School of Social Sciences

The social sciences are concerned with the study of people, individually and in groups and collectivities. Social scientists ask such questions as: How are groups formed? How do people produce and distribute goods? Why do cities grow, and why do some cities decay? What are the causes of war, of racial discrimination, of revolutions? What role does law play in our society? And, how can we improve our quality of life?

Thus, the major concern of the social sciences is the testing of ideas about social, political, and economic institutions. The methods of study and research may range from quiet introspection to participant observation in a community setting to the manipulation of computerized data using advanced statistical techniques. Yet in this great diversity there remains a shared commitment to the description, explanation, and prediction of human behavior -- to understanding. And increasingly, social scientists have added a commitment to action: applying their ideas to real-world situations.

Faculty

Professors: Brian J. L. Berry, Ronald Briggs, Anthony M. Champagne, Lloyd J. Dumas, Euel Elliott, Donald A. Hicks, Irving J. Hoch, John Kain, Rita M. Kelly, L. Douglas Kiel, Murray J. Leaf, James C. Murdoch, Lawrence J. Redlinger, Barry J. Seldon, Marianne C. Stewart, Paul Tracy, Wim P. M. Vijverberg
Associate Professors: Philip K. Armour, Kurt J. Beron, Marie Chevrier, Simon Fass, Edward J. Harpham, Paul Jargowski, Richard K. Scotch, Gregory S. Thielemann
Assistant Professors: Pamela Brandwein, Sheila Gutiérrez De Piñeres, Douglas B. Harris.
Senior Lecturers: Bobby C. Alexander, Judy Bundy

Programs and General Courses

The School of Social Sciences has six degree-granting programs: Crime and Justice Studies, Economics and Finance, Geography, Government and Politics, Public Administration, and Sociology. Within each of these programs, students may specialize in areas that complement their interests and career plans, such as urban studies, political economy, law and society, and comparative studies.

Minor Areas of Study

The School of Social Sciences offers minors in Crime and Justice Studies, Economics and Finance, Geography, Government and Politics, Public Administration, and Sociology.  Minors are described following each major.

Related Minor Areas:

Minor in Gender Studies (18 hours)
The Gender Studies minor is 18 semester hours. The courses consist of GST 3300, two other Gender Studies core courses, and nine hours of approved Gender Studies electives.

Minor in Spanish/Hispanic Area Studies (18 hours)
Six semester hours of intermediate college-level Spanish (not including Beginning Spanish) and at least six semester hours in courses with a specific focus on Spain and/or Latin America in Social Sciences, and six hours in Arts and Humanities. See the College Master for a list of approved courses.

Social Studies Teacher Certification

Teacher certification is offered in Composite Social Studies, Economics, Geography, Government, and History. Each teaching field requires 24 hours in that field, while the composite requires 48 hours. Specific course requirements are available in the Teacher Development Center or the Office of the College Master in the School of Social Sciences.

Social Science Core Requirements

All undergraduates receiving degrees in the School of Social Sciences must have taken and passed a core of courses designed to provide breadth and an interdisciplinary perspective beyond any individual social science discipline. These courses include:

Fast Track Baccalaureate/Master's Degrees

Undergraduate Social Science majors (Economics and Finance, Geography, Government and Politics, Public Administration, and Sociology) with a strong academic record (3.0 or above) are encouraged to enter the Fast Track program, which allows students to take graduate courses for undergraduate credit while at the same time satisfying requirements for a master's degree in Applied Economics, Geographic Information Sciences, Applied Sociology, or Public Affairs. Qualified seniors may take up to 15 credit hours of graduate courses during their senior year. Students enrolled in the Fast Track must maintain a 3.0 grade point average and earn grades of B or better in graduate courses taken. Students who are interested in the Fast Track should talk with the College Master and complete an application form prior to the final 30 credit hours of work for the B.A. or B.S. degree.

Crime and Justice Studies (B.A.)

The Crime and Justice Studies Program is an interdisciplinary academic program, rooted in fields of sociology, economics, and political science, and attempts to study the interrelationships among law, policy, and societal conditions. Because these relationships are dynamic and complex, the program is by nature an interdisciplinary investigation that integrates a variety of perspectives, approaches, and social science disciplines in order to analyze and understand the origins of crime and injustice and society's response to them.

The Crime and Justice Studies program provides for two concentrations: Criminology and Justice Studies. The Criminology concentration emphasizes the traditional study of crime and criminals with a policy-related focus on the agencies and components of the criminal justice system. Criminology involves issues such as a) concepts of crime, b) theories of crime causation, and c) typologies of crime and criminals. The control of crime is a public problem and, since society's reaction to crime and criminals is through the agencies of the criminal justice system, Criminology has a significant interest in how public policy affects the components of the criminal justice system. Criminologists investigate the public policy surrounding crime in a variety of contexts; for example as law enforcement, protection, the courts and court processes, and corrections are the prime areas in which public opinion and public policy are in controversy and debate. By comparison, the Justice Studies concentration offers a foundation in theories of justice and the relationship between the law and various other societal institutions, contexts, and attributes of people (e.g., law and society, law and economics, law and gender, and law and minority status). It is expected that students with this concentration would seek advanced degrees in Public Policy or in a substantive discipline, or a policy analysis position in the public or not-for-profit sectors after graduation.

