Main Departmental Office
Wooten Hall, Room 125
P.O. Box 305340
Denton, TX 76203-5340
(940) 565-2276
Web site: www.psci.unt.edu
Political Science Advising Office: Wooten Hall, Room 141
(940) 565-2310
International Studies Advising Office: Wooten Hall, Room 129
(940) 891-7330
Fax: (940) 565-4818
Professors: Booth, Forde, Mason, Poe. Associate Professors: Books, Cox, Enterline, King, Meernik, Paolino, Reban, Ruderman, Sahliyeh, Todd. Assistant Professors: Battista, Clough, Ditslear, Eshbaugh-Soha, Greig, Kang, Maeda, Oldmixon, Watson. Lecturer: Meaders.
Department courses meet the needs of both undergraduate and graduate students preparing to enter national, state and local government employment; public and private foreign service; law; politics; public and private research; writing and reporting of public affairs and political science; and government and social science teaching.
UNT annually prepares many students to enter law schools. No prescribed program of courses has been found to be key for a successful law career. A grade point average of 3.5 or higher will be competitive for admission to a nationally recognized school, but a minimum of 3.1 is suggested to apply for admission to law school. While many students undertake a liberal arts degree, law schools place important emphasis on the diversity of their student body and seek persons from different backgrounds, including the natural sciences. Consequently, there is no pre-law program of courses; students may select any major or minor.
Future law school students should take courses that emphasize writing and oral skills, research into problems facing society, logical reasoning, the American legal system and Constitutional Law. Pre-law students should take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) during the summer before or fall term/semester of their Senior Year. For further advice, students should consult early in their career (sophomore or Junior Year) at UNT with the pre-law advising office in GAB, Room 220. E-mail: prelaw@unt.edu.
The university may not award a baccalaureate degree or a lesser degree or academic certificate unless the student has completed 6 hours of credit in American government that include consideration of the Constitutions of the United States and Texas. The university may determine that a student has met the requirement in whole or in part on the basis of credit transferred from another accredited college or upon successful completion of an advanced standing examination. Completion of 12 semester hours of upper division ROTC courses may be substituted for PSCI 1050. The student may satisfy part (3 hours) or all of the 6-hour political science requirement by credit through examination.
The department offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the following areas:
Concentrations under the political science major are available at the master’s and doctoral levels in American government and public law, international politics, comparative government and politics, political theory and methodology, and public administration and management.
The Department of Political Science is home to several study abroad programs. Students may participate in the summer study program in London, where courses on British politics, European politics and terrorism have been taught. Students also meet with members of the British Parliament, key leaders of British political parties, and cabinet ministers. The summer program in The Hague, Netherlands, brings students to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia where they study international law and attend sessions of the court. Students also meet with judges, members of the prosecutor’s office and other top officials. Other study abroad programs in the Czech Republic and in Taiwan will be available soon. Check with the department for program schedules.
1. Hours Required and General/College Requirements: A minimum of 128 semester hours, of which 42 must be advanced, and fulfillment of degree requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree as specified in the “General University Requirements” in the Academics section of this catalog and the College of Arts and Sciences requirements.
2. Major Requirements: 31 hours in political science: PSCI 1040 and either PSCI 1050 or 1060, 2300, any political theory course and 18 other hours, including at least one advanced course in each of three of the listed areas of study (not including political theory). Advanced courses are offered in six areas of study.
Field A, American Government and Politics: PSCI 3010, 3100*, 3110, 3120, 3130, 3160, 3420, 4020, 4100, 4120, 4140 and 4450.
Field B, Public Law: PSCI 3200, 3210, 4200, 4210, 4220 and 4810.
Field C, Political Theory and Methodology: PSCI 3300, 3310, 3320, 4320 and 4330*.
Field D, Public Policy: PSCI 3420, 4130, 4450 and 4490.
Field E, Comparative Government and Politics: PSCI 3600, 3700*, 4630, 4640, 4650, 4660, 4700, 4710 and 4720.
Field F, International Relations: PSCI 3500, 3810, 4520, 4800, 4810, 4820*, 4821, 4822, 4823, 4824, 4825, 4830, 4840, 4850 and 4860.
Courses listed in more than one area of study may be counted toward the requirements of only one area.
*May be repeated for credit as topics vary.
3. Electives: See four-year plan.
Following is one suggested four-year degree plan. Students are encouraged to see their adviser each semester for help with program decisions and enrollment. Students are responsible for meeting all course prerequisites.
