hours Literature
POLS 4315 Constitutional Law and Politics
PHIL 3385 Justice: Tradition and Transformation, or POLS 1391 Human Rights
Students are also encouraged to take at least one additional law-related course as an elective. Examples are BLAW 3317 Business Law I, BLAW 3318 Business Law II, POLS 4330 International Law, BINT 4320 International Business Law, COMM 4332 Law and the Media, or ECON 2301 Macroeconomics.
Justice and Peace Studies
A Concentration in Justice and Peace Studies is available.
A concentration in Justice and Peace Studies insures that students graduate with an understanding of the theoretical and philosophic underpinnings of justice, the extent to which society is just and how to promote greater justice, and how to practically address the ways in which they can work toward a more just world. This facilitates the search for and the communication of truth to help meet the spiritual and material needs of people. The concentration is designed to attract students who are preparing for academic, government, nonprofit, or business careers with a focus on justice, peace, and equality and who value the benefits of interdisciplinary learning.
Requirements for a concentration in Justice and Peace Studies.
- 18 hours of of the following required courses:
POLS 1315 American Politics
POLS 1391 Human Rights
RELS 1360 Christian Ethics
ARTH 3357 History of Photography
PHIL 3385 Justice: Tradition and Transformation
JUSP 43XX Justice and Peace* (number to be assigned)
- 6 hours from the following courses:
ECON 2301 Principles of Macroeconomics
POLS 2350 Environmental Politics
ARTS 2357 Photography
POLS 2392 U.S. Legal System
RELS 3305 Catholic Social Teachings
SOCI 3321 Social Problems and Social Justice
SOCI 3323 Criminal Justice
PHIL 3332 Ethics
RELS 3350 Environmental Theology and Ethics
POLS 3356 Terrorism and Conflict in the International Arena
ARTH 3360 Survey in Contemporary Art
ARTS 3365 Art Photography: Directorial Photography
POLS 3371 Political Theory
RELS 4300 Women and Faith
RELS 4345 Theologies of Liberation
POLS 4355 Politics of Developing Areas
POLS 4363 Political Globalization
*Students are also required to participate in a service learning experience or internship which will be part of the requirements for JUSP 43XX. Students will also be encouraged to participate in other service learning opportunities which could be accomplished either through a course or through Alternative Spring Break.