Majors in the Crime and Justice Studies program at U.T. Dallas will be provided an educational experience which will allow them to put their academic training and their background and experience to use in a wide variety of post-graduate educational and occupational positions, including:

  • Employment in Criminal Justice agencies at the federal, state, and local government level;
  • Graduate School in Criminal Justice (or a related social science discipline) or our own graduate programs in Political Economy and Public Affairs;
  • Law School;
  • Social Work, Counseling, or other Human Service program.
Bachelor of Arts in Crime and Justice Studies, Criminology Concentration Degree Requirements (120 hours)

I. Core Curriculum Requirements1: 42 hours

A. Communication (6 hours)
     3 hours Communication (RHET 1302)
     3 hours Communication Elective (GOVT 3325)2
B. Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
     6 hours Government (GOVT 2305 and 2306)
     6 hours History (HST 1301 and 2301)
     3 hours Social and Behavioral Sciences Elective (recommended SOC 1301 or 2301)2
C. Humanities and Fine Arts (6 hours)
     3 hours Fine Arts (AP 1301)
     3 hours Humanities (A&H 1301)
D. Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (6 hours)
     3 hours Mathematics (at or above College Algebra, recommended MATH 1300 or 1314)
     3 hours Quantitative Reasoning (SOCS 3303) 2
E. Science (9 hours including at least one course with a substantial laboratory component)
1 Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from accredited institutions of higher education. The courses listed in parenthesis are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at U.T. Dallas.

II. Major Requirements: 52 hours

Major Preparatory Courses (3 hours)
     ECO 2301 Principles of Macroeconomics
          or ECO 2302 Principles of Microeconomics
     SOC Elective2
Major Core Courses (25 hours)
     SOCS 3303 Social Statistics2
     SOCS 3103 Social Statistics Lab
     GOVT 3325 American Public Policy2
     CJS 3301 Theories of Justice
     CJS 3302 Criminology
     CJS 3303 Criminal Justice
     CJS 3304 Research Methods in Criminology
     CJS 3305 Social Control and Criminal Sanctions
     CJS 3306 Criminal Law
     GOVT 3303 Constitutional Law and Civil Liberties
And one of the following:
     ISSS 3336 Culture Regions
     ISSS 3347 World's Advanced Economies
     ISSS 3349 World Resources and Development
     ISSS 4366 Japanese Organization and Management
     ECO 3370 Global Economy
     ECO 4360 International Trade
     ECO 4362 Development Economics
     ECO 4382 International Finance
     GOVT 3328 International Relations
     GOVT 3350 Comparative Politics
     CJS 3319 Comparative Justice Systems
Major Related Courses (24 hours)
     15 hours CJS courses, including at least 12 hours of upper-division courses
     9 hours Major and Related Electives3
2 A Major requirement that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Hours are counted in Core Curriculum.
3 Most students take 9 hours of upper-division CJS courses. However, subject to advisor approval, courses from other disciplines may be used to satisfy this requirement.

III. Elective Requirements: 26 hours

Advanced Electives (6 hours)
     All students are required to take at least six hours of advanced electives outside their major field of study. 
          These must be either upper-division classes or lower-division classes that have prerequisites.
Free Electives (20 hours)
     This requirement may be satisfied with lower- and upper-division courses from any field of study. Students 
          must complete at least 51 hours of upper-division credit to qualify for graduation.

Crime and Justice Studies course descriptions

download this degree plan MS Word PDF
download Crime and Justice Studies course descriptions MS Word PDF

Bachelor of Arts in Crime and Justice Studies, Justice Studies Concentration Degree Requirements (120 hours)

I. Core Curriculum Requirements1: 42 hours

A. Communication (6 hours)
     3 hours Communication (RHET 1302)
     3 hours Communication Elective (GOVT 3325)2
B. Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
     6 hours Government (GOVT 2305 and 2306)
     6 hours History (HST 1301 and 2301)
     3 hours Social and Behavioral Sciences Elective (recommended SOC 1301 or 2301)2
C. Humanities and Fine Arts (6 hours)
     3 hours Fine Arts (AP 1301)
     3 hours Humanities (A&H 1301)
D. Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (6 hours)
     3 hours Mathematics (at or above College Algebra, recommended MATH 1300 or 1314)
     3 hours Quantitative Reasoning (SOCS 3303) 2
E. Science (9 hours including at least one course with a substantial laboratory component)
1 Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from accredited institutions of higher education. The courses listed in parenthesis are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at U.T. Dallas.

