POLITICAL SCIENCE (POLS)

The program in Government and International Affairs 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 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 Government

Major in International Affairs
Minor in Government
Pre-Law Program
Justice and Peace Studies Concentration

Major Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts in Government

Government Majors must choose from the following degree tracks:

• American Politics
• Comparative Politics/International Relations

Government Majors must also complete either a minor or an interdisciplinary concentration in addition to the major. With the approval of their academic advisor, students may construct an individualized interdisciplinary minor. Government majors may not choose the Pre-Law Concentration--those planning to attend law school should select American Politics as their track within the major.

39 semester hours are required for a Government Major as follows:

1.         21 semester hours of required courses:

            GOVT 1315 American Politics

            GOVT 1316 State and Local Politics

GOVT 2300 Social Science Research Methods

GOVT 2305 Introduction to Political Studies

            GOVT 2310 Comparative Politics

            GOVT 2320 International Relations

            SOCI 3381 Statistics for Behavioral Sciences

2.         18 semester hours selected from courses listed under one of the following tracks.

            A.        American Politics:

                        GOVT 1391    Human Rights

GOVT 2342    Law and Social Justice in Movies and Novels

GOVT 2350    Environmental Politics                       

GOVT 2392    Introduction to the U.S. Legal System

GOVT 3300    U.S. Congress

GOVT 3305    U.S. Presidency

GOVT 3353    Texas Legislative Process

GOVT 3371    Political Theory

GOVT 3375    Moot Court

                        GOVT 4315    Constitutional Law I: Institutional Powers

                        GOVT 4316    Constitutional Law II: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights

GOVT 4317    Public Policy

                        GOVT 4321    United States Foreign Policy

                        GOVT 4325    Political Behavior

                        COMM 4332 Law and the Media

                        GOVT 4335    Political Parties and Elections

                        GOVT 4385    Topics in American Politics

• Comparative Politics/International Relations

Students who choose to focus in Comparative Politics/International Relations must take three courses designated as Comparative Politics and three designated as International Relations:

Comparative Politics Courses

GOVT 1391    Human Rights

GOVT 2350    Environmental Politics

GOVT 3350    European Politics

GOVT 3371    Political Theory

                        GOVT 4335    Political Parties and Elections

GOVT 4355    Politics of Developing Countries

GOVT 4387    Topics in Comparative Politics

International Relations Courses

GOVT 2375    International Organizations

GOVT 2376    Model Organization of the American States

GOVT 3356    Terrorism and Conflict in the International Arena

BINT 4310      International Economics

                        BLAW 4320   International Business Law

                        GOVT 4321    United States Foreign Policy

GOVT 4322    National Security Policy

GOVT 4323    Politics of Coffee and Sugar

GOVT 4330    International Law

                        GOVT 4363    Political Globalization

                        GOVT 4387    Topics in International Relations

 

Major Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs:

39 semester hours are required for a Major in International Affairs as follows:

1.         21 semester hours of required courses:

GOVT 1315    American Politics

GOVT 2300    Social Science Research Methods (or a similar research methods course in another department, with approval of the Advisor)

GOVT 2320    International Relations

GOVT 3110    International Affairs Colloquium (to be repeated once for a total of 2 hours)

GOVT 4390    International Affairs Capstone (4 hours)

Foreign Language beyond the elementary level (6 hours)

Study Abroad Experience (may be satisfied through semester abroad or internship abroad)

2.         9 semester hours from Group I: Fine Arts and Humanities courses:

ARTH 2361    Art History: Ancient through Medieval

ARTH 2362    Art History: Renaissance to Modern

ARTH  3350  Latin American Art: 20th Century

ARTH 3357    History of Photography

ARTH 4350    Modern Art of Mexico

CLST 3325     Cultural Studies Theory

CLST 2320     Cultural Studies Method: Inquiry and Evidence

CLST  4399    Selected Topics in Cultural Studies

ENGL 2310    World Literature Studies

ENGL 4320    Period Studies- when appropriate

ENGL 4340    Major Authors- when appropriate

ENGL 4350    Literary Movements

HIST 1311      World History I

HIST 1312      World History II

HIST 3331      Colonial Latin America

HIST 3332      Latin America since Independence

HIST 3340      Modern Europe

HIST 4334      History of Portuguese America

HIST 4336      Topics in Chinese History

HIST 4338      Topics in South Asian History

HIST 4350      Topics in World History

HIST 4332      Mexico

MUSI 3348     Studies in World Music

PHIL 3325      Philosophy of Culture

PHIL 3355      World Philosophy

PHIL 3385      Justice: Tradition and Transformation

RELS 2345     World Religions

RELS 3322     Christianity through ART

RELS 3350     Environmental Theology and Ethics

RELS 4345     Theologies of Liberation

SPAN 3311     Culture and Civilization of Spain

SPAN 3312     Culture and Civilization of Latin America

2.         9 semester hours from Group II: Social Science and Business courses

ANTH 1311    Cultural Anthropology

ANTH/SOCI 3232/3332 Culturology and Cross-Cultural Communication

ECON 2301    Macroeconomics

ECON 4310    International Economics

ECON/BINT 4350 Latin America Economics

BINT 3331      International Business Management

BINT 3345      International Accounting

BINT 3355      International Banking and Finance

BINT 3361      International Marketing

BINT/ECON 4350 Latin America Economics

BINT 4390      International Policies and Relations (Study Abroad)

GOVT 1391    Human Rights

GOVT 2350    Environmental Politics

GOVT 2375    International Organizations

GOVT 2376    Model Organization of American States

GOVT 3356    Terrorism and Conflict in the International Arena

GOVT 4321    U.S. Foreign Policy

GOVT 4322    National Security Policy

GOVT 4323    Politics of Coffee and Sugar

GOVT 4330    International Law

GOVT 4355    Politics of Developing Countries

GOVT 4363    Political Globalization

GOVT 4387    Topics in International Relations

GOVT 4387    Topics in Comparative Politics

 

Requirements for a Minor in Government:

21 hours total:

GOVT 1315, 1316, 2305, and 2310 or 2320;

Nine additional semester hours in other GOVT courses, 6 of which must be upper division.

Internships do not meet requirements for the minor.

 

Requirements for a Concentration in International Affairs:

Requirements for a Concentration in International Affairs (18 hours total plus Study Abroad). Study Abroad Experience may be satisfied through semester abroad, course based study abroad, or internship abroad.

6 hours of the following:

GOVT 2320    International Relations

GOVT 2300    Social Science Research Methods (or a similar research methods course in another department, with approval of the Advisor)

6 hours from Group I: Fine Arts and Humanities:

ARTH  2361   Art History: Ancient through Medieval

ARTH 2362    Art History: Renaissance to Modern

ARTH 3350    Latin American Art: 20th Century

ARTH 3357    History of Photography

ARTH 4350    Modern Art of Mexico

CLST 3325     Culture Studies Theory

CLST 2320     Cultural Studies Method: Inquiry and Evidence

CLST 4399     Selected Topics in Cultural Studies

ENGL 2310    World Literature Studies

ENGL 4320    Period Studies-when appropriate

ENGL 4340    Major Authors-when appropriate

ENGL 4350    Literary Movements

HIST 1311      World History I

HIST 1312      World History II

HIST 3331      Colonial Latin America

HIST 3332      Latin America since Independence

HIST 3340      Modern Europe

HIST 4334      History of Portuguese America

HIST 4336      Topics in Chinese History

HIST 4338      Topics in South Asian History

HIST 4350      Topics in World History

HIST 4332      Mexico

MUSI 3348     Studies in World Music

PHIL 3325      Philosophy of Culture

PHIL 3355      World Philosophy

PHIL 3385      Justice: Tradition and Transformation

RELS  2345    World Religions

RELS 3322     Christianity through Art

RELS 3350     Environmental Theology and Ethics

RELS 4345     Theologies of Liberation

SPAN 3311     Culture and Civilization of Spain

SPAN 3312     Culture and Civilization of Latin America

6 hours from Group II: Social Sciences and Business:

ANTH 1311    Cultural Anthropology

ANTH/SOCI 3232/3332 Culturology and Cross-Cultural Communication

ECON 2301    Macroeconomics

ECON 4310    International Economics

ECON/BINT 4350 Latin America Economics

BINT 3331      International Business Management

BINT 3345      International Accounting

BINT 3355      International Banking and Finance

BINT 3361      International Marketing

BINT/ECON 4350 Latin America Economics

BINT 4390      International Policies and Relations (Study Abroad)

GOVT 3110    International Affairs Colloquium

GOVT 1391    Human Rights

GOVT 2350    Environmental Politics

GOVT 2375    International Organizations

GOVT 2376    Model Organization of American States

GOVT 3356    Terrorism and Conflict in the International Arena

GOVT 4321    U.S. Foreign Policy

GOVT 4322    National Security Policy

GOVT 4323    Politics of Coffee and Sugar

GOVT 4330    International Law

GOVT 4355    Politics of Developing Countries

GOVT 4363    Political Globalization

GOVT 4387    Topics in Comparative/International Relations

GOVT 4387    Topics in Comparative Studies

 

Requirements for a Pre-Law Concentration:

The pre-law program at the University of the Incarnate Word is designed to introduce students to the study of law, to encourage student engagement with the legal profession, and to prepare students for the law school admission process.

            Students from any major may consider applying to law school upon graduation. The Department of Government and International Affairs offers a series of public law courses to assist students considering law as a career. For students majoring or minoring in Government, these courses can be taken to count for the American Politics track; for students in other majors, these courses can be taken as a Pre-Law Concentration. The Pre-Law Concentration provides a basic political science and law background for those students who hope to go on to law school but are not majoring in Government.

Requirements for a Concentration in Pre-Law (24 hours total):

15 hours required:

GOVT 1315    American Politics

GOVT 2392    Introduction to the U.S. Legal System

PHIL 1381      Introduction to Philosophy

PHIL 3312      Logic

ENGL             upper level Rhetoric course

3 hours from the following list:

GOVT 1391    Human Rights

GOVT 2342    Law and Social Justice in Movies and Novels

GOVT 2375    International Organizations

GOVT 3375    Moot Court

GOVT 4315    Constitutional Law I

GOVT 4316    Constitutional Law II

GOVT 4330    International Law

6 hours from the following list:

BLAW 3317   Business Law

BLAW 4320   International Business Law

BLAW 4340   Labor and Employment Law

ECON 2301    Principles of Macroeconomics

ENGL             upper level Literature course

PHIL 3332      Ethics

PHIL 3385      Justice

SPCH 1311     Public Speaking

 

Requirements for a Concentration in Justice and Peace Studies

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 as articulated in the UIW Mission Statement.

The program is interdisciplinary in nature, drawing upon course and faculty in schools and departments from across the campus. The program takes a broad view of the world and of issues of justice and peace. It 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 (24 hours total)

18 hours of required courses as follows:

GOVT 1315    American Politics

GOVT 1391    Human Rights

RELS 1360     Christian Ethics

ARTH 3357    History of Photography

PHIL 3385      Justice: Tradition and Transformation

JUSP 4390      Justice and Peace*

6 hours selected from the following courses:

ECON 2301    Principles of Macroeconomics

GOVT 2350    Environmental Politics

ARTS 2357    Photography

GOVT 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

GOVT 3356    Terrorism and Conflict in the International Arena

ARTH 3360    Survey in Contemporary Art

ARTS 3365     Art Photography: Directorial Photography

GOVT 3371    Political Theory

RELS 4300     Women and Faith

GOVT 4322    National Security Policy

GOVT 4323    Politics of Coffee and Sugar

RELS 4345     Theologies of Liberation

GOVT 4355    Politics of Developing Areas

GOVT 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 4300.  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.