Political Science - Undergraduate Programs
Overview
The goal of the political science undergraduate curriculum is to maximize students' capacities to analyze and interpret political events and governmental processes. In addition to acquiring general knowledge about government and political behavior, students also learn the analytical skills relevant to particular political systems (their own and others'), and to problems of most immediate consequence and concern to them.
The four major objectives of the department's curriculum are to:
- Identify and describe political structures, rules, behaviors and environments which shape political action.
- Explain and employ statistical and methodological techniques to analyze information.
- Identify, comprehend, and apply comparative, theoretical, or conceptual approaches to actors and their policies.
- Develop the ability to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate political phenomena.
The major courses are designed to present a coherent portrait of the discipline. Students begin with a general introduction to national, state, and local politics followed by required courses in political methodology and political theory. Finally, students are exposed to at least four major areas of the discipline. The department also offers options for students who desire a concentration in pre-law, public policy/administration, or international studies. Students may choose any 18 hours (6 advanced) for a minor. Those who want a specialization may concentrate courses in areas of public law; policy and administration; comparative and international politics; American national government; political parties, group politics, and elections; or political theory.
The political science student is exposed to a multifaceted and highly regarded faculty, many of whom have received regional and national honors for teaching, service, and research. Upon graduation, UT Arlington political science majors are prepared to compete for a wide variety of jobs in both the private and public sectors.
Admission to Department of Political Science Degree Programs
Students should have completed 30 hours of core with 30 hours at UT Arlington, or 40 hours of core with 12 hours at UT Arlington with an overall GPA greater than 2.0. Students may be accepted as pre-political science majors if the above standards are not met.
Teacher Certification
Students interested in Texas Teacher Certification should consult the College of Education section of this catalog for the most recent changes in requirements regarding admission to Teacher Education, completion of University programs in preparation for certification, and eligibility for certification after graduation.
Oral Communication and Computer Use Competencies
Students majoring in political science are required to demonstrate computer use and oral communication competencies. Computer use proficiency can be demonstrated by one of the following:
- successful completion of POLS 3310 RESEARCH METHODS AND POLITICAL ANALYSIS; or
- successful completion of CSE 1301 COMPUTER LITERACY or INSY 2303 INTRODUCTION TO M.I.S. AND DATA PROCESSING; or
- successful completion of other courses approved by the Undergraduate Assembly; or
- passing the University computer use competency exam.
Oral communication proficiency can be demonstrated by one of the following:
| COMS 1301 | FUNDAMENTALS OF PUBLIC SPEAKING | 3 |
| COMS 2305 | BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION | 3 |
| COMS 3315 | COMMUNICATION FOR EDUCATORS | 3 |
- successful completion of specific political science courses approved by the department; or
- successful completion of one of the following:
- successful completion of other courses approved by the Undergraduate Assembly.
Students should discuss these options with their undergraduate advisor who may also provide a list of other courses approved by the University to meet these requirements.
Requirements for a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science
All students who wish to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science must complete the following coursework. In completing this coursework, they will satisfy the University's core curriculum requirements.
| Pre-Professional Courses | ||
| General Core Requirements | 42 | |
| Recommended Core Requirements | ||
| RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION I (or suitable substitute) | ||
| RHETORIC AND COMPOSITION II (or suitable substitute) | ||
| HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES TO 1865 | ||
| HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, 1865 TO PRESENT | ||
| COLLEGE ALGEBRA | ||
| ELEMENTARY STATISTICAL ANALYSIS | ||
| GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES 1 | ||
| STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT 1 | ||
Social or cultural anthropology; archaeology; social/political/cultural geography; economics; criminal justice; psychology; sociology; women's studies courses cross-listed with these departments and/or Introduction to Women's Studies (WOMS 2310). This fulfills the Social/Cultural studies requirement | ||
| Program Requirements | ||
| Electives | ||
| Modern and Classical Languages: 1441, 1442, 2313, 2314 | 14 | |
| Sufficient to give the total number of hours required for the degree | ||
| Professional Courses | ||
| Major | ||
| POLS 2311 | GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES 1 | 3 |
| POLS 2312 | STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT 1 | 3 |
| POLS 3310 | RESEARCH METHODS AND POLITICAL ANALYSIS (or equivalent) | 3 |
