School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences
Political Science (BA)
Political 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 Political Science Program at The University of Texas at Dallas provides:
- the foundations for more advanced, graduate study of citizenship, government and politics in Political Science;
- the special core knowledge needed for subsequent professional education in law and public policy analysis;
- the opportunity to acquire useful skills for careers in federal, state, and local government, community service, educational and other nonprofit organizations, and business firms.
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Degree Requirements (120 hours)
I. Core Curriculum Requirements: 42 hours1
Communication (6 hours)
3 hours Communication (RHET 1302)
3 hours Communication Elective (PSCI 3325 or PSCI 4307 or PSCI 4360)2
Social and Behavioral Sciences (15 hours)
6 semester credit hours Government (GOVT 2301 and GOVT 2302)
6 hours American History (HIST 1301 and HIST 1302)
3 hours Social and Behavioral Sciences Elective (CRIM 1301 or ECON 2301 or ECON 2302 or SOC 1301 or SOC 2319)2
Humanities and Fine Arts (6 hours)
3 hours Fine Arts (ARTS 1301)
3 hours Humanities (HUMA 1301)
Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning (6 hours)
3 hours Mathematics (at or above level of College Algebra, recommended: MATH 1306 or MATH 1314)
4 hours Quantitative Reasoning (EPPS 3405)2, 3
Science (9 hours including at least one course with a substantial laboratory component)
II. Major Requirements: 55 hours
Major Preparatory Courses (1 hour beyond Core Curriculum)2
GOVT 2301 Constitutional Foundations and Political Behavior in the U.S. and Texas2
GOVT 2302 Political Institutions in the U.S. and Texas2
PSCI 3325 American Public Policy2
or PSCI 4307 Predicting Politics2
or PSCI 4360 The Political Economy of Multinational Corporations2
EPPS 3405 Introduction to Social Statistics with Lab2, 3
One of the following:
CRIM 1301 Introduction to Criminal Justice2
ECON 2301 Principles of Macroeconomics2
ECON 2302 Principles of Microeconomics2
SOC 1301 Introduction to Sociology2
Major Core Courses (18 hours)
PSCI 3301 Political Theory
PSCI 3322 Constitutional Law
PSCI 3333 Political Behavior
PSCI 3362 The American Political Institutions
PSCI 4329 Global Politics
One of the following:
CRIM 3301 Theories of Justice
PSCI 3303 Civil Liberties
PSCI 3326 Politics and Business
PSCI 3364 Campaigns and Elections
PSCI 4364 Civil Rights Law and Society
Major Related Courses (36 hours)
36 hours Major and Related electives4
III. Elective Requirements: 23 hours
Electives (6 hours)
All students are required to take at least six hours of 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 courses to qualify for graduation.
Minor in Political Science (18 hours)
For a minor in Political Science, students must take GOVT 2301 and GOVT 2302. In addition students must take four upper-division courses with a PSCI prefix with the exception of PSCI 4V76, PSCI 4V97, PSCI 4V98, and PSCI 4V99.
1. Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from accredited institutions of higher education. The courses listed in parentheses are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at UT Dallas.
2. A Core Curriculum Requirement that also fulfills a Major Requirement. Hours are counted in the Core Curriculum.
3. Three hours are counted under Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning core, and one hour is counted under Major Preparatory Courses.
4. Most students take upper-division PSCI courses. However, subject to advisor approval, courses from other disciplines may be used to satisfy this requirement.