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Public Affairs (B.S.)

The Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs 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 government, economics, sociology, 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 administrative, 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 Affairs 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 Affairs
Degree Requirements (120 hours)

I. Core Curriculum Requirements¹: 42 hours
    A. Communication (6 hours)
        3 hours Communication (RHET 1302)
        3 hours Communication Elective (PA 3377)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, SOC 2319, CJS 1301, or CJS
            1307)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.

II. Major Requirements: 49 hours
    Major Preparatory Courses (3 hours)
        ECO 2301 Principles of Macroeconomics
            or ECO 2302 Principles of Microeconomics
    Major Core Courses (28 hours)
        GOVT 3322 Constitutional Law
        PA 3377 Urban Planning and Policy²
        GOVT 3328 International Relations
        PA 3304 Research Methods in Public Administration
        PA 3310 Public Administration
        PA 3333 Human Resources Management
        PA 4312 Organizations
        PA 4360 Ethics in Public Administration
        SOCS 3105 Social Statistics Laboratory
        SOCS 3305 Introduction to Social Statistics²
    Major Related Courses (24 hours)
        24 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 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 Affairs (18 hours)

For a minor in Public Affairs, students must take PA/GOVT 3310, PA 3333, PA 4312/SOC 4340; and any nine semester hours of upper-division classes with a PA prefix with the exception of PA 4V97, PA 4V98, and PA 4V99 or from the following list of courses: ECO 4320, ECO 4330, ECO 3370, ECO 3385, ECO 4342, GOVT 3326.

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.