Political Science, Bachelor of Arts

The concepts, skills, and knowledge acquired as part of a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science degree can lead to many diverse career fields, including but not limited to civil service, teaching, law, policy consultant, journalism, non-profit sector management, Foreign Service, politics, and government. Acquired skills include oral, written, and technological communication, critical thinking and problem solving, and quantitative and qualitative analysis. A degree in political science can lead to a Master of Arts and Ph.D. degrees. The Department of Political Science has divided the discipline into four sub fields:

1. U.S. Government & Politics
2. World Politics
3. Political Economy & Public Policy
4. Political Theory

 

Note: For a PDF version of the degree requirements for this program go to the Undergraduate Programs page on the UTRGV website. 

 

Core Curriculum Requirements – 42 Hours

Students must fulfill the Core Curriculum requirements. The courses listed below satisfy both degree requirements and Core Curriculum requirements.

Mathematics – 3 hours

MATH 1314

College Algebra

3

Government/Political Science – 6 hours

POLS 2305	U.S. Federal Government & Politics	3
POLS 2306	Texas Government & Politics	3

Major Requirements – 37 Hours (27 advanced)

Gateway to Political Science – 6 hours

Choose 6 hours from:

POLS 2330	Introduction to Globalization	3
POLS 2340	Introduction to Political Theory	3
POLS 2350	Introduction to Political Economy	3

May choose one:

ECON 2301	Principles of Macroeconomics	3
ECON 2302	Principles of Microeconomics	3

Research Methods and Capstone Experience – 7 hours (3 advanced)

Required

POLS 2470	Introduction to Political Science Research	4
POLS 4370	Senior Research Seminar	3

Subfield Requirements – 18 hours (18 advanced)

US. Government and Politics – 6 hours (6 advanced)

Choose 3 hours of Political Institutions and State/Local Politics courses from:

POLS 3310	U.S. State and Local Government	3
POLS 3311	Contemporary Texas Politics	3
POLS 3319	Archer Politics of National Memory	3
POLS 4310	U.S. Judicial Process	3
POLS 4311	U.S. Constitutional Law ? Federalism	3
POLS 4312	U.S. Constitutional Law ? Civil Liberties	3
POLS 4313	U.S. Legislative Process	3
POLS 4314	U.S. Executive Process	3
POLS 4315	U.S. Intelligence Agencies	3
POLS 4317	Minority Representation in U.S. Political Institutions	3
POLS 4392	Special Topics in U.S. Government & Politics	3

Note: POLS 4310, 4311, POLS 4312 may not be used to satisfy both U.S. Political Institutions & State/Local Politics requirement and a requirement for the Legal Studies minor if selected.

Note: POLS 4392, 4393, 4394, and 4395 combined may be taken no more than three times for credit, only two of which may be used to satisfy degree requirements.

Choose 3 hours of U.S. Political Groups and Behavior courses from:

POLS 3312	U.S. Political Parties	3
POLS 3313	U.S. Gender Politics	3
POLS 3350	Voting Behavior, Campaigns, and Elections	3
POLS 3351	Interest Groups and Political Movements	3
POLS 3352	Media and Politics	3
POLS 4316/MASC 4316	U.S. Latin@ Politics	3
POLS 4350	Political Socialization and Civic Engagement	3
POLS 4351	Public Opinion and Political Behavior	3
POLS 4352	U.S. Race and Ethnic Politics	3
POLS 4353	Race and Gender: The Politics of Intersectionality	3
POLS 4392	Special Topics in U.S. Government & Politics	3

Note: POLS 4392, 4393, 4394, and 4395 combined may be taken no more than three times for credit, only two of which may be used to satisfy degree requirements.