II. Major Requirements: 43 hours

Major Preparatory Courses (3 hours)
     ECO 2301 Principles of Macroeconomics
          or ECO 2302 Principles of Microeconomics
     SOC Elective2
Major Core Courses (25 hours)
     SOCS 3303 Social Statistics2
     SOCS 3103 Social Statistics Lab
     GOVT 3325 American Public Policy2
     CJS 3301 Theories of Justice
     CJS 3304 Research Methods in Criminology
     ECO 4330 Law and Economics
     GOVT 3303 Constitutional Law and Civil Liberties
     GOVT 3320 Law and Criminal Justice
     SOC 3302 Social Inequality
     SOC 4361 Law and Society
And one of the following:
     ISSS 3336 Culture Regions
     ISSS 3347 World's Advanced Economies
     ISSS 3349 World Resources and Development
     ISSS 4366 Japanese Organization and Management
     ECO 3370 Global Economy
     ECO 4360 International Trade
     ECO 4362 Development Economics
     ECO 4382 International Finance
     GOVT 3328 International Relations
     GOVT 3350 Comparative Politics
     CJS 3319 Comparative Justice Systems
Major Related Courses (15 hours)
     15 hours CJS courses, including at least 12 hours of upper-division courses
2 A Major requirement that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Hours are counted in Core Curriculum.

III. Elective Requirements: 35 hours

Advanced Electives (6 hours)
     All students are required to take at least six hours of advanced electives outside their major field of study.
          These must be either upper-division classes or lower-division classes that have prerequisites.
Free Electives (29 hours)
     This requirement may be satisfied with lower- and upper-division courses from any field of study. Students
          must complete at least 51 hours of upper-division credit to qualify for graduation.

Minor in Crime and Justice Studies: 18 hours

For a minor in Crime and Justice Studies, students must take the following: CJS 3301, CJS 3303, and CJS 3306, and nine hours of crime and justice studies electives.

Crime and Justice Studies course descriptions

download this degree plan MS Word PDF
download Crime and Justice Studies course descriptions MS Word PDF

Economics and Finance (B.A., B.S.)

Economists study how people make choices in life when scarcity limits what is available. They look at a society's financial, industrial, and labor organizations; its distribution of income and ownership rights; its governmental activities; and its political and economic philosophies, and analyze how these and other factors influence the goods an economy produces, the resources it uses in production, and the distribution of its output. They also look at how incentives affect decisions relating to human behavior, such as whether to obey the law, get married, or have children.

Economic analysis leads to explanations, predictions, and policy suggestions. How are wages and prices set? Why do some cities boom while others decline? Why do we have an energy crisis? How should we use our exhaustible resources? How will consumers and corporations react to a tax cut? How can the crime rate be reduced? If we are to use our resources efficiently, what antitrust and government regulations should be enforced? What can be done to reduce inflation and unemployment? To prevent excess pollution? To achieve economic growth? To distribute income more equitably? In examining these sorts of questions, economics helps us to understand more clearly the choices available to us and the consequences of our decisions.

Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Finance Degree Requirements (120 hours)

I. Core Curriculum Requirements1: 42 hours

A. Communication (6 hours)
     3 hours Communication (RHET 1302)
     3 hours Communication Elective (GOVT 3325)2
B. Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
     6 hours Government (GOVT 2305 and 2306)
     6 hours History (HST 1301 and 2301)
     3 hours Social and Behavioral Sciences Elective (recommended SOC 1301 or 2301)2
C. Humanities and Fine Arts (6 hours)
     3 hours Fine Arts (AP 1301)
     3 hours Humanities (A&H 1301)
D. Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (6 hours)3
     3 hours Mathematics (at or above the level of College Algebra)
     3 hours Quantitative Reasoning (SOCS 3303) 2
E. Science (9 hours including at least one course with a substantial laboratory component)
1 Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from accredited institutions of higher education. The courses listed in parenthesis are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at U.T. Dallas.

II. Major Requirements: 46 hours

Major Preparatory Courses (6 hours)
     ECO 2301 Principles of Macroeconomics*
     ECO 2302 Principles of Microeconomics*
     SOC Elective2
Major Core Courses (22 hours)
     SOCS 3303 Social Statistics2
     SOCS 3103 Social Statistics Lab
     GOVT 3325 American Public Policy2
     ECO 3304 Basic Techniques for Economic Research
     ECO 3310 Intermediate Microeconomics
     ECO 3311 Intermediate Macroeconomics
Three of the following:
     ECO 4320 Public Sector Economics
     ECO 4333 Environmental Economics
     ECO 4340 Labor Economics
     ECO 4345 Industrial Organization
     ECO 4360 International Trade
     ECO 4362 Development Economics
     ECO 4382 International Finance
And one of the following:
     ISSS 3336 Culture Regions
     ISSS 3347 World's Advanced Economies
     ISSS 3349 World Resources and Development
     ISSS 4366 Japanese Organization and Management
     ECO 3370 Global Economy
     ECO 4360 International Trade
     ECO 4362 Development Economics
     ECO 4382 International Finance
     GOVT 3328 International Relations
     GOVT 3350 Comparative Politics
     CJS 3319 Comparative Justice Systems
Major Related Courses (18 hours)
     18 hours Economics and Finance upper-division ECO courses
2 A Major requirement that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Hours are counted in Core Curriculum above.
3 Students wishing to pursue Master's or Ph.D. degrees in economics should consult their advisor about appropriate mathematics and quantitative methods courses.
* Indicates a prerequisite class to be completed before enrolling for upper-division classes in Economics and Finance.

