POLITICAL SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAM, FALL 2017 Department of Political Science The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Degree Plan Bachelor of Arts Statement by the Department of Political Science The Department of Political Science designed its Bachelor of Arts degree plan to promote the development of a more interdisciplinary curriculum that remains firmly anchored in the core concepts of an evolving political science. Our degree plan reflects the conceptual, methodological, and focus area changes in the discipline. It facilitates development of interdisciplinary courses anchored in the concepts and methods of political science, while simultaneously crossing disciplinary boundaries to incorporate topics, concepts, and methods utilized in cognate disciplines in the social sciences (e.g., sociology and economics) and non-cognate disciplines other than the social sciences (e.g., management, biology, public health, Mexican American Studies, women and gender studies). We expect our students to integrate their political-science experience with other university and college programs (e.g., taking advantage of and contributing to programs in the School of Interdisciplinary Programs and Community Engagement). We designed our degree plan to support the guiding principles of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). With the entire UTRGV community, we will: 1. Promote access to postsecondary education to a diverse student body to become one of the largest and most successful Hispanic-serving institutions in the United States. 2. Employ the highest quality faculty members and sta who pursue global excellence in teaching, research, healthcare, and service. 3. Promote arts and humanities programs to produce state, national, and world leaders who are bicultural, bi-lingual, and bi-literate. 4. Pursue applied and translational research to address critical local, state, national, and global needs. 5. Provide a leadership role in fostering economic and community partnerships to help solve local, state, national, and global problems. Our students acquire the concepts, skills, and knowledge necessary for employment in a fulfilling career. Graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science can find employment in 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 subfields: 1. U.S. Government & Politics 2. World Politics 3. Political Economy & Public Policy 4. Political Theory To graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from UTRGV, a student must earn 120 credit hours. These 120 credit hours consist of courses in the General Education Core (42 Credit Hours), the Political Science Major Requirement (37 Credit Hours), and the Beyond-Major Credit Hours (41 Credit Hours). To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science students must meet all the requirements in each section and use the Beyond-Major Credit Hours to earn a minor and/or second major in a di erent discipline. Student Learning Objectives 1. To comprehend the origins and evolution of U.S. and Texas political systems, with a focus on the growth of political institutions, the constitutions of the U.S. and Texas, federalism, civil liberties, and civil and human rights. 2. To recognize and assume their responsibility as citizens in a democratic society by learning to think for themselves, by engaging in public discourse, and by obtaining information through the news media and other appropriate information sources about politics and public policy. 3. To examine social institutions and processes across a range of historical periods, social struc- tures, and cultures. 4. To develop and communicate alternative explanations or solutions for contemporary social issues. 5. To analyze the effects of historical, social, political, economic, cultural, and global forces on the area under study.
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science General Education Core: 42 Credit Hours The courses listed below must be taken to satisfy the General Education Core requirement: 1. POLS 2305 & POLS 2306 are part of the General Education Core requirements 2. POLS 2387 & POLS 2388 are part of the General Education Core requirements for those in the Honors Program, and may be taken in lieu of POLS 2305 & POLS 2306 3. MATH 1340 College Algebra is required for the Core Math requirement Political Science Major Requirement: 37 Credit Hours 1. To obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, students must complete the 37 credit hour Major Requirement and use the Beyond-Major Credit Hours to complete a minor and/or second major in a different discipline. The 37 credit hour Major Requirement consists of courses in four categories: Gateway to Political Science, Research Methods & Capstone Ex- perience, Subfield Requirements (U.S. Government & Politics, World Politics, Political Economy & Public Policy, Political Theory), and Advanced/Upper-Division Electives in Political Science. For the Political Science Major Requirement, students must take 10 credit hours of gateway/lower-division political science courses and 27 credit hours of advanced/upper- division political science courses. To graduate from UTRGV with a Bachelor s of Arts in Political Science, students must take an additional 27 advanced/upper-division hours (see below), for a total of 54 advanced/upper-division hours. 