POLS - Political Science (POLS)
POLS 200 Foundations of Political Science
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Survey of the scholarly discipline of political science and its theoretical foundations, principal subfields, major research questions and modes of scholarship.
POLS 203 Introduction to Political Theory
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Introduction to the study of political theory, with attention to major themes in the history of political thought; discussion of the nature of politics; examination of method in political theory and its relation to the discipline of political science.
POLS 206 American National Government
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
(GOVT 2305) American National Government. Survey of American national government, politics, and constitutional development; also taught at Galveston and Qatar campuses.
POLS 207 State and Local Government
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
(GOVT 2306) State and Local Government. Survey of state and local government and politics with special reference to the constitution and politics of Texas; also taught at Galveston and Qatar campuses.
POLS 209 Introduction to Political Science Research
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Introduction to the philosophy and practice of social science and to modes of research in major subfields of political science. Prerequisite: Political science majors must have completed POLS 209 before they enroll in their last 18 hours of 300- and 400-level POLS courses; may take no more than 6 hours of upper division (300- and 400-level courses) before completing POLS 209; political science majors.
POLS 229 Introduction to Comparative Politics
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
A comparison of political institutions, processes and issues across a wide variety of political systems.
POLS 231 Introduction to World Politics
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Analysis of contemporary world from point of view of nation-state; political problems, factors involved in foreign policies and relations of nations; also taught at Galveston campus.
POLS 232 Introduction to Maritime Public Policy
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Introduction to maritime public policy; social, economic, political and cultural contexts of public policy; study of policy analysis and policymakers; examines public problems, policy choice, and limits of governmental action; Galveston campus.
POLS 233 Politics and Policy in the United States
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Survey of institutions of American government, mass political behavior, and policy fields of significant contemporary importance.
POLS 285 Directed Studies
Credits 0 to 3.
0 to 3 Other Hours.
Individual instruction in selected aspects of political science not adequately covered by other courses. Prerequisite: Approval of department head.
POLS 289 Special Topics in...
Credits 3.
3 Other Hours.
Selected topics in an identified area of political science and public policy. May be taken for credit seven times. Prerequisite: POLS 206 or approval of department head.
POLS 291 Research
Credits 0 to 6.
0 to 6 Other Hours.
Research conducted under the direction of a faculty member in political science. May be taken three times for credit. Prerequisites: Freshman or sophomore classification and approval of instructor.
POLS 302 The Mass Media and Politics
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Examination of mass media impact on politics and political behavior, and governmental impact on the mass media. Prerequisite: POLS 206 or approval of department head; junior or senior classification. Cross Listing: COMM 302 and JOUR 302.
POLS 304 Latino Politics in the United States
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Survey of historical and contemporary issues in Latino politics in the U.S.; race and ethnicity in the context of U.S. politics; comparisons of racial and ethnic group experiences in the U.S. with those experienced by racial and ethnic groups elsewhere; Latino access to the political system through political participation. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification.
POLS 306 Contemporary Political Problems and Issues
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Major contemporary political problems and issues with primary emphasis on the U.S. Each term one to three problems or issues will be examined in some depth. Students may register in up to but no more than two different sections of this course. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: POLS 206 or approval of department head. NOTE: POLS 306 courses taken in a study abroad program may not count toward this limit; please consult with the undergraduate advisor.
POLS 308 Game Theoretic Methods in Political Science
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Core concepts of game theory to study strategic interaction in politics; game theory using simple mathematical models to describe social situations, understand political and social phenomena; emphasis on model building skills and problem solving. Prerequisites: POLS 206 and junior or senior classification or approval of department head.
POLS 309 Polimetrics
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Theory, techniques, and application of quantitative analysis in political science; focus on quantitative techniques commonly used to evaluate empirical theories of politics. Prerequisites: POLS 209 and 9 additional hours of political science or approval of instructor.
POLS 312 Ethnic Conflict
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Examination of government institutions designed to structure ethnic relations; source of ethnic conflict; mechanisms to facilitate the peaceful resolution of ethnic conflict. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification.
POLS 313 Public Opinion
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Role of public opinion in a democratic political system--its formation, properties and patterns, with special attention to problems of linking public opinion to public policy. Prerequisite: POLS 206 or approval of department head.