III. Elective Requirements: 32 hours

Advanced Electives (6 hours)
     All students are required to take at least six hours of advanced electives outside their major field of study. 
          These must be either upper-division classes or lower-division classes that have prerequisites.
Free Electives (26 hours)
     This requirement may be satisfied with lower- and upper-division courses from any field of study. Students 
          must complete at least 51 hours of upper-division credit to qualify for graduation.

Economics course descriptions

download this degree plan MS Word PDF
download Economics course descriptions MS Word PDF

Bachelor of Science in Economics and Finance Degree Requirements (120 hours)

I. Core Curriculum Requirements1: 42 hours

A. Communication (6 hours)
     3 hours Communication (RHET 1302)
     3 hours Communication Elective (GOVT 3325)2
B. Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
     6 hours Government (GOVT 2305 and 2306)
     6 hours History (HST 1301 and 2301)
     3 hours Social and Behavioral Sciences Elective (recommended SOC 1301 or 2301)2
C. Humanities and Fine Arts (6 hours)
     3 hours Fine Arts (AP 1301)
     3 hours Humanities (A&H 1301)
D. Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (6 hours)3
     3 hours Mathematics (at or above the level of College Algebra)
     3 hours Quantitative Reasoning (SOCS 3303) 2
E. Science (9 hours including at least one course with a substantial laboratory component)
1 Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from accredited institutions of higher education. The courses listed in parenthesis are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at U.T. Dallas.

II. Major Requirements: 52 hours

Major Preparatory Courses (6 hours)
     ECO 2301 Principles of Macroeconomics*
     ECO 2302 Principles of Microeconomics*
     SOC Elective2
Major Core Courses (28 hours)
     SOCS 3303 Social Statistics2
     SOCS 3103 Social Statistics Lab
     GOVT 3325 American Public Policy2
     ECO 3304 Basic Techniques for Economic Research
     ECO 3310 Intermediate Microeconomics
     ECO 3311 Intermediate Macroeconomics
     ECO 4351 Mathematical Economics
     ECO 4355 Econometrics
Three of the following:
     ECO 4320 Public Sector Economics
     ECO 4333 Environmental Economics
     ECO 4340 Labor Economics
     ECO 4345 Industrial Organization
     ECO 4360 International Trade
     ECO 4362 Development Economics
     ECO 4382 International Finance
And one of the following:
     ISSS 3336 Culture Regions
     ISSS 3347 World's Advanced Economies
     ISSS 3349 World Resources and Development
     ISSS 4366 Japanese Organization and Management
     ECO 3370 Global Economy
     ECO 4360 International Trade
     ECO 4362 Development Economics
     ECO 4382 International Finance
     GOVT 3328 International Relations
     GOVT 3350 Comparative Politics
     CJS 3319 Comparative Justice Systems
Major Related Courses (18 hours)
     18 hours Economics and Finance upper-division ECO courses
2 A Major requirement that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Hours are counted in Core Curriculum.
3 Students wishing to pursue Master's or Ph.D. degrees in economics should consult their advisor about appropriate mathematics and quantitative methods courses.
* Indicates a prerequisite class to be completed before enrolling for upper-division classes in Economics and Finance.

III. Elective Requirements: 26 hours

Advanced Electives (6 hours)
     All students are required to take at least six hours of advanced electives outside their major field of study. 
          These must be either upper-division classes or lower-division classes that have prerequisites.
Free Electives (20 hours)
     This requirement may be satisfied with lower- and upper-division courses from any field of study. Students 
          must complete at least 51 hours of upper-division credit to qualify for graduation.

Minor in Economics and Finance (18 hours)

For a minor in Economics and Finance, students must take ECO 2301, ECO 2302, either ECO 3310 or ECO 3311, one of the following: ECO 4320, ECO 4333, ECO 4340, ECO 4345, ECO 4360, ECO 4362, or ECO 4382, and six hours of ECO electives. Electives may be any upper-division course with the ECO prefix.

Economics course descriptions

download this degree plan MS Word PDF
download Economics course descriptions MS Word PDF

Geography (B.A.)

Geography is a social science which explores the ways in which humans have organized their activities in space, used and modified the earth's resources and environments, and created distinctive landscapes and regions. These concerns are inherently interdisciplinary: geographers who explore environmental relationships have become skilled in earth science (for example, geomorphology or climatology) or have become leaders in the development of cultural ecology, linking closely with anthropology and archaeology; geographers who study spatial organization forge close ties with urban and regional economists and sociologists, as well as with those who study international trade and economic growth. Geographers have played leading roles in the development of urban studies and of regional science, and are active in such policy arenas as urban planning, regional development, risk analysis, and environmental management.

