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 semester credit hours)¹

View an Example of Degree Requirements by Semester

Faculty

FACG> epps-political-science-ba

Professors: Patrick T. Brandt @pxb054000, Thomas L. Brunell @tlb056000, Harold D. Clarke @hclarke, Paul Diehl @pxd153230, Euel W. Elliott @eelliott, Edward J. Harpham @harpham, Jennifer S. Holmes @jholmes, Robert C. Lowry @rcl062000, Clint W. Peinhardt @cwp052000, Marianne C. Stewart @mstewart

Associate Professors: Jonas Bunte @jbb130330, Vito D'Orazio @vxd152030, Banks P. Miller @bxm093000

Assistant Professors: Rebecca Cordell @rxc190010, Thomas Gray @txg171430, Lauren Santoro @lar170530

Professor Emeritus: Anthony M. Champagne @tchamp

Associate Professor of Instruction: Karl K. Ho @kxh022100

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

Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Communication Core courses (see advisor)

Mathematics: 3 semester credit hours

MATH 1314 College Algebra

Or select any 3 semester credit hours from Mathematics Core courses (see advisor)

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

Select any 3 semester credit hours from Language, Philosophy and Culture Core courses (see advisor)

Creative Arts: 3 semester credit hours

Select any 3 semester credit hours from Creative Arts Core courses (see advisor)

American History: 6 semester credit hours

Select any 6 semester credit hours from American History Core courses (see advisor)

Government/Political Science: 6 semester credit hours

GOVT 2305 American National Government³

GOVT 2306 State and Local Government³

Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Government/Political Science Core courses (see advisor)

Social and Behavioral Sciences: 3 semester credit hours

Choose one course from the following:

CRIM 1301 Introduction to Criminal Justice

ECON 2301 Principles of Macroeconomics

ECON 2302 Principles of Microeconomics

SOC 1301 Introduction to Sociology

Or select any 3 semester credit hours from Social and Behavioral Sciences Core courses (see advisor)

Component Area Option: 6 semester credit hours

EPPS 2301 Research Design in the Social and Policy Sciences

EPPS 2302 Methods of Quantitative Analysis in the Social and Policy Sciences³

Or select any 6 semester credit hours from Component Area Option Core courses (see advisor)

II. Major Requirements: 57 semester credit hours

Major Preparatory Courses: 0 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum

GOVT 2305 American National Government³

GOVT 2306 State and Local Government³

EPPS 2302 Methods of Quantitative Analysis in the Social and Policy Sciences³

Major Core Courses: 15 semester credit hours

Required Core Courses: 6 semester credit hours

PSCI 3322 Constitutional Law

PSCI 3333 Political Behavior

Choose three courses from the following: 9 semester credit hours

PSCI 3301 Political Theory

PSCI 3328 International Relations

PSCI 3350 Comparative Politics

PSCI 4329 Global Politics

PSCI 3362 The American Political Institutions

Major Related Courses: 42 semester credit hours

42 semester credit hours Major and Related electives⁴

III. Elective Requirements: 21 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.

Minor in Political Science: 18 semester credit hours

Required Courses: 6 semester credit hours

GOVT 2305 American National Government

GOVT 2306 State and Local Government

Upper-Division Courses: 12 semester credit hours

Any upper-division courses with a PSCI prefix except PSCI 4V76, PSCI 4V97, PSCI 4V98 and PSCI 4V99.

1. Incoming freshmen must enroll and complete requirements of UNIV 1010 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.