Introductory
1333: Introduction to Political Science
Cr.
3. (3-0). Enrollment limited for freshmen and sophomores. General introduction to the
study of politics, the various subfields in the discipline, and the variety of
approaches.
1335: World Politics
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisite:
credit for or current enrollment in ENGL 1303
or consent of instructor. Analysis of the major conflicts of contemporary world politics
from a social science perspective.
1336: U.S. and Texas Constitutions and Politics
(formerly 2333)
Cr. 3. (3-0). Credit may not be earned for both
POLS 1336
and 1394. Introduction to the
constitutions and politics of the United States and Texas, emphasizing constitutional
structure, federalism, separation of powers, limited government, public opinion,
elections, and civil liberties.
1337: U.S. Government: Congress, President and Courts
(formerly 2334)
Cr. 3. (3-0). Credit may not be earned for both
POLS 1337 and
1395.
Introduction to the institutions of government with an emphasis on the congress, the
president, and the federal courts.
1394: Selected Topics in U.S. and Texas Constitutions (formerly 2394)
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisite: credit for or concurrent enrollment in
ENGL 1303. Credit may not be earned for
both POLS 1336 and
1394. Selected topics in Texas and U.S.
constitutions.
1395: Selected Topics in U.S. Government: the Congress, the
President, and the Courts (formerly 2395)
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisite: credit
for or concurrent enrollment in ENGL 1304
or consent of instructor. Credit may not be earned for both
POLS 1337 and
1395.
Selected topics in U.S. government: the congress, the president, and the courts.
2340: Greek Classics
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
ENGL 1303 and
1304 or equivalent.
One or more texts in ancient political philosophy.
2341: Renaissance Classics
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
ENGL 1303 and
1304 or equivalent.
One or more texts in modern political philosophy.
3310: Introduction to Political Theory
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalent, or consent of
instructor. Recurring themes and problems in the study of
politics; draws upon classical and modern works.
3311: Introduction to Comparative Politics
Cr. 3. (3-0).
Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalent, or consent of
instructor. Theory and methodology of comparative politics.
3312: Introduction to Research Methods in Political Science
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalent, or consent of
instructor. Survey of analytical techniques in studying political behavior, political
socialization, mass and elite behavior, personality, and politics.
3313: Introduction to International Relations
Cr. 3. (3-0).
Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalent, or consent of
instructor. Approaches to international
politics, power, the nation-state and nationalism, diplomacy,
causes of conflict, sources of interdependence, international
law and organization.
3314: Introduction to Public Administration
Cr. 3. (3-0).
Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalent, or consent of
instructor. The political environment of
public administration and its basic concepts, structures, and
processes in the United States.
3315: International Organization
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalent, or consent of
instructor. Impact of world politics on international organization
and influence of international organization on foreign policy.
3316: Quantitative Methods
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisite:
MATH 2311.
Emphasis on development of quantitative skills, including multivariate analysis.
Focus on applying quantitative techniques to practical matters.
3318: Introduction to Public Policy
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalent, or consent of
instructor. The nature and functions of public policy, policy
institutions and processes, and policy evaluations with a primary
focus on the United States.
3319: Politics of Social Policy (formerly 3380)
Cr. 3.
(3-0). Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalent, or consent
of instructor. Public policy initiatives in areas of civil rights,
welfare, education, human resources, housing, including criteria
for evaluating proper impact.
Comparative Politics
3320: Government and Politics in Great Britain
(formerly 4320)
Cr. 3. (3-0).
Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalent, or consent of
instructor.
3321: Revolution and System Change
Cr. 3. (3-0).
Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337
or equivalents, or consent of instructor.
Examines the dynamics of revolutions and their effect
upon political systems in Africa and the Middle East.
3322: Introduction to Latin American Politics (formerly
4322)
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalent
or consent of instructor. Major political systems of Latin America.
3324: Government and Politics in Contemporary Germany
Cr. 3.
(3-0). Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalent or consent
of instructor. Historical and geographical perspectives on recurrent
issues in contemporary German politics, such as territorial boundaries,
strength of the central state, and appropriate institutions for
ensuring democratic stability.
3325: Government and Politics of Russia and the Commonwealth
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalent,
or consent of instructor. Political processes and structures in
Russia and the Commonwealth.
3326: Government and Politics in the Middle East (formerly
4326)
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalent,
or consent of instructor. Cultural and socioeconomic underpinnings
of politics; political structures and processes of different states
and their international relations.
3327: Political Geography of Russia and the Commonwealth
(also GEOG 3327)
Cr. 3. (3-0).
Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and
1337, or
GEOG 2340, or consent of instructor.
Political and geographic factors inherent in the human use and management of the
territory and resources of the former Soviet Union.
3328: Politics of the Developing Areas
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisite:
POLS 3311 or
3313. Major problems of political, socioeconomic,
and cultural development in selected areas of Africa, Asia, and
Latin America.
3329: The Nations of Europe
Cr.
3. (3-0). Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents, or consent of instructor.
Survey of the major governments of Europe.
3330: Comparative Political Economy
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalent or consent of instructor.
Interface between politics and the economy from a comparative
perspective in both developed and developing nations of the world.
3335: Political Terrorism
Cr. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents, and
POLS 3313 or consent of instructor.
Terrorism as a form of political extremism; structure, dynamics,
and tactics of major terrorist groups throughout the world; threat
to the United States and methods of counter-terrorism.
3337: Nationalism and Nationality
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337
or equivalents or consent of instructor.
Survey of the emerging nationalism in Turkey and Eastern Europe
(the Balkans, the Caucasus, and Central Asia).
3338: French Politics
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents, or consent of
instructor. Evolution of contemporary French politics with an emphasis on a comparative
study of mass political behavior, political institutions, and
legislative decision making.
3339: Comparative Public Policy
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents, or consent of instructor. Interface
between politics and public policy from a comparative perspective
in both developed and developing nations.
4320: Japanese Politics
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents or consent of instructor.
Historical and political origins of modern Japan.
4321: Democracy in Asia
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents or consent of instructor.
Evaluation of democratic transitions in Asia.
4322: Political Economy of Asia
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents or consent of instructor.
Study of the political and economic institutions for economic growth and development in Asia.
4329: European Union Politics
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents or consent of instructor.
Political and economic institutions of the European Union.
4333: Islam and Democracy
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents or consent of instructor.
Focuses on the evolution of democratic Islamic thinking and its compatibility with
Western notions of democracy.
4336: Mediterranean Politics
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents or consent of instructor.
Survey of the politics of Turkey, Greece and Eastern Europe.
4396: Selected Topics in Comparative Politics and International
Politics
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or
equivalents, or consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit
when topics vary.
International Politics
1335: World Politics
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisite:
credit for or concurrent enrollment in ENGL 1303,
or consent of instructor. Analysis of the major conflicts of contemporary world politics
from a social science perspective.
3325: Government and Politics of Russia and the Commonwealth
(formerly 4325)
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalent, or consent of
instructor.
3331: American Foreign Policy (formerly
4341)
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents,
or consent of instructor. The foreign policy-making process and
factors influencing U.S. international behavior, especially since
World War II.
3332: Soviet and Russian Foreign Policy (formerly
4342)
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalent,
or consent of instructor. Objectives and strategies of Soviet
and Russian foreign policy.
3334: World Order
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents, or consent of
instructor. Examines theoretical and practical approaches to world order.
4396: Selected Topics in Comparative Politics and International
Politics
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and
1337 or
equivalent, or consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit
when topics vary.
Political Theory
3340: Ancient and Medieval Political Thought (formerly
3347)
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents,
or consent of instructor. A selective examination of
Greek, Roman, and feudal thinking on recurrent problems in political
theory.
3341: Political Thought From Machiavelli and the
Renaissance (formerly 3348)
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents,
or consent of instructor. A selected examination of the
political thought of such political philosophers as Machiavelli,
Hobbes, Locke, Hume, Rousseau, and Marx.
3342: Liberalism and Its Critics
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisite:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents, or consent of
instructor. Contemporary
arguments for and against liberalism beginning with the 16th century
and ending with 19th-century formulations.
3343: Democratic Theory
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents, or consent of
instructor. A critical
examination of the theoretical foundation for popular control
of government, as well as the empirical conditions and problems
associated with such control.
3344: Capitalism and Socialism
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents or consent of instructor. The
ideas of Smith, Ricardo, Marx and later Marxists, Hayek and other
figures who advocated capitalism or socialism.
3349: American Political Thought
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisite:
POLS 1337. The colonial experience, the Revolution,
the writing
of the Constitution, and experience in living under the Constitution--how
each has contributed to American political theory.
4344: Equality, Justice, and Democracy
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents, or consent of
instructor. An
examination of alternative standards of equality, justice, and
democracy, with an emphasis on how economic, political, and social
benefits and burdens are distributed in the context of current
controversies such as affirmative action, compensatory education,
and the governance of science.