Recently, geographic analysis has been enriched by the development of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technologies, and U.T. Dallas's Bruton Center for Development Studies has created a certification program for those who wish to add GIS competencies to their marketable skills. This certification is recommended for all geography majors who meet the requirements for enrolling in graduate courses. Students interested in the GIS Certificate should consult with their academic advisor.

Geography majors who graduate from U.T. Dallas, especially those who incorporate the GIS Certificate into their curriculum, are provided an educational experience to allow them to put their degrees, backgrounds, and experience to use in a wide variety of post-graduate educational and occupational positions, including:

  • Graduate School in Geography (or a related social or environmental science discipline) or our own graduate programs in Political Economy and Public Affairs;
  • Urban Planning or Public Policy;
  • Marketing, Real Estate or Locational Analysis program needing GIS-competent investigators;
  • Employment in GIS-using Agencies at the federal, state, and local government level.
Bachelor of Arts in Geography Degree Requirements (120 hours)

I. Core Curriculum Requirements1: 42 hours

A. Communication (6 hours)
     3 hours Communication (RHET 1302)
     3 hours Communication Elective (GOVT 3325)2
B. Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
     6 hours Government (GOVT 2305 and 2306)
     6 hours History (HST 1301 and 2301)
     3 hours Social and Behavioral Sciences Elective (recommended: SOC 1301 or 2301)2
C. Humanities and Fine Arts (6 hours)
     3 hours Fine Arts (AP 1301)
     3 hours Humanities (A&H 1301)
D. Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (6 hours)
     3 hours Mathematics (at or above the level of College Algebra)
     3 hours Quantitative Reasoning (SOCS 3303)2
E. Science (9 hours)
     GEOS 1303/1103 Physical Geology
     GEOS 1304/1104 Introduction to Earth History
     1 hour Science elective
1 Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from accredited institutions of higher education. The courses listed in parenthesis are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at U.T. Dallas.

II. Major Requirements: 52 hours

Major Preparatory Courses (9 hours)
     ECO 2302 Principles of Microeconomics*
     GEOG 2301 Social Relations and Spatial Organization*
     GEOG 2302 The Global Environment*
     SOC elective2
     GEOS 1303/1103 Physical Geology2
     GEOS 1304/1104 Introduction to Earth History2
Major Core Courses (22 hours)
     SOCS 3303 Social Statistics2
     SOCS 3103 Social Statistics Lab
     GOVT 3325 American Public Policy2
     GEOG 3301 Cultural Ecology
     GEOG 3304 Tools for Spatial Analysis
     GEOG 3331 Urban Growth and Structure
     GEOG 3370 The Global Economy
     GEOG 3371 Introduction to Economic Development
One of the following:
     CJS 3301 Theories of Justice
     ECO 4320/PA 4313 Public Sector Economics
     GOVT 3353/SOC 3353 Law and Gender
     GOVT 4364/SOC 4364 Civil Rights Law and Society
     GOVT 4334/SOC 4334 Gay and Lesbian Politics
     GOVT 4333/SOC 4333 Sex and Politics
     GOVT 4361 Law and Society
     SOC 4356 Social Welfare Policy
And one of the following:
     ISSS 3336 Culture Regions
     ISSS 3347 World's Advanced Economies
     ISSS 3349 World Resources and Development
     ISSS 4366 Japanese Organization and Management
     ECO 4360 International Trade
     ECO 4362 Development Economics
     ECO 4382 International Finance
     GOVT 3328 International Relations
     GOVT 3350 Comparative Politics
     CJS 3319 Comparative Justice Systems
Major Related Courses (21 hours)
     15 hours Geography upper-division electives
     6 hours Major and Related electives3
2 A Major requirement that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Hours are counted in Core Curriculum.
3 Most students take 6 hours of upper-division GEOG courses. However, subject to advisor approval, courses from other disciplines may be used to satisfy this requirement. Students seeking the Certificate in GIS must satisfy the requirements for taking graduate classes as an undergraduate student. The GIS Certificate requires POEC 6381, 6382, 6383, 6387, and a prescribed option course.
* Indicates a prerequisite to be completed before enrolling in upper-division GEOG courses.

III. Elective Requirements: 26 hours

Advanced Electives (6 hours)
     All students are required to take at least six hours of advanced electives outside their major field of study. 
          These must be either upper-division classes or lower-division classes that have prerequisites.
Free Electives (20 hours)
     This requirement may be satisfied with lower- and upper-division courses from any field of study. Students 
          must complete at least 51 hours of upper-division credit to qualify for graduation.

Minor in Geography (18 hours)

For a minor in Geography, students must take GEOG 2301, GEOG 2302, GEOG 3304, and three of the following: GEOG 3301, GEOG 3331, GEOG 3370, GEOG 3371.

Geography course descriptions

download this degree plan MS Word PDF
download Geography 
course descriptions		 MS Word PDF

Government and Politics (B.A.)

