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Government and PoliticsPolitical Science (B.A.)

Government and PoliticsPolitical Science involves the study of interesting and important topics about citizenship, government and politics. These topics include the influence of citizens on what government does, the scope, responsibilities and effectiveness of government itself, and the activities of both elected and appointed public officials. These topics are important parts of what political scientists know about American government and politics, comparative government and politics, international relations, political behavior, political economy, political institutions, and political theory. . Political scientists and public administrators pay particular attention to the design, implementation, and evaluation of laws and public policies that may affect people's well-being.

The Government and PoliticsPolitical Science Program at The University of Texas at Dallas provides:

1. the foundations for more advanced, graduate study of citizenship, government and politics in Political Science;
2. the special core knowledge needed for subsequent professional education in law and public policy analysis;
3. the opportunity to acquire useful skills for careers in federal, state, and local government, community l service, educational, and other nonprofit organizations, and business firms.

Bachelor of Arts in Government and PoliticsPolitical Science
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 2301 and 2302)
        6 hours American History
        3 hours Social and Behavioral Sciences Elective (SOC 1301, CJS 1301, ECO 2301, or ECO
            2302)²
    C. Humanities and Fine Arts (6 hours)
        3 hours Fine Arts (ARTS 1301)
        3 hours Humanities (HUMA 1301)
    D. Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (6 hours)
        3 hours Mathematics (at or above level of College Algebra, recommended: MATH 1306)
        3 hours Quantitative Reasoning (SOCS 3305)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 the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at U.T. Dallas.
² A Core Curriculum Requirement that also fulfills a Major Requirement. Hours are counted in the Core Curriculum.

II. Major Requirements: 55 hours
    GOVT 2301 Constitutional Foundations and Political Behavior in the U.S. and Texas²
    GOVT 2302 Political Institutions in the U.S. and Texas²
    GOVT 3325 American Public Policy²
    SOCS 3105 Social Statistics Laboratory (1 hour)
    SOCS 3305 Introduction to Social Statistics²
    One of: ²
        CJS 1301 Introduction to Criminal Justice
            or ECO 2301 Principles of Macroeconomics
            or ECO 2302 Principles of Microeconomics
            or SOC 1301 Introduction to Sociology
    Major Core Courses (18 hours)
        GOVT 3301 Political Theory
        GOVT 3322 Constitutional Law
        GOVT 3333 Political Behavior
        GOVT 3362 American Political Institutions
        GOVT 4329 Global Politics
    One of the following:
        GOVT 3303 Civil Liberties
        GOVT 3326 Politics and Business
        GOVT 3364 Campaigns and Elections
        GOVT 4364 Civil Rights Law and Society
        CJS 3301 Theories of Justice
    Major Core Concentration (9 hours)
        Three courses from one of the following concentrations:

        Theory Concentration
            GOVT 3306 Political Economy
            GOVT 3323 American Federalism
            GOVT 4330 The Bible and Politics
            GOVT 4354 Contemporary Political Thought
        Law Concentration
            GOVT 3303 Civil Liberties
            GOVT 3351 Comparative Courts and Law
            GOVT 3353 Law and Gender
            GOVT 4341 Politics of the Judicial Process
            GOVT 4345 Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
            GOVT 4361 Law and Society
            GOVT 4364 Civil Rights Law and Society
            GOVT 4365 Law and Medicine
        American Politics Concentration
            GOVT 3310 Public Administration
            GOVT 3323 American Federalism
            GOVT 3340 Film and Politics
            GOVT 3364 Campaigns and Elections
            GOVT 4334 Gay and Lesbian Politics
            GOVT 4339 Political Parties and Interest Groups
            GOVT 4340 The Politics of the Bureaucratic Process
            GOVT 4342 Legislative Decision Making
            GOVT 4343 Congress and Public Policy
            GOVT 4344 Race and Redistricting
            GOVT 4364 Civil Rights Law and Society
        Global Politics Concentration
            GOVT 3327 American Foreign Policy
            GOVT 3328 International Relations
            GOVT 3350 Comparative Politics
            GOVT 4331 Mexican Politics
            GOVT 4332 Latin American Politics
            GOVT 4346 War and Peace
            GOVT 4347 The War on Drugs
            GOVT 4348 Terrorism
            GOVT 4355 National and International Security
            GOVT 4356 International Political Economy
            GOVT 4357 Human Rights and the Rule of Law
        Public Policy Concentration
            GOVT 3326 Politics and Business
            GOVT 3327 American Foreign Policy
            GOVT 3353 Law and Gender
            GOVT 3364 Campaigns and Elections
            GOVT 4334 Gay and Lesbian Politics
            GOVT 4339 Political Parties and Interest Groups
            GOVT 4343 Congress and Public Policy
            GOVT 4347 The War on Drugs
    Major Related Courses (27 hours)
        27 hours Major and Related electives³

³ Most students take 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 PoliticsPolitical Science (18 hours)

For a minor in Government and PoliticsPolitical Science, students must take GOVT 2301 and GOVT 2302. In addition students must take four upper-division courses with a GOVT prefix with the exception of GOVT 4V97, GOVT 4V98, and GOVT 4V99.

The University of Texas at Dallas 2006-2008 Undergraduate Catalog
Volume 31, Number 1
Copyright © The University of Texas at Dallas

This catalog is a general information publication only. It is not intended to nor does it contain all regulations that relate to students. The provisions of this catalog do not constitute a contract, express or implied, between any applicant, student or faculty member and The University of Texas at Dallas or The University of Texas System. The University of Texas at Dallas reserves the right to withdraw courses at any time, to change fees or tuition, calendar, curriculum, degree requirements, graduation procedures, and any other requirements affecting students. Changes will become effective whenever the proper authorities so determine and will apply to both prospective students and those already enrolled.

Statement on Equal Educational Opportunity
The University of Texas at Dallas is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. In accordance with federal and state law, the University prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, and veteran status. Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is also prohibited pursuant to University policy.