2. 37 Credit Hour Major Requirement in Political Science a. Gateway to Political Science: 6 Credit Hours b. Research Methods & Capstone Experience: 7 Credit Hours c. Subfield Requirements: 18 Credit Hours d. Advanced/Upper-Division Electives in Political Science: 6 Credit Hours Beyond-Major Credit Hours: 41 Credit Hours 1. To obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, students must use their remaining 41 credit hours to obtain a minor and/or second major in a different discipline. 27 of those 41 credit hours must be advanced/upper-division. 2. 27 Beyond-Major Advanced/Upper-Division Credit Hours a. Used to attain minor and/or second major in a different discipline b. After earning enough credit hours for a minor and/or second major in a different discipline, students may choose Political Science Advanced/Upper-Division Courses, or a second minor, or use as Advanced/Upper-Division Electives in other disciplines
3. 14 Beyond-Major Credit Hours a. Used to attain minor and/or second major in a different discipline b. After earning enough credit hours for a minor and/or second major in a different discipline, students may choose Political Science Courses, or a second minor, or use as Advanced/Upper-Division Electives in other disciplines Total Credit Hours for Graduation: 120 Credit Hours Total Advanced/Upper-Division Credit Hours: 54
Minors in Political Science Political Science Minor Requirement: 18 Credit Hours 1. 6 Gateway/Lower-Division Political Science Credit Hours (Courses at the 2000 level) a. Must include POLS 2305 or POLS 2306 b. POLS 2387 & POLS 2388 are part of the Honors Program and may be taken in lieu of POLS 2305 & POLS 2306 c. Must include either POLS 2320, POLS 2340, or POLS 2350 2. 12 Advanced/Upper-Division Political Science Credit Hours (Courses at the 3000 or 4000 level) Legal Studies Minor Requirement: 18 Credit Hours 1. 18 Advanced credit hours (Courses at the 3000 or 4000 level), selected from the department- approved list 2. Students who major in Political Science may also minor in Legal Studies 3. Students may take and apply POLS 4390 toward the Legal Studies Minor via admission by application and acceptance into the Law School Preparation Institute. 4. The department-approved list of courses for the Legal Studies Minor includes: a. POLS 4310 U.S. Judicial Process b. POLS 4311 U.S. Constitutional Law - Federalism c. POLS 4312 U.S. Constitutional Law - Civil Liberties d. POLS 4390 Legal Research & Writing I e. BLAW 3337 Business Law I f. CRIJ 4356 Law & Society g. ENG 4332 Writing for Lawyers h. HIST 3355 American Legal History i. PSY 4342 Psychology & Law j. PHIL 4309 Law & Philosophy
Other Programs in Political Science Archer Fellowship Program 1. The Political Science Department allows students accepted into the Archer Fellowship Program to receive credit for: a. POLS 3319 Archer Politics of National Memory b. POLS 3392 Archer The Policy Making Process c. POLS 3391 Archer Internship 2. Students may take POLS 3319 via admission by application, acceptance into, and successful completion of the Archer Fellowship Program. POLS 3319 will be accepted to satisfy 3 credit-hour requirement of U.S. Political Institutions and State/Local Politics within the U.S. Government & Politics Subfield Requirement. 3. Students may take POLS 3392 via admission by application, acceptance into, and successful completion of the Archer Fellowship Program. POLS 3392 will be accepted to satisfy 3 of the 6 credit-hour requirement of Advanced/Upper-Division Electives in Political Science. 4. Students must take 6 credit hours of POLS 3391 via admission by application, acceptance into, and successful completion of the Archer Fellowship Program. 3 credit hours of POLS 3391 will be accepted to satisfy 3 of the 6 credit-hour requirement of Advanced/Upper- Division Electives in Political Science. Internships in Political Science 1. Students select the following course to receive credit: a. POLS 3190 Internship b. POLS 3393 Internship 2. Students may take 3 credit hours of POLS 3190 (or POLS 3393) and will be accepted to satisfy 3 of the 6 credit-hour requirement of Advanced/Upper-Division Electives in Political Science. 3. Students may acquire internship credit for POLS 3190 or POLS 3393 at UTRGV s Center for Survey Research.