Government and Politics includes the study of political institutions, organizations, processes, and ideas. It provides an understanding of the workings of government, the activities of politicians and public officials, both elected and appointed, and the ways government affects and is affected by various actors, including individuals. Political scientists and public administrators pay particular attention to the formulation, adoption, implementation, and evaluation of laws and public policies.
The Government and Politics program at The University of Texas at Dallas (1) lays the foundations for more intensive studies of government and politics; (2) promotes acquisition of skills and knowledge useful for careers in federal, state, and local governments, social service, educational, community development, arts and other nonprofit organizations, and business firms; (3) provides students with the special skills needed for subsequent training in law, international relations, public policy analysis or other areas of graduate study in political science; and (4) offers students the opportunity to acquire skills and information necessary to become effective citizens.

Bachelor of Arts in Government and Politics Degree Requirements (120 hours)

I. Core Curriculum Requirements1: 42 hours

A. Communication (6 hours)
     3 hours Communication (RHET 1302)
     3 hours Communication Elective (GOVT 3325)2
B. Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
     6 hours Government (GOVT 2305 and 2306)
     6 hours History (HST 1301 and 2301)
     3 hours Social and Behavioral Sciences Elective (SOC 1301 or 2301)2
C. Humanities and Fine Arts (6 hours)
     3 hours Fine Arts (AP 1301)
     3 hours Humanities (A&H 1301)
D. Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (6 hours)
     3 hours Mathematics (at or above level of College Algebra, recommended: MATH 1300 or 1314)
     3 hours Quantitative Reasoning (SOCS 3303)2
E. Science (9 hours including at least one course with a substantial laboratory component)
1 Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from accredited institutions of higher education. The courses listed in parenthesis are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at U.T. Dallas.

II. Major Requirements: 55 hours

Major Preparatory Courses (3 hours)
     ECO 2301 Principles of Macroeconomics
     or ECO 2302 Principles of Microeconomics
     SOC elective2
Major Core Courses (22 hours)
     SOCS 3303 Social Statistics2
     SOCS 3103 Social Statistics Lab
     GOVT 3325 American Public Policy2
     GOVT 3301 Political Theory
     GOVT 3322 Constitutional Law
     GOVT 3333 Political Behavior
     GOVT 3362 The American Political Institutions
     GOVT 4329 Global Politics
One of the following:
     CJS 3301 Theories of Justice
     ECO 4320/PA 4313 Public Sector Economics
     GOVT 3353/SOC 3353 Law and Gender
     GOVT 4364/SOC 4364 Civil Rights Law and Society
     GOVT 4334/SOC 4334 Gay and Lesbian Politics
     GOVT 4333/SOC 4333 Sex and Politics
     GOVT 4361 Law and Society
     SOC 4356 Social Welfare Policy
One of the following:
     ISSS 3336 Culture Regions
     ISSS 3347 World's Advanced Economies
     ISSS 3349 World Resources and Development
     ISSS 4366 Japanese Organization and Management
     ECO 3370 Global Economy
     ECO 4360 International Trade
     ECO 4362 Development Economics
     ECO 4382 International Finance
     GOVT 3328 International Relations
     GOVT 3350 Comparative Politics
     CJS 3319 Comparative Justice Systems
Major Core Concentration (9 hours)
     Three courses from one of the following concentrations:
     Theory Concentration
          GOVT 3306 Political Economy
          GOVT 3323 American Federalism
          GOVT 4354 Contemporary Political Thought
          GOVT 4330 The Bible and Politics
          GOVT 4333 Sex and Politics
     Law Concentration
          GOVT 3303 Civil Liberties
          GOVT 3320 Law and Criminal Justice
          GOVT 3353 Law and Gender
          GOVT 4341 Politics of the Judicial Process
          GOVT 4345 Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
          GOVT 4363 Affirmative Action
          GOVT 4364 Civil Rights Law and Society
          GOVT 4365 Law and Medicine
     American Politics Concentration
          GOVT 3310 Public Administration
          GOVT 3340 Film and Politics
          GOVT 3364 Campaigns and Elections
          GOVT 4334 Gay and Lesbian Politics
          GOVT 4335 Immigrants, Immigration and Society
          GOVT 4338 Minority Politics
          GOVT 4342 Legislative Decision Making
          GOVT 4343 Congress and Public Policy
          GOVT 4364 Civil Rights Law and Society
     Global Politics Concentration
          GOVT 3327 US Foreign Policy
          GOVT 3328 International Relations
          GOVT 3330 Model UN
          GOVT 3350 Comparative Politics
          GOVT 4331 Mexican Politics
          GOVT 4332 Latin American Politics
          GOVT 4346 War and Peace
          GOVT 4355 National and International Security
     Public Policy Concentration
          GOVT 3326 Politics and Business
          GOVT 3327 US Foreign Policy
          GOVT 3340 Film and Politics
          GOVT 3353 Law and Gender
          GOVT 4333 Sex and Politics
          GOVT 4334 Gay and Lesbian Politics
          GOVT 4335 Immigrants, Immigration and Society
          GOVT 4363 Affirmative Action
     Major Related Courses (21 hours)
           21 hours Major and Related electives3
2 A Major requirement that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Hours are counted in Core Curriculum.
3 Most students take 21 hours of upper-division GOVT courses. However, subject to advisor approval, courses from other disciplines may be used to satisfy this requirement.