World Politics – 6 hours (6 advanced)

Choose from:

POLS 3321	Comparative Politics of Developing Nations	3
POLS 3323	Middle Eastern Politics	3
POLS 3324	Asian Politics	3
POLS 3325	East Asian Democracies: Politics, Economics, & Culture	3
POLS 3330	International Politics	3
POLS 3331	Global Security	3
POLS 3332	Revolution and Reform in Developing Nations	3
POLS 3333	Gender Theory in World Politics	3
POLS 4320	Latin American Politics	3
POLS 4321	Central American and Caribbean Politics	3
POLS 4322	Western European Politics	3
POLS 4323	Mexican Politics	3
POLS 4324	Contemporary Chinese Politics	3
POLS 4326	Globalization & Identity Politics	3
POLS 4327	Conflict Studies	3
POLS 4328	Global Political Economy	3
POLS 4329	Politics of Debt	3
POLS 4332	International Organizations	3
POLS 4333	U.S. ? Mexico Border Relations	3
POLS 4393	Special Topics in World Politics	3

Note: POLS 4392, 4393, 4394, and 4395 combined may be taken no more than three times for credit, only two of which may be used to satisfy degree requirements.

Political Economy and Public Policy – 3 hours (3 advanced)

Choose from:

POLS 3353	Urban Political Economy	3
POLS 3355	U.S. Public Policy	3
POLS 3356	U.S. Economic Policy	3
POLS 4331	U.S. Foreign Policy	3
POLS 4354	Immigration, Race, and Citizenship	3
POLS 4355	U.S. Labor Policy	3
POLS 4356	U.S. Environmental Policy	3
POLS 4357	Urban Sustainability	3
POLS 4360	Class, Power, & the State	3
POLS 4361	Inequality & the Welfare State	3
POLS 4362	Money, Politics, & Policy	3
POLS 4394	Special Topics in Political Economy & Public Policy	3

*POLS 4392, 4393, 4394, and 4395 combined may be taken no more than three times for credit, only two of which may be used to satisfy degree requirements.

Political Theory – 3 hours (3 advanced)

Choose from:

POLS 3340	Classical Political Theory	3
POLS 3341	Modern Political Theory	3
POLS 3342	Contemporary Political Theory	3
POLS 4340	Politics and Culture	3
POLS 4341	U.S. Political Theory	3
POLS 4342	Democratic Theory	3
POLS 4343	Political Ideologies	3
POLS 4344	Green Political Theory	3
POLS 4395	Special Topics in Political Theory	3

POLS 4395: POLS 4392, 4393, 4394, and 4395 combined may be taken no more than three times for credit, only two of which may be used to satisfy degree requirements.

Advanced Electives in Political Science – 6 hours (6 advanced)

Choose any course from the Advanced Political Science lists, or:

POLS 3190	Internship	1
POLS 3390	Independent Study	3
POLS 3391	Archer Advocacy and Politics	3
POLS 3392	Archer Policy Making Process	3
POLS 3393	Internship	3
POLS 3395	Movies and Politics	3
POLS 4390	Legal Research and Writing I	3
POLS 4391	Legal Research and Writing II	3

Note: POLS 3390 may be taken no more than twice for credit; topics must be different.

POLS 3391: Only 3 credit hours of POLS 3391 will be accepted to satisfy 3 of the 6 credit-hour requirement.

POLS 3392: Only 3 credit hours of POLS 3392 will be accepted to satisfy 3 of the 6 credit-hour requirement.

POLS 3393: Students may take 3 credit hours of POLS 3190 or POLS 3393 to satisfy 3 of the 6 credit-hour requirement.

Second Major Or Minor – 41 Hours (27 advanced)

Credit hours can be used to attain minor and/or second major in a different discipline. After earning enough credit hours for a minor and/or second major in a different discipline, students may choose Political Science Advanced Courses, or a second minor, or use as Advanced Electives in other disciplines.

Total Credit Hours: 54

Total Credit Hours: 120

Admission, Progression, and Graduation Requirements, if applicable:

Graduation Requirements

1. Students must successfully complete a “capstone experience.” This requirement may be satisfied with POLS 4370 Senior Research Seminar.
2. To obtain a Political Science degree, students must use their remaining 41 credit hours to obtain a minor and/or a second major in a different discipline.