Course | Hours |
---|---|
ENGL 1310, College Writing I* | 3 |
HIST 2610, United States History to 1865* | 3 |
LANG 2040, Foreign Language (intermediate)** | 3 |
MATH (above College Algebra, except 1350)** | 3 |
PSCI 1040, American Government* | 3 |
Total | 15 |
Course | Hours |
---|---|
ENGL 1320, College Writing II* | 3 |
HIST 2620, United States History Since 1865* | 3 |
LANG 2050, Foreign Language (intermediate)** | 3 |
PSCI 1050, American Government, or PSCI 1060, American Government: Topics* | 3 |
Visual and Performing Arts* | 3 |
Total | 15 |
Course | Hours |
---|---|
PSCI 2300, The Study of Politics | 4 |
PSCI Field C (advanced) | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Natural Sciences** | 4 |
Wellness* | 3 |
Total | 17 |
Course | Hours |
---|---|
Communication** | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Literature** | 3 |
Humanities* | 3 |
Physical Science** | 4 |
Total | 16 |
Course | Hours |
---|---|
PSCI Political Field (advanced, see major requirements) | 3 |
PSCI Political Field (advanced, see major requirements) | 3 |
Elective (advanced) | 3 |
Laboratory Science** | 4 |
Social and Behavioral Sciences* | 3 |
Total | 16 |
Course | Hours |
---|---|
PSCI Elective (advanced) | 3 |
PSCI Elective (advanced) | 3 |
PSCI Field (advanced, see major requirements) | 3 |
Elective | 4 |
Cross-Cultural, Diversity and Global Studies* | 3 |
Total | 16 |
Course | Hours |
---|---|
PSCI elective | 3 |
Elective (advanced) | 3 |
Elective (advanced) | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Total | 15 |
Course | Hours |
---|---|
Elective (advanced) | 3 |
Elective (advanced) | 3 |
Elective (advanced) | 3 |
Elective (advanced) | 3 |
Elective (advanced) | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Total | 18 |
* See the University Core Curriculum section of this catalog for approved list of course options.
** See Arts and Sciences degree requirements section of this catalog for approved list of course options.
Actual degree plans may vary depending on availability of courses in a given semester. Some courses may require prerequisites not listed. Students may wish to use opportunities for electives to complete a minor of their choice.
1. Hours Required and General/College Requirements: A minimum of 128 semester hours, of which 42 must be advanced, and fulfillment of degree requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree as specified in the “General University Requirements” in the Academics section of this catalog and the College of Arts and Sciences requirements.
2. Major Requirements: Majors need 36 hours from the list of approved courses below, including 21 hours in one of the areas listed below and 15 in one or two of the remaining five areas. Some courses (e.g., PSCI 4900, Special Topics) may be repeated for credit as topics vary and if the subject is appropriate. Twelve of the 21 hours of the primary area must be in advanced courses.
Area 1, International Politics and Diplomacy: Students who select International Politics and Diplomacy as their primary area of concentration must complete 21 hours as listed below:
Area 2, International Business and Economics: Students who select International Business and Economics as their primary area of concentration must complete 21 hours as listed below:
Area 3, International Development: Students who select International Development as their primary area of concentration must complete 21 hours as listed below:
Area 4, Regional Studies: Students who select Regional Studies as their primary area of concentration must complete 21 hours as listed below:
Area 5, Security Studies: Students who select Security Studies as their primary area of concentration must take 21 hours as listed below:
Area 6, Peace Studies: Students who select Peace Studies as their primary area of concentration must take 21 hours as listed below:
Students are strongly encouraged to take internships to fulfill part of the 9 elective hours. Courses listed in more than one field may be counted toward the requirements of only one field.
*May be repeated for credit as topics vary.
**Consult course description regarding necessary prerequisites.
3. Other Course Requirements: 6 upper-division hours in a foreign language or BCIS 2610 and DSCI 2710.
4. Minor: Optional.
5. Electives: See four-year plan.
Following is one suggested four-year degree plan. Students are encouraged to see their adviser each semester for help with program decisions and enrollment. Students are responsible for meeting all course prerequisites.