III. Elective Requirements: 23 hours

Advanced Electives (6 hours)
     All students are required to take at least six hours of advanced electives outside their major field of study. 
          These must be either upper-division classes or lower-division classes that have prerequisites.
Free Electives (17 hours)
     This requirement may be satisfied with lower- and upper-division courses from any field of study. Students 
          must complete at least 51 hours of upper-division credit to qualify for graduation.

Minor in Government and Politics (18 hours)

For a minor in Government and Politics, students must take GOVT 2305 and GOVT 2306. In addition students must take four upper-division courses with a GOVT prefix.

Government and Politics course descriptions

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download Government and Politics course descriptions MS Word PDF

Public Administration (B.S.)

The Public Administration degree is intended for individuals called upon to manage in the arenas of government, non-profits, or business. These generalist managers must synthesize many forms of knowledge derived from economics, sociology, government, and other fields, and must apply that knowledge creatively to meet the varied and multiple challenges of public administration. The ability to understand the substance of policy and program issues; the ability to grasp the administration, political, and ethical implications imbedded in them; and the ability then to act upon the issues with effect, together define the worth of contemporary managers.

The Public Administration program promotes acquisition of knowledge and skills essential to the tasks of identification, analysis, design implementation, supervision, evaluation, communication, and other key functions that are integral components of management careers in federal, state, and local governments; criminal justice; in social service, education, community development, arts and other nonprofit organizations; and in business firms.

Bachelor of Science in Public Administration Degree Requirements (120 hours)

I. Core Curriculum Requirements1: 42 hours

A. Communication (6 hours)
     3 hours Communication (RHET 1302)
     3 hours Communication Elective (GOVT 3325)2
B. Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
     6 hours Government (GOVT 2305 and 2306)
     6 hours History (HST 1301 and 2301)
     3 hours Social and Behavioral Sciences Elective (SOC 1301 or 2301)2
C. Humanities and Fine Arts (6 hours)
     3 hours Fine Arts (AP 1301)
     3 hours Humanities (A&H 1301)
D. Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (6 hours)
     3 hours Mathematics (at or above level of College Algebra, recommended: MATH 1300 or 1314)
     3 hours Quantitative Reasoning (SOCS 3303)2
E. Science (9 hours including at least one course with a substantial laboratory component)
1 Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from accredited institutions of higher education. The courses listed in parenthesis are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at U.T. Dallas.

II. Major Requirements: 49 hours

Major Preparatory Courses (3 hours)
     ECO 2301 Principles of Macroeconomics
     or ECO 2302 Principles of Microeconomics
     SOC elective2
Major Core Courses (34 hours)
     SOCS 3303 Social Statistics2
     SOCS 3103 Social Statistics Lab
     PA 3304 Research Methods in Public Administration
     PA 3310 Public Administration
     GOVT 3322 Constitutional Law
     GOVT 3323 Federalism
     PA 4312 Organizations
     PA 3333 Human Resources Management
     GOVT 3325 American Public Policy2
One of the following:
     PA 3312 Information Management
     PA 3314 Financial Management
     PA 3335 Organizational Behavior
One of the following:
     GOVT 3326 Politics and Business
     ECO 4307 Regulation
     ECO 4342 Public Policies Toward Business (ECO 3310 prerequisite)
     ECO 3385 Benefit-Cost Analysis (ECO 3310 prerequisite)
     PA 4313 Public Sector Economics
Two of the following:
     CJS 3301 Theories of Justice
     ECO 4320/PA 4313 Public Sector Economics
     GOVT 3353/SOC 3353 Law and Gender
     GOVT 4364/SOC 4364 Civil Rights Law and Society
     GOVT 4334/SOC 4334 Gay and Lesbian Politics
     GOVT 4333/SOC 4333 Sex and Politics
     GOVT 4361 Law and Society
     SOC 4356 Social Welfare Policy
And one of the following:
     ISSS 3336 Culture Regions
     ISSS 3347 World's Advanced Economies
     ISSS 3349 World Resources and Development
     ISSS 4366 Japanese Organization and Management
     ECO 3370 Global Economy
     ECO 4360 International Trade
     ECO 4362 Development Economics
     ECO 4382 International Finance
     GOVT 3328 International Relations
     GOVT 3350 Comparative Politics
     CJS 3319 Comparative Justice Systems
Major Related Courses (12 hours)
     12 hours Major and Related electives3
2 A Major requirement that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Hours are counted in Core Curriculum.
3 Most students take 12 hours of upper-division PA courses. However, subject to advisor approval, courses from other disciplines may be used to satisfy this requirement.
III. Elective Requirements: 29 hours
Advanced Electives (6 hours)
     All students are required to take at least six hours of advanced electives outside their major field of study. 
          These must be either upper-division classes or lower-division classes that have prerequisites.
Free Electives (23 hours)
     This requirement may be satisfied with lower- and upper-division courses from any field of study. Students 
          must complete at least 51 hours of upper-division credit to qualify for graduation.