POLS 314 Interest Groups
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Role of interest groups in politics; types of groups and resources; internal dynamics; group strategies/tactics (including PACs); forms of indirect and direct lobbying; influence of groups in political arena. Prerequisite: POLS 206 or approval of department head.
POLS 315 Political Parties
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Organization, history, and activities of political parties and functions they serve in national, state and local politics in the United States and elsewhere. Prerequisite: POLS 206 or approval of department head.
POLS 316 Urban Politics
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Politics at the community level; urban and metropolitan political systems. Prerequisites: POLS 206 and POLS 207 or approval of department head.
POLS 317 Women in Politics
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Role of women in the political system; treatment of women in political theory; effect of law on women's status; women as political leaders; current policy issues of concern to women. Prerequisite: POLS 206.
POLS 318 Theories of International Relations
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Examination of major paradigms of international relations; focus on theory development and application to cases. Prerequisites: POLS 206, POLS 209, and junior or senior classification or approval of department head.
POLS 319 The American Presidency
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
The American Presidency and the primary relationships and responsibilities of the office, dealing with the public, decision making, influencing Congress, and implementing policy. Prerequisite: POLS 206 or approval of department head.
POLS 320 Race and Politics in the United States
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
The politics of race in the United States: contrast of the political experiences of racial groups with the ideals and realities of democratic political systems. Prerequisites: POLS 206 and POLS 207 and junior or senior classification.
POLS 322 Western European Government and Politics
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Political institutions and ideas of major European countries. Prospects for political integration. Prerequisite: POLS 206 or approval of department head.
POLS 323 Political Systems of Latin America
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Survey of the major features of the political process in Latin America; key political groups and sources and characteristics of their political power; studies of selected countries. Prerequisite: POLS 206 or approval of department head.
POLS 324 Politics of Global Inequality
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Examination of the causes and consequences of economic inequality between rich and poor states; evaluation of competing explanations for poverty of less-developed countries; development strategies employed by poor states; and structure of global economic relations. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification.
POLS 325 African Politics
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Survey of African politics from pre-colonial period to contemporary era; examination of local experience of democracy, governance, economic development in light of varied colonial experiences, independence movements, international political economy, informal sources of political power. Prerequisites: POLS 206 and POLS 207; junior or senior classification.
POLS 326 Government and Politics of Eastern Europe
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Political, social and economic transformations in the post-Communist Eastern and Southern European countries; examination of the interrelations between political, economic and social issues that impact the building of new governments and institutions in these countries. Prerequisites: POLS 206 and POLS 207; junior or senior classification.
POLS 327 Congressional Politics
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Congressional elections, decision-making structure and processes in Congress, and their implications for representation and public policy in the United States. Prerequisite: POLS 206 or approval of department head.
POLS 328 Globalization and Democracy
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Examination of the political and economic origins of globalization; effects of globalization on advanced industrial democracies; effect on less developed nations; evaluation of the economic, social, cultural and political consequences of globalization. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification.
POLS 333 International Cooperation
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Contemporary issues, problems, and solutions in international cooperation. Prerequisites: POLS 206; junior or senior classification or approval of department head.
POLS 335 International Conflict
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Examination of major theoretical explanations of war and conflict resolution. Prerequisites: POLS 206; junior or senior classification or approval of department head.
POLS 338 Government and Politics of the Former Soviet Union
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Major political issues of the post-communist transition in the former Soviet Union. Prerequisite: POLS 206 or approval of department head.
POLS 340/PSAA 340 Public Administration
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
American public administration; development of public service; the political and constitutional context; organization theory; leadership and decision-making; personnel and resource staff functions; administrative law and regulation; ethics and administrative accountability. Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in POLS 206; junior or senior classification. Cross Listing: PSAA 340/POLS 340.
POLS 342 Politics and Bureaucracy
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Public bureaucracy in the context of a political environment; role of experts, the use of political power and problems of bureaucratic accountability and responsibility. Prerequisite: POLS 206 or approval of department head.
POLS 347 Politics of Energy and the Environment
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
U.S. energy and environmental problems and politics and the political, legal, and institutional factors influencing their development and implementation. Prerequisites: POLS 206 or approval of department head; junior or senior classification or approval of instructor; also taught at Galveston campus.
POLS 349 Early Political Thought
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Political thought from Greek antiquity to Renaissance. Prerequisite: POLS 206 or approval of department head.