| Select one of the following in political thought: | ||
| MODERN CRITICS OF SOCIETY AND POLITICS | ||
| ISSUES IN POLITICAL THEORY | ||
| FEMINIST POLITICAL THOUGHT | ||
| POLITICAL IDEAS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD | ||
| MODERN POLITICAL IDEAS | ||
| CONTEMPORARY CONTROVERSIES IN POLITICAL THEORY | ||
Or equivalent | ||
| Select at least one course from any four of the five areas listed: | 12 | |
Area I Political Behavior and Processes: | ||
| LEGISLATIVE ORGANIZATION AND PROCEDURE | ||
| COMPARATIVE STATE AND LOCAL POLITICS | ||
| PUBLIC OPINION | ||
| AMERICAN POLITICAL PARTIES | ||
| SEPARATION OF POWERS AND AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS | ||
| WOMEN IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS | ||
| ETHNIC GROUP POLITICS IN THE UNITED STATES | ||
| POLITICS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS | ||
| POLITICS OF MEXICAN AMERICANS | ||
| ELECTORAL BEHAVIOR | ||
| ELECTION STRATEGY AND CAMPAIGN MANAGEMENT | ||
| THE U.S. PRESIDENCY | ||
| PRESIDENTIAL LEADERSHIP IN DOMESTIC POLICY MAKING | ||
Area II Comparative Politics: | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS | ||
| DICTATORSHIP AND DEMOCRACY IN LATIN AMERICAN POLITICS | ||
| MEXICAN POLITICS AND U.S.-MEXICO RELATIONS | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO MIDDLE EAST POLITICS | ||
| THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT OF RUSSIA AND THE SUCCESSOR STATES | ||
| RUSSIA AND THE SUCCESSOR STATES TODAY | ||
| THE POLITICS AND FOREIGN POLICY OF ISRAEL | ||
Area III International Politics: | ||
| POLS 3302 | INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS | 3 |
| POLS 4311 | INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGY | 3 |
| POLS 4312 | INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS | 3 |
| CONTEMPORARY UNITED STATES FOREIGN POLICY | ||
| THEORIES OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS | ||
| FOREIGN POLICIES OF RUSSIA AND THE SUCCESSOR STATES | ||
| INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF THE MIDDLE EAST | ||
| POLS 4372 | HUMAN SECURITY, VIOLENCE, AND SCARCITY | 3 |
| POLS 4373 | POLITICS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW | 3 |
Area IV Public Law: | ||
| JUDICIAL BEHAVIOR AND THE JUDICIAL PROCESS | ||
| CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN CIVIL LIBERTIES | ||
| JURISPRUDENCE | ||
| U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: GOVERNMENT POWER | ||
| U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS | ||
Area V Public Administration and Policy Studies: | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION | ||
| GOVERNMENT IN URBAN AMERICA | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS | ||
| PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND THE POLITICAL PROCESS | ||
| POLS 4340 | FEDERAL SOCIAL POLICY | 3 |
| POLS 4350 | HEALTH POLITICS AND POLICY | 3 |
| ENERGY POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION | ||
| Students have the option of competing a departmental specialization (between Pre-law, Policy/Public Admin, International studies, and Political behavior and processes). | 12-18 | |
Pre-Law: | ||
Requiring a minimum of 9 hours in the Public Law area of Political Science, plus 9 hours of courses to be chosen from the following: | ||
| GROUP COMMUNICATION THEORY | ||
| THE AMERICAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM | ||
| ADVANCED ARGUMENTATION | ||
| U.S. LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY, COLONIAL TO 1877 | ||
| U.S. LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY, 1877 TO PRESENT | ||
| GREAT ANGLO-AMERICAN TRIALS | ||
| U.S. CIVIL LIBERTIES | ||
| BRITISH CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY | ||
| FUNDAMENTALS OF REASONING | ||
| LOGIC | ||
| PHILOSOPHY OF LAW | ||
| CRIMINOLOGY | ||
| LAW AND SOCIETY | ||
| LAW I | ||
| LAW II | ||
Policy/Public Administration: | ||
Requiring a minimum of 12 hours in the Policy/Public Administration area of Political Science | ||
International Studies: | ||
Requiring a minimum of 12 hours in any combination of the Comparative Politics and International Politics areas of Political Science | ||
Political Behavior and Processes: | ||
Requiring a minimum of 12 hours in the Political Behavior and Processes area of Political Science | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | |
| 1 | Students are required to complete 12 hrs of 3000/4000 level POLS coursework to bring their total number of POLS coursework hours to 36. The 36 hours to includePOLS 2311 GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES and POLS 2312 STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT |
Students majoring in Political Science will pursue this general course of study in the discipline AND they may declare a specific area of concentration by filing a statement of intent with the Political Science Department. The area of concentration will require that the student complete the requirements for the general degree plan while also fulfilling certain requirements for the concentration. All students will receive the B.A. in Political Science. Those completing the selected specialization will also receive recognition of completion.
The purpose of the specializations is to provide the student with a focused, systematic, and in-depth educational experience in the context of a broad liberal arts education.
Political Science classes may be used toward the major requirements or minor requirements (at the discretion of the department offering the minor), but not both.