Minor in Public Administration (18 hours)

For a minor in Public Administration, students must take PA/GOVT 3310, PA 4312, PA 3333; one of the following: ECO 4330, ECO 4320; one of the following: GOVT 3335, GOVT 3314, GOVT 3312; and one of the following: GOVT 3326, GOVT 4307, ECO 4342, ECO 3385.

Public Administration course descriptions

download this degree plan MS Word PDF
download Public Administration course descriptions MS Word PDF

Sociology (B.A.)

Sociologists analyze the structure of groups in society and the way these groups influence the behavior of individuals. Related to these larger ideas are many specific questions: What explains inequalities? Why do crime and deviance arise? How do families, schools, churches, and corporations effect social control? What are the functions of welfare programs? How do cities grow and change to reflect changing technologies and population trends? How does law interact with society? These are examples of sociological questions.

At The University of Texas at Dallas, sociology majors are encouraged to go beyond scholarly study to explore the ways that sociology can be put to use in businesses, government, or voluntary organizations. Sociology graduates of the university have pursued careers or graduate study in a variety of areas including policy research, social services, business, law, law enforcement, and other social sciences.

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology Degree Requirements (120 hours)

I. Core Curriculum Requirements1: 42 hours

A. Communication (6 hours)
     3 hours Communication (RHET 1302)
     3 hours Communication Elective (GOVT 3325)2
B. Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
     6 hours Government (GOVT 2305 and 2306)
     6 hours History (HST 1301 and 2301)
     3 hours Social and Behavioral Sciences Elective (SOC 1301)2
C. Humanities and Fine Arts (6 hours)
     3 hours Fine Arts (AP 1301)
     3 hours Humanities (A&H 1301)
D. Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (6 hours)
     3 hours Mathematics (at or above level of College Algebra, recommended: MATH 1300 or 1314)
     3 hours Quantitative Reasoning (SOCS 3303)2
E. Science (9 hours including at least one course with a substantial laboratory component)
1 Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from accredited institutions of higher education. The courses listed in parenthesis are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at U.T. Dallas.

II. Major Requirements: 46 hours

Major Preparatory Courses (3 hours)
     ECO 2301 Principles of Macroeconomics
     or ECO 2302 Principles of Microeconomics
     SOC 1301 Introduction to Sociology2
Major Core Courses (16 hours)
     SOCS 3303 Social Statistics2
     SOCS 3103 Social Statistics Lab
     GOVT 3325 American Public Policy2
     SOC 2301 Race, Gender, Class or SOC 3314 Individual and Society
     SOC 3303 Social Theory
     SOC 3304 Research Methods in Sociology
One of the following:
     CJS 3301 Theories of Justice
     ECO 4320/PA 4313 Public Sector Economics
     GOVT 3353/SOC 3353 Law and Gender
     GOVT 4364/SOC 4364 Civil Rights Law and Society
     GOVT 4334/SOC 4334 Gay and Lesbian Politics
     GOVT 4333/SOC 4333 Sex and Politics
     GOVT 4361 Law and Society
     SOC 4356 Social Welfare Policy
And one of the following:
     ISSS 3336 Culture Regions
     ISSS 3347 World's Advanced Economies
     ISSS 3349 World Resources and Development
     ISSS 4366 Japanese Organization and Management
     ECO 3370 Global Economy
     ECO 4360 International Trade
     ECO 4362 Development Economics
     ECO 4382 International Finance
     GOVT 3328 International Relations
     GOVT 3350 Comparative Politics
     CJS 3319 Comparative Justice Systems
Major Related Courses (27 hours)
     18 hours upper-division Sociology courses
     9 hours Major and Related electives3
2 A Major requirement that also fulfills a Core Curriculum requirement. Hours are counted in Core Curriculum.
3 Most students take 9 hours of upper-division SOC courses. However, subject to advisor approval, courses from other disciplines may be used to satisfy this requirement.

III. Elective Requirements: 32 hours

Advanced Electives (6 hours)
     All students are required to take at least six hours of advanced electives outside their major field of study. 
         These must be either upper-division classes or lower-division classes that have prerequisites.
Free Electives (26 hours)
     This requirement may be satisfied with lower- and upper-division courses from any field of study. Students 
         must  complete at least 51 hours of upper-division credit to qualify for graduation.

Minor in Sociology (18 hours)

For a minor in Sociology, students must take SOC 2319 or SOC 3314, SOC 3303, SOC 3304, and nine semester hours of upper-division classes with a SOC prefix.

Sociology course descriptions

Social Science course descriptions

download this degree plan MS Word PDF
download Sociology 
course descriptions		 MS Word PDF
download Social Science course descriptions MS Word PDF

 

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