UT Dallas 2014 Undergraduate Catalog

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

I. Core Curriculum Requirements: 42 semester credit hours2

Communication: 6 semester credit hours

COMM 1311 Survey of Oral and Technology-based Communication

RHET 1302 Rhetoric

Mathematics: 3 semester credit hours

One of the following:

MATH 1306 College Algebra for the Non-Scientist

MATH 1314 College Algebra

Life and Physical Sciences: 6 semester credit hours

Select any 6 semester credit hours from Life and Physical Sciences core courses (see advisor)

Language, Philosophy and Culture: 3 semester credit hours

One of the following:

HUMA 1301 Exploration of the Humanities

LIT 2331 Masterpieces of World Literature

PHIL 1301 Introduction to Philosophy

PHIL 2316 History of Philosophy I

PHIL 2317 History of Philosophy II

Creative Arts: 3 semester credit hours

ARTS 1301 Explorations of the Arts

American History: 6 semester credit hours

HIST 1301 U.S. History Survey to Civil War

HIST 1302 U.S. Survey from Civil War

Government / Political Science: 6 semester credit hours

GOVT 2305 American National Government3

GOVT 2306 State and Local Government3

Social and Behavioral Sciences: 3 semester credit hours

One of the following:

CRIM 1301 Introduction to Criminal Justice

ECON 2301 Principles of Macroeconomics

ECON 2302 Principles of Microeconomics

SOC 1301 Introduction to Sociology

Component Area Option: 6 semester credit hours

EPPS 2301 Research Design in the Social and Policy Sciences

And one of the following:

EPPS 2302 Methods of Quantitative Analysis in the Social and Policy Sciences

EPPS 2303 Descriptive and Inferential Statistics for the Social and Policy Sciences

II. Major Requirements: 54 hours

Major Preparatory Courses: 0 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum

GOVT 2305 American National Government3

GOVT 2306 State and Local Government3

Major Core Courses: 21 semester credit 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

One of the following:

PSCI 3325 American Public Policy

PSCI 4307 Predicting Politics

PSCI 4360 The Political Economy of Multinational Corporations

Major Related Courses: 33 semester credit hours

33 semester credit hours Major and Related electives4

III. Elective Requirements: 24 semester credit hours

This requirement may be satisfied with lower- and upper-division courses from any field of study. Students must complete at least 51 semester credit hours of upper-division courses to qualify for graduation.

1. Incoming freshmen must complete and pass UNIV 1010 Freshman Seminar and the corresponding school-related freshman seminar course. Students, including transfer students, who complete their core curriculum at UT Dallas must take UNIV 2020.

2. Curriculum Requirements can be fulfilled by other approved courses from institutions of higher education. The courses listed are recommended as the most efficient way to satisfy both Core Curriculum and Major Requirements at UT Dallas.

3. A Core Curriculum Requirement that also fulfills a Major Requirement. Semester credit hours are counted in the Core Curriculum.

4. Most students take upper-division PSCI courses. However, subject to advisor approval, courses from other disciplines may be used to satisfy this requirement.

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