Oral Communication and Computer Use Competencies
Students majoring in political science are required to demonstrate computer use and oral communication competencies. Computer use proficiency can be demonstrated by one of the following:
- successful completion of POLS 3310 RESEARCH METHODS AND POLITICAL ANALYSIS; or
- successful completion of CSE 1301 COMPUTER LITERACY or INSY 2303 INTRODUCTION TO M.I.S. AND DATA PROCESSING; or
- successful completion of other courses approved by the Undergraduate Assembly; or
- passing the University computer use competency exam.
Oral communication proficiency can be demonstrated by one of the following:
| COMS 1301 | FUNDAMENTALS OF PUBLIC SPEAKING | 3 |
| COMS 2305 | BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION | 3 |
| COMS 3315 | COMMUNICATION FOR EDUCATORS | 3 |
- successful completion of specific political science courses approved by the department; or
- successful completion of one of the following:
- successful completion of other courses approved by the Undergraduate Assembly.
Students should discuss these options with their undergraduate advisor who may also provide a list of other courses approved by the University to meet these requirements.
Requirement for a Minor in Political Science
A minor in political science requires 18 semester hours, at least six of which must be 3000/4000 level.
Political Science classes may be used toward the major requirements or minor requirements (at the discretion of the department offering the minor), but not both.
Fast Track Program in Political Science The Fast Track program allows outstanding senior undergraduate Political Science (POLS) students to take up to three graduate courses (5000-level courses) to replace up to nine credit hours of advanced POLS undergraduate courses (3000- or 4000-level courses); the credit hours earned in these graduate courses can then be applied to both the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and to the Master of Arts (MA) in Political Science. Those who successfully complete the program will be automatically admitted to the Graduate School. They will not be required to take any qualifying test, complete an application for admission to the Graduate School, arrange for letters of reference, or pay an application fee. This enables students to complete their MA degree in a shorter time period.
Applying to the POLS Fast Track Program Undergraduate students apply to the Department of Political Science by completing a Fast Track application form available from the POLS academic advisor. Students will be notified by the Department of their acceptance into the Fast Track program.
Unconditional Admission
1. The student must be within 30 hours of completing a BA in Political Science at UTA.
2. The student must have completed 30 hours of coursework at UTA.
3. The student must have an overall GPA of at least 3.3 in all coursework at all schools and an overall GPA of at least 3.3 in all coursework completed at UTA.
4. The student must have an overall GPA of at least 3.5 in all POLS courses completed at UTA.
5. The student must have completed 12 credit hours of the following specific undergraduate POLS courses, with a GPA of at least 3.5 in these courses. (Courses from other universities or colleges that cover the same or similar material cannot replace any of these specific UTA courses.)
• POLS 2312 State and Local Government or its equivalent from another institution
• POLS 3310 Analyzing Politics
• POLS 3302 Introduction to International Relations, POLS 3303 Introduction to Public Administration, POLS 3304 Introduction to Comparative Politics, OR POLS 3312 Introduction to Public Policy Analysis
• One substantive 4000-level POLS course from any of the area concentrations (excluding internships and conference or directed readings courses).
Provisional Admission
A student may gain provisional admission if, by the semester in which application is made, he or she has already completed 3 out of the 4 required POLS courses (listed above) with a GPA of at least 3.5 in them, with the 4th course to be completed in the semester of application. All other requirements above must be met. Provisional admission will be changed to unconditional admission upon satisfactory completion of remaining requirements. Students failing to meet all requirements at the end of their semester of application will be removed from the Fast Track program. Any credits earned prior to removal from the program will be applied to the undergraduate degree only. None of the other benefits of the Fast Track program will apply. Provisionally admitted students who have been removed from the program may subsequently apply to graduate programs via the normal application process, paying all fees and meeting all relevant admission criteria. Admission will not be automatic as it will be subject to the normal admission practices of the Department of Political Science and of the Office of Graduate Studies.
Denial
Students who do not meet the requirements set out shall be denied admission to the Fast Track program. They may still apply to the graduate program through the regular application process. Admission will not be automatic as it will be subject to the normal admission practices of the Department of Political Science and of the Office of Graduate Studies.
Good Standing
In order to remain in the Fast Track program, students must meet the following requirements:
1. Students must maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0 and must earn grades of B or better in all Fast Track-approved graduate courses that will be used to satisfy undergraduate and graduate degree requirements of the Fast Track program.
2. Students must enroll in at least 2 graduate courses prior to receiving their bachelor’s degree, and receive at least a B in each course.
Students who, at any time, do not meet these requirements will be obliged to leave the Fast Track program. Any graduate credits earned will be applied only to the undergraduate degree, and none of the other benefits of participation in the Fast Track program will apply. They may apply to the MA program as a regular student after receiving their BA.
For more information about the POLS Fast Track Program, please contact the undergraduate advisor in the Department of Political Science.