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science Degree Plan - Summary Students Select Courses to Satisfy Requirements in These Four Areas: 1. Gateway to Political Science: 6 Credit Hours 2. Research Methods & Capstone Experience: 7 Credit Hours 3. Subfield Requirement (U.S. Government & Politics, World Politics, Political Economy & Public Policy, and Political Theory): 18 Credit Hours 4. Advanced/Upper-Division Electives in Political Science: 6 Credit Hours 1. Gateway to Political Science: 6 Credit Hours Students select 6 Credit Hours from this list: POLS 2330 Introduction to Globalization POLS 2340 Introduction to Political Theory POLS 2350 Introduction to Political Economy ECON 2301 Principles of Macroeconomics* ECON 2302 Principles of Microeconomics* *Students may take only one of the listed ECON courses to fulfill this requirement 2. Research Methods & Capstone Experience: 7 Credit Hours Students must select both of these two classes: POLS 2470 Introduction to Political Science Research (4 Credit Hours) POLS 4370 Senior Research Seminar (3 Credit Hours) 3. Subfield Requirements: 18 Credit Hours 3.1 U.S. Government & Politics: 6 Credit Hours Students select 3 Credit Hours in U.S. Political Institutions & State/Local Politics, from this list: POLS 3310 U.S. State & Local Government POLS 3311 Contemporary Texas Politics POLS 3319 Archer Politics of National Memory POLS 4310 U.S. Judicial Process POLS 4311 U.S. Constitutional Law - Federalism POLS 4312 U.S. Constitutional Law - Civil Liberties
POLS 4313 U.S. Legislative Process POLS 4314 U.S. Executive Process POLS 4317 Minority Representation in U.S. Political Institutions POLS 4392 Special Topics in U.S. Government & Politics* *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. Students select 3 Credit Hours in U.S. Political Groups & Behavior, from this list: POLS 3312 U.S. Political Parties POLS 3313 U.S. Gender Politics POLS 3350 Voting Behavior, Campaigns & Elections POLS 3351 Interest Groups & Political Movements POLS 3352 Media & Politics POLS 4316 U.S. Latin@ Politics POLS 4350 Political Socialization & Civic Engagement POLS 4351 Public Opinion & Political Behavior POLS 4352 U.S. Race & Ethnic Politics POLS 4353 Race & Gender: The Politics of Intersectionality POLS 4392 Special Topics in U.S. Government & Politics* *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. 3.2 World Politics: 6 Credit Hours Students select 6 Credit Hours from this list: POLS 3321 Comparative Politics of Developing Nations POLS 3323 Middle Eastern Politics POLS 3324 Asian Politics POLS 3330 International Politics POLS 3331 Global Security POLS 3332 Revolution & Reform in Developing Nations POLS 3333 Gender Theory in World Politics POLS 4320 Latin American Politics POLS 4321 Central American & Caribbean Politics POLS 4322 Western European Politics POLS 4323 Mexican Politics POLS 4324 Contemporary Chinese Politics
POLS 4326 Globalization & Identity Politics POLS 4327 Conflict Studies POLS 4328 Global Political Economy POLS 4329 Politics of Debt POLS 4332 International Organizations POLS 4333 U.S. - Mexico Border Relations POLS 4393 Special Topics in World Politics* *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. 3.3. Political Economy & Public Policy: 3 Credit Hours Students select 3 Credit Hours from this list: POLS 3353 Urban Political Economy POLS 3355 U.S. Public Policy POLS 3356 U.S. Economic Policy POLS 4331 U.S. Foreign Policy POLS 4354 Immigration, Race & Citizenship POLS 4355 U.S. Labor Policy POLS 4356 U.S. Environmental Policy POLS 4357 Urban Sustainability POLS 4360 Class, Power, & the State POLS 4361 Inequality & the Welfare State POLS 4362 Money, Politics, & Policy POLS 4394 Special Topics in Political Economy & Public Policy* *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. 3.4 Political Theory: 3 Credit Hours Students select 3 Credit Hours from this list: POLS 3340 Classical Political Theory POLS 3341 Modern Political Theory POLS 3342 Contemporary Political Theory POLS 4340 Politics & Culture POLS 4341 U.S. Political Theory
POLS 4342 Democratic Theory POLS 4343 Political Ideologies POLS 4344 Green Political Thought POLS 4395 Special Topics in Political Theory* *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.
4. Advanced/Upper-Division Electives in Political Science: 6 Credit Hours Students must choose to take 6 credit hours from this list, and/or from courses listed above, specifically courses in the subfields of U.S. Government & Politics, World Politics, Political Economy & Public Policy, or Political Theory. While courses in Advanced/Upper- Division Electives in Political Science can be used only as electives, any courses listed in U.S. Gov- ernment & Politics, World Politics, Political Economy & Public Policy, and Political Theory may be taken as advanced/upper-division electives: POLS 3390 Independent Study* *POLS 3390 may be taken no more than twice for credit; topics must be different. Faculty may offer and students may register for POLS 3390 across all the Subfield Requirement categories. POLS 3190 Internship POLS 3393 Internship* *Students may take 3 credit hours of POLS 3190 (or POLS 3393) and will be accepted to satisfy 3 of the 6 credit-hour requirement of Advanced/Upper-Division Electives in Political Science. Students may acquire internship credit for POLS 3190 (or POLS 3393) at UTRGV s Center for Survey Research. POLS 3391 Archer Internship* *Students must take 6 credit hours of POLS 3391 via admission by application, acceptance into, and successful completion of the Archer Fellowship Program. 3 credit hours of POLS 3391 will be accepted to satisfy 3 of the 6 credit-hour requirement of Advanced/Upper-Division Electives in Political Science. POLS 3392 Archer The Policy Making Process* *Students may take POLS 3392 via admission by application, acceptance into, and successful completion of the Archer Fellowship Program. POLS 3392 will be accepted to satisfy 3 of the 6 credit-hour requirement of Advanced/Upper-Division Electives in Political Science. POLS 3395 Movies & Politics POLS 4390 Legal Research & Writing I POLS 4391 Legal Research & Writing II 10