POLS 350 Modern Political Thought
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Political thought from Machiavelli to Marx. Prerequisite: POLS 206 or approval of department head.
POLS 352 Empirical Democratic Theory
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Examination of empirical political science theory about the nature and consequences of democratic government in the modern era; study of scientific theory that accounts for the rise, characteristics and behavior of democratic political systems. Prerequisites: POLS 206, POLS 207, and POLS 209; junior or senior classification.
POLS 353 Constitutional Rights and Liberties
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Legal issues, controversies and significant developments in constitutional rights and liberties, and the impact of these developments upon American politics, culture and social institutions. Prerequisite: POLS 206 or approval of department head; also taught at Galveston campus.
POLS 355 United States Constitutional Development
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Leading decisions of the Supreme Court. Trends in our constitutional development since 1789; expansion through judicial interpretation of powers delegated to national government. Prerequisites: POLS 206 and HIST 105 or approval of department head.
POLS 357 National Judicial Politics
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Political factors that influence judicial selection; decision making and policy-making roles and impact of the U.S. Supreme Court and Federal Court System. Prerequisites: POLS 206, POLS 209, and junior or senior classification or approval of department head.
POLS 358 Comparative Judicial Politics
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Survey of the major features of court systems of the world; examination of the role played by courts in the politics of selected nations of the world; comparison of judicial decision making in selected counties; the impact of courts in developing democracies. Prerequisites: POLS 206 and 207; junior or senior classification.
POLS 359 American Political Thought
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
American political thought from colonial times to the present. Prerequisite: POLS 206 or approval of department head.
POLS 362 Latin American Political Thought
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Survey of various traditions in the history of Latin American political thought; key texts in the history of political theory in the Spanish-American continent. Prerequisites: POLS 206; junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.
POLS 364 Global Political Thought
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Global perspective on the history of political ideas and contemporary political philosophy; confrontation and conversion of East Asia and Middle Eastern concepts of political problems and Western perspectives; impact of culture on the shaping of political ideas. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification.
POLS 365 Asian Governments and Politics
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Contemporary political systems of Asia, political institutions, actors and processes. Prerequisite: POLS 206 or approval of department head.
POLS 366 Political Conflicts of the Middle East
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
The internal, regional and international politics of the Middle East; study of selected political conflicts; the influence of the region's cultures, religions, natural resources and outside political forces. Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in POLS 206; junior or senior classification or approval of instructor; Galveston campus.
POLS 367/WGST 367 Women in Government in Comparative Perspective
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Examination of women's representation in government based on comparison across multiple nation-states; focus on legislative and executive branches of democratic governments. Prerequisites: POLS 206; junior or senior classification or approval of department head. Cross Listing: WGST 367/POLS 367.
POLS 368 Latin American Legislatures
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Survey of the major features of the legislative branch in Latin America; examination of the role played by legislatures in the politics of selected countries; studies of executive-legislative relations in selected countries; participation by traditionally excluded groups in legislatures. Prerequisites: POLS 206, junior or senior classification or approval of department head.
POLS 369 Theories of Democracy
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Definitions and justifications of democratic political systems; criticisms of democratic legitimacy, difficulties encountered by actual democratic regimes; methodological problems of assessing the fulfillment of democratic goals. Prerequisite: POLS 206 or approval of instructor.
POLS 375 Campaigns and Elections
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Theories of voter choice; effects of mass media and campaign finance regulations on the conduct and outcome of elections; effects of elections on policy; emphasis on U.S. national elections. Prerequisite: POLS 206 or approval of department head.
POLS 412 International Political Economy
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Politics of international economic relations; interactions between political and economic realms in the contemporary world. Prerequisites: POLS 206; junior or senior classification or approval of department head.
POLS 413 American Foreign Policy
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Evolution of U.S. foreign policies since World War II. Policy process; role of executive, legislative, bureaucratic and private institutions; current foreign policy issues and problems. Prerequisite: POLS 206 or approval of department head.
POLS 415 Contemporary Issues in American Foreign Policy
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Detailed analysis of a selected aspect of American foreign policy. Prerequisite: POLS 206 or approval of department head.
POLS 420 Nuclear Politics
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Examination of nuclear weapons in world politics, including nuclear nonproliferation, deterrence and strategic stability, arms control and disarmament, decision-making in nuclear crises and contemporary nonproliferation challenges. Prerequisite: POLS 206; POLS 209 and junior or senior classification or approval of department head.
