Political Science (POLS)

A survey of the structures, functions and processes of the political system of the United States. Fulfills 3 semester hours of the legislative degree requirement of 6 hours.

A survey of the structures, functions and processes of the Texas political system. Fulfills 3 semester hours of the legislative degree requirements of 6 hours.

Development of political science as an academic discipline; the scientific method; major research approaches to the study of political phenomena with emphasis upon the contributions of behaviorialists, policy scientists and traditional political scientists.

Analysis of the contemporary state system and forces shaping the world in which we live. Students will be given a framework within which to analyze global political issues and international institutions and their impact on American politics and government.

The practice of political science. The construction of research designs; major research tools; methods of political analysis; political science writing. Prerequisite: 6 semester hours of Political Science.

Formation, structure and functions of interest groups and political parties within the political system. Prerequisite: 6 semester hours of Political Science.

Structure and functions of governmental institutions; administrative practices of state and local governments. Prerequisite: 6 semester hours of Political Science.

A study of urban political processes and major public problems confronting urban areas. Prerequisite: 6 semester hours of Political Science.

Causes of and U.S. responses to, nuclear proliferation in Third World regions, focusing on problem countries. Topics include the non-proliferation regime, the nuclear repentants, nuclear arms control and the threat of nuclear terrorism. Prerequisite: 6 semester hours of Political Science or consent of instructor.

The theories of the major thinkers of the periods and of their development. Prerequisite: 6 semester hours of Political Science.

Theories of the major thinkers and the related intellectual and political movements. Prerequisite: 6 semester hours of Political Science.

A study of technology and society from the perspective of social values, ethics, sociology, social environment, politics and economics. Prerequisite: 6 semester hours of Political Science and six semester hours of History.

Surveys game theory and decision theory as tools for analysis in philosophy, political science, economics, and other fields. (Credit cannot be earned for both POLS 4327 and PHIL 4327.) Prerequisites: 3 semester hours of PHIL, POLS, ECON, or MATH, or consent of instructor.

A survey of American constitutional law, using leading cases, both historic and contemporary, of the Supreme Court of the United States. Establishment of the federal political system for which the Constitution provided and the judicial allocations of political and economic power within that system. Prerequisite: 6 semester hours of political science. (Credit may not be obtained in more than one of CRIJ 4331, CRIM 4331 and POLS 4331.)

A survey of American constitutional law using leading cases, both historic and contemporary, of the Supreme Court of the United States. Matters of rights and liberties, their recognition and definition, policies of rights developed by the Supreme Court of the United States. Prerequisite: 6 semester hours of political science. (Credit may not be obtained in more than one of CRIJ 4332, CRIM 4332 and POLS 4332.)

The federal Judicial System in terms of structure, function and process with stress on court interaction at both intracourt and intersystem levels. Prerequisite: 6 semester hours of political science. (Credit may not be obtained in more than one of CRIJ 4333, CRIM 4333 and POLS 4333.)

The underlying principles governing political relations among sovereign states and the application of these principles to contemporary international problems. Prerequisite: 6 semester hours of Political Science.

Basic features, functions and problems of international organizations through the League of Nations, the United Nations, and its specialized agencies and other important regional organizations in the context of the world situation. Prerequisite: 6 semester hours of Political Science.

An introduction to the study of international law. This course examines the definition, object and sources of international law as well as its relationship to domestic law and to the study of international relations. Prerequisite: 6 semester hours of political science. (Credit may not be obtained in both CRIJ 4343 and POLS 4343.)

The structures, functions, and processes of selected political systems. May be repeated once for credit. Prerequisite: 6 semester hours of Political Science.

The structures, functions and processes of the political systems of the nations of Central America, the Caribbean and South America. Prerequisite: 6 semester hours of Political Science.

The structures, functions and processes of the political system of Mexico. Prerequisite: 6 semester hours of Political Science.

The place of public administration in government; the relations of the bureaucracy to other government institutions and the public. Prerequisite: 6 semester hours of Political Science.

Public policy and its formation through the interaction of political groups and governmental institutions in selected areas of public policy; relevant comparisons to other national systems. Prerequisite: 6 semester hours of Political Science.

An intensive examination of special topics of study in political science. Course may be repeated for credit when the topic of study changes. Prerequisite: 6 semester hours of Political Science or consent of the instructor.