Course | Hours |
---|---|
ENGL 1310, College Writing I* | 3 |
HIST 2610, United States History to 1865* | 3 |
LANG 2040, Foreign Language (intermediate)** | 3 |
MATH (above College Algebra, except 1350)** | 3 |
PSCI 1040, American Government* | 3 |
Total | 15 |
Course | Hours |
---|---|
ENGL 1320, College Writing II* | 3 |
HIST 2620, United States History Since 1865* | 3 |
LANG 2050, Foreign Language (intermediate)** | 3 |
PSCI 1050, American Government, or PSCI 1060, American Government: Topics* | 3 |
Visual and Performing Arts* | 3 |
Total | 15 |
Course | Hours |
---|---|
PSCI 2300, Study of Politics | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Natural Sciences** | 4 |
Wellness* | 3 |
Total | 16 |
Course | Hours |
---|---|
PSCI Field C (advanced) | 3 |
Communication** | 3 |
Humanities* | 3 |
Literature** | 3 |
Physical Science** | 4 |
Total | 16 |
Course | Hours |
---|---|
PSCI Political Field (advanced, see major requirements) | 3 |
PSCI Political Field (advanced, see major requirements) | 3 |
Elective (advanced) | 3 |
Laboratory Science** | 4 |
Social and Behavioral Sciences* | 3 |
Total | 16 |
Course | Hours |
---|---|
PSCI Political Field (advanced, see major requirements) | 3 |
PSCI Elective (advanced) | 3 |
PSCI Elective (advanced) | 3 |
Cross-Cultural, Diversity and Global Studies* | 3 |
Elective | 4 |
Total | 16 |
Course | Hours |
---|---|
PSCI Elective | 3 |
Elective (advanced) | 3 |
Elective (advanced) | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Total | 15 |
Course | Hours |
---|---|
Elective (advanced) | 3 |
Elective (advanced) | 3 |
Elective (advanced) | 3 |
Elective (advanced) | 3 |
Elective (advanced) | 3 |
Elective | 3 |
Total | 18 |
* See the University Core Curriculum section of this catalog for approved list of course options.
** See Arts and Sciences degree requirements section of this catalog for approved list of course options.
Actual degree plans may vary depending on availability of courses in a given semester. Some courses may require prerequisites not listed. Students may wish to use opportunities for electives to complete a minor of their choice.
During the Sophomore Year of enrollment, the student should make a degree plan. The student must bring or send all transcripts of prior college work, if any, to the departmental adviser, with whom an advisory sheet is made. Transcripts and advisory sheets are then taken to General Academic Building, Room 220, for the completion of the degree plan. The process should be completed in time for the next registration period.
A minor in international studies requires 18 hours, including at least 6 advanced hours chosen from a multidisciplinary list of courses available in the Department of Political Science. Nine hours must be in one area of concentration, with the 9 remaining hours distributed between one or two other areas. See international studies major for areas and courses.
Students wishing to obtain a minor in peace studies must complete a minimum of 18 hours (6 advanced), including PSCI 3500 plus at least one course from each of these three areas:
Any of the following courses may also be taken to fulfill the remaining 6 hours: AECO 4420; HIST 4070, 4260, 4350, 4650, 4660; PSCI 3810; or SOCI 4750. Practicums and special problems courses may also apply if approved by the Director of Peace Studies. Interested students should contact Dr. David Mason, Department of Political Science, Wooten Hall, (940) 565-2386.
A minor in political science requires 18 hours: PSCI 1040 and 1050, plus 12 semester hours that include 6 advanced.
The department offers degree programs leading to the Master of Arts, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy. Undergraduates who anticipate political science graduate study should take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) during their Senior Year. For information, consult the Graduate Catalog.
The department annually awards two $1,000 scholarships based on merit to incoming students (fall term) who declare their intention to major in political science. The awardees are known as Pender Scholars in honor of the first chair of the political science department, J.W. “Dad” Pender.
High school seniors must rank in the top quarter of their class and have a score of at least 1100 recentered on the SAT I (or its equivalent). Transfer students must have a 3.5 grade point average and a score of at least 1100 recentered on the SAT I (or its equivalent). Application deadline is August 30; awards are announced September 15. Contact the undergraduate adviser in Wooten Hall, Room 141, for more information.
All Courses of Instruction are located in one section at the back of this catalog.
The “Course and Subject Guide,” found in the Courses of Instruction section of this book, serves as a table of contents and provides quick access to subject areas and prefixes.
Date of initial release: July 1, 2006 — Copyright © 2006 University of North Texas
Page updated:
June 15, 2006
— Comments or corrections: catalog@unt.edu
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