The political science major is intended to guide the student to know and understand the traditions, institutions of law, politics, and government. By balancing courses in the general education requirements from the various disciplines, students gain the broad education necessary for success in many careers.
PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES
- Graduates with a major in political science will understand and be able to apply basic social science research methods.
- Graduates with a major in political science will demonstrate an ability to think critically regarding political problems, trends, and developments.
- Graduates with a major in political science will exhibit basic understanding of the institutions of constitutional government and be able to explain the principles, sources, and processes of American government and politics.
- Graduates with a major in political science will demonstrate knowledge of the major political and economic systems of the world.
Courses
General Education Requirements - 46 hours
English 1301, 1302, and three hours sophomore literature - 9 hours
Fine Arts (three hours from music, theatre, fine arts, art, or equivalent) - 3 hours
Christian Ministry 1301 and 1302 - 6 hours
History 1301 - 3 hours
Political Science 2305 - 3 hours
Social Science (ECON 2301) - 3 hours
Physical Activity (KINE 1238) - 2 hours
Science (must be lab science) - 8 hours
Mathematics 1342, and three additional hours MATH - 6 hours
Communication 1311, 1315, or 1318 - 3 hours
Major area of study (specialization required) - 42 hours
Minor - 18 hours
Electives (to total 120 hours)
Total: Minimum one hundred twenty (120) semester hours
Political Science Major Requirements
Completion of thirty-nine (42) semester hours, with a selected specialization:
Foundational Studies: Twenty-four (27) semester hours
HUMA 2301 Service Learning and the Humanities
HUMA 4001 Humanities Portfolio
POSC 1301 Introduction to International Relations
POSC 2304 Introduction to Political Science
POSC 2305 Federal Government
POSC 2306 Texas Government
POSC 3361 American Constitutional Development I
POSC 3362 American Constitutional Development II
POSC 4365 Comparative Economic and Political Systems
PSYC/SOCI 2332 Introduction to Research Methods
One of the following specializations must be selected:
Governance Specialization
Completion of fifteen (15) semester hours
Foundation Studies - nine (9) semester hours:
BUAD 1301 Introduction to Business
MGMT 2350 Principles of Management
POSC 4350 Internship
Support Studies - six (6) semester hours from the following:
COMM 3317 Argumentation and Debate
COMM 3321 Public Relations
COMM 4313 Political Communication
COMM 4312 Organizational Communication
FINA 3344 Managerial Finance
HIST/POSC 3368 Model United Nations
MGMT 3353 Human Resource Management
MGMT 4351 Organizational Behavior
MGMT 4353 Organizational Leadership
MGMT 4355 Conflict Resolution and Negotiation
Political History Specialization
Completion of fifteen (15) semester hours
Foundation Studies - six (6) semester hours:
HIST 1302 U.S. History Since 1877
HIST 2312 Western Civilizations II
Support Studies - nine (9) semester hours from the following:
COMM 4313 Political Communication
HIST 3304 The United States since 1914
HIST 3306 Europe since 1914
HIST 3323 Themes in U.S. History
HIST 3364 British Studies, 1714 to Present
HIST 3315 United States Military History
HIST 4309 Cold War
HIST 4361 Diplomatic History of the United States
HIST/POSC 3368 Model United Nations
POSC 4306 Political Economy
Pre-Law Specialization
Completion of fifteen (15) semester hours
Foundation Studies - nine (9) semester hours:
CHRM 3352 Christian Ethics
HIST 3301 Historiography
POSC 4350 Internship
Support Studies - six (6) semester hours from the following:
CJUS 3306 Violence and Victimization
CJUS 3317 Restorative Justice
COMM 3317 Argumentation and Debate
COMM 4313 Political Communication
ENGL 3303 Modern English Grammar
ENGL 3305 Theory and Criticism
HIST 3323 Themes in United States History
HIST/POSC 3368 Model United Nations
POSC 3302 Introduction to Law
American Studies Minor
Completion of eighteen (18) semester hours:
ENGL 2326 American Literature
HIST 1301 United States to 1877
HIST 1302 United States Since 1877
POSC 2305 Federal Government
Six (6) semester hours from two of the following fields:
ENGL 4306 American Modernism and Postmodernism
ENGL 4310 Literary Themes (as appropriate to American contexts)
ENGL 4311 American Realism and Naturalism
ENGL 4312 American Renaissance
ENGL 4320 Literary Periods (as appropriate to American contexts)
ENGL 4330 Major Authors (as appropriate to American contexts)
ENGL 4340 Literary Genres
HIST 3304 United States Since 1914
HIST 3305 History of the South
HIST 3323 Themes in United States History
HIST 4316 The American West
POSC 3361 American Constitutional Development I
POSC 3362 American Constitutional Development II
SOCI 2304 Social Problems
SOCI 3309 Race and Ethnicity
British Studies Minor
Completion of eighteen (18) semester hours:
ENGL 2321 British Literature
HIST 1301 United States to 1877
HIST 3364 British Studies, 1714 to the Present
Nine (9) credit hours from (course must be appropriate to British Studies):
ENGL 4304 Shakespeare
ENGL 4310 Literary Themes
ENGL 4320 Literary Periods
ENGL 4330 Major Authors
ENGL 4340 Literary Genres
HIST 3303 The British Isles to 1714
History Minor
Completion of eighteen (18) semester hours:
HIST 1301 United States to 1877
HIST 1302 United States Since 1877
HIST 2311 Western Civilization I
HIST 2312 Western Civilizations II
Three (3) advanced semester hours from United States history series
Three (3) advanced semester hours from Global/non-United States history series
International Studies Minor
Completion of eighteen (18) semester hours:
GEOG 1303 Foundations of Geography
HIST 2311 Western Civilization I
HIST 2312 Western Civilization II
POSC 1301 Introduction to International Relations
With consultation and approval of advisor, an additional three (3) semester hours credit completed during a travel-study experience.
Additional three (3) advanced hours as needed to complete a minimum eighteen (18) semester hours.
Political Science Minor
Completion of twenty-one (21) semester hours:
POSC 1301 Introduction to International Relations
POSC 2305 Federal Government
POSC 2306 Texas Government
POSC 2304 Introduction to Political Science
POSC 3361 American Constitutional Development I
POSC 3362 American Constitutional Development II
POSC 4365 Comparative Economic and Political Systems
Pre-Law Minor
Completion of twenty-one (21) to twenty-seven (27) semester hours:
Foundation Studies - Twelve (12) semester hours:
CHRM 3352 Christian Ethics
HIST 3301 Historiography POSC 3361 American Constitutional Development I
POSC 3362 American Constitutional Development II
Support Studies - Nine (9) semester hours from the following with at least six (6) being advanced:
CJUS 1301 Introduction to the Criminal Justice System
CJUS 1306 Courts and Criminal Procedure
CJUS 1311 Fundamentals of Criminal Law
COMM 3317 Argumentation and Debate
HIST 3323 Themes in United States History
POSC/COMM 4313 Political Communication
POSC 4365 Comparative Economic and Political Systems
POSC 4350 Internship
ENGL 3305 Theory and Criticism
ENGL 4351 Studies in Writing
Additional hours required for Non-Political Science Majors:
* denotes course(s) which can also meet General Education Requirements
POSC 2304 Introduction to Political Science
* POSC 2305 Federal Government
Social Sciences Minor Requirements
An interdepartmental minor is offered to serve students whose careers call for a broad background in the social sciences including pre-ministerial students, pre-social work students, business students, those preparing for civic leadership positions, and others. The Social Sciences Minor requires course work from three different approved areas.
Twenty-four (24) semester hours:
Choose the primary area from the choices below and complete requirements listed.
History: 1301-1302 or 2311-2312 plus six (6) advanced semester hours
Political Science: 2304, 1301 plus six (6) advanced semester hours
Psychology: 2301, 3367 plus six (6) advanced hours
Sociology: 1301 and three (3) additional semester hours plus six (6) advanced semester hours
Choose two additional support areas from the choices below and complete courses listed.
Economics: 2301 and three (3) additional semester hours
History: 1301-1302 or 2311-2312
Political Science: 1301, 2304
Psychology: 2301, 3367
Sociology: 1301 and three (3) additional semester hours
The minor is administered by the department from which the primary area is selected.