POLS 423 U.S.-Latin American Relations
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Political, economic and social relations between the United States and Latin American nations from independence to the present. Prerequisites: POLS 206, POLS 207 and POLS 323; junior or senior classification.
POLS 424 Comparative Governmental Institutions
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Study of the politics and structure of governmental institutions in a comparative venue; examination of the building blocks by which patterns of governments and institutions can be identified across various political systems of the world; role of institutions across different types of political systems and how they are affected by global economic factors. Prerequisites: POLS 206 and POLS 207; junior or senior classification.
POLS 429 Issues in World Politics
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Selected issues of importance in contemporary world politics. May be taken two times for credit as content varies. Prerequisite: POLS 206 or approval of department head.
POLS 432 The Politics of European Union
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Examination of the institutional, economic and political forces that led to the development of the European Economic Union; impact of the European Union on world affairs. Prerequisites: POLS 206 and POLS 207; junior or senior classification.
POLS 435 Voting Behavior
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Voting decisions, electoral behavior and consequences for the political system. Prerequisite: POLS 206 or approval of department head.
POLS 439 Foreign Policy Decision Making
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Examination of decision processes in contemporary world politics; individual, group and organizational aspects of decision making in the context of world events. Prerequisites: POLS 206, POLS 209, and junior or senior classification or approval of department head.
POLS 447 National Security Policy
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Need for national security policy, the factors involved in determining defense policy and the resulting problems; special attention to the United States. Prerequisite: POLS 206 or approval of department head.
POLS 454 Contemporary Political Ideas
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Contemporary political ideas such as liberalism, socialism, communism and fascism; role of ideology in political change. Prerequisite: POLS 206 or approval of department head.
POLS 455 Traditions of Political Theory
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Survey of particular schools or historical periods of normative political theory. May be taken three times. Prerequisites: POLS 206 and POLS 207; junior or senior classification.
POLS 461 Jurisprudence
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
History of legal philosophy from the ancient Greeks to the present; exploration of recurring themes such as natural law, legal positivism, legal realism, sociological jurisprudence and Marxist jurisprudence; exposure to various issues, such as liberty, privacy, obedience, responsibility and punishment. Prerequisite: POLS 206 or approval of department head.
POLS 462/WGST 462 Women and the Law
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
The legal status of American women from the adoption of the Constitution to the present: constitutional developments; the 19th Amendment and the proposed Equal Rights Amendment; employment; family law; reproductive rights; education; sexual equality in context of other claims to equality; law and social norms. Prerequisite: POLS 206 or approval of department head. Cross Listing: WGST 462/POLS 462.
POLS 475 Government and the Economy
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Constitutional and legal framework of governmental involvement in economy; governmental budget in management of business cycle; regulation of business activities; governmental economic planning in democratic societies. Prerequisite: POLS 206 or approval of department head.
POLS 481 Research Seminar
Credits 3.
3 Other Hours.
In-depth study of topics associated with particular sub-field of political science; experience designing and implementing major, original research project. Prerequisites: POLS 206, POLS 207, POLS 209, 9 credits in POLS at or above 300 level; junior or senior political science major or approval of instructor.
POLS 484 Internship
Credits 0 to 3.
0 to 3 Other Hours.
Directed internship in a public organization to provide students with on-the-job training and applied research experience with professionals in settings appropriate to the student's degree plan and career objectives. May be taken for credit up to three hours. Must be taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Prerequisite: Majors only; approval of department head.
POLS 485 Directed Studies
Credits 0 to 6.
0 to 6 Other Hours.
Individual instruction in selected aspects of political science not adequately covered by other courses. Prerequisite: Approval of department head; also taught at Qatar campus.
POLS 489 Special Topics in...
Credits 1 to 4.
1 to 4 Other Hours.
Selected topics in an identified area of political science and public policy. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: POLS 206 or approval of department head.
POLS 491 Research
Credits 0 to 6.
0 to 6 Other Hours.
Research conducted under the direction of a faculty member in political science. May be taken three times for credit. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification and approval of instructor.
POLS 497 Independent Honors Studies
Credits 0 to 4.
1 to 4 Other Hours.
Directed independent studies for upper division Honors students, regardless of academic major, in selected aspects of political science. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification either as Honors student or with overall GPR of 3.25; letter of approval from head of student's major department.