4346: Greek Political Thought
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
ENGL 1304;
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents; and
POLS 3310 or
3343, or consent of instructor.
A study of Greek
political thought of the fifth and fourth centuries B.C. This
course emphasizes analytical writing.
4366: Constitutional Design
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents, or consent of instructor. Basic
empirical, normative, and analytic principles of constitutional
design are used to develop a constitution for a fictitious country.
4394: Selected Topics in Political Theory and Methodology
Cr.
3. (3-0). Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents, or
consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit when topics
vary.
Public Administration
3351: Politics and Administrative Responsibility
(formerly 3387)
Cr. 3. (3-0).
Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents, or consent of
instructor. Relationships of governmental organizations with the
political community; emphasis on the control of public bureaucracies
by representative institutions.
3352: Comparative Administration (formerly 3388)
Cr. 3.
(3-0). Prerequisite: POLS 3311 or 3314. Comparative analysis of
governmental administrative systems; bureaucratic structures and
processes under varying environmental, political, and historic
conditions.
3353: Policy and Administration (formerly 3389)
Cr. 3.
(3-0). Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents, or consent
of instructor. The role of administrative agencies in policy formation
and implementation. Topics include agency organization, procedures,
political influences, interpersonal behavior, and compliance.
4397: Selected Topics in Public Law and Public Administration
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents,
or consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit when topics
vary.
Public Law
3350: Public Law and Political Theory
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites: POLS 1336
and 1337 or equivalents, or consent of
instructor. The philosophical and theoretical underpinnings of the Anglo-American legal
system, and its impact on public policy.
3354: Law and Society (formerly
4354)
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents,
or consent of instructor. How the values and attitudes of society
influence the content and enforcement of the law.
3355: Judicial Process (formerly 4355)
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisite:
POLS 1336. Development and operations of courts and related institutions;
impact of judicial decisions upon the political system.
3356: Introduction to Constitutional Law (formerly 4356)
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalent,
or consent of instructor. American constitutional law using major
Supreme Court cases and other materials.
3357: Constitutional Law: Civil Liberties (formerly 4357)
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisite: POLS 3356. American constitutional
principles related to the area of civil rights and civil liberties.
3358: Judicial Behavior (formerly 4359)
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents, or consent of
instructor. Judicial
decision-making process in single-judge and collegial courts;
interaction among judges on collegial courts.
3359: Criminal Justice
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337
or equivalents, or consent of instructor. Workings
of the criminal justice system. Examines their victims, communities,
and the police.
4397: Selected Topics in Public Law and Public Administration
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents,
or consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit when topics
vary.
American Politics
3360: Politics and Mass Media
Cr.
3. (3-0). Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents, or
consent of instructor. Impact of the mass media coverage on American
political institutions, the election process, and public opinion
in general and the appropriate role of media and news in a society.
3361: People and Politics
Cr.
3. (3-0). Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents or
consent of instructor. The behavior of voters, activists and government
in making political choices and exerting political influence.
3362: Political Marketing
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents, and junior standing, or consent
of instructor. Techniques that political candidates, parties,
and interest groups utilize in elections, focusing upon television
and radio advertising, direct mail, phone banks, and candidate
utilization, with special emphasis on gubernatorial campaigns
in Texas.
3363: Groups in the Political Process
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents, or consent of instructor. Organizational
characteristics of interest groups; types of political interest
groups; strategy and tactics of group politics; impact on policy
and the political system in general.
3364: Legislative Processes
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisite:
POLS 1336. Organization, operation,
behavior, and functions of
American legislatures; emphasis usually on Congress.
3365: Public Opinion
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisite:
POLS 1337
or equivalent, or consent of instructor. The analysis of the kinds
and distributions of opinions and attitudes in mass public and
the effects of those opinions on activities of policy makers.
3366: Political Parties
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisite:
POLS 1337.
History and organization of political parties in the United
States; function of parties for the political system; electoral
base of American political parties.
3367: Elections and the Political Process
Cr. 3. (3-0).
Prerequisite: POLS 1337. A general survey of electoral systems,
voter choice models, campaign and media effects, and contemporary
issues arising from the electoral process; the relationship of
elections to the policy process.
3368: Race, Gender and Ethnic Politics
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents
or consent of instructor. Examines the roles, strategies and different
levels of success minority groups and women have had in the American
political system.
3369: The Presidency
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisite:
POLS 1336.
Role of the president and the bureaucracy in policy-making, emphasizing
the influence of the man on the office and the office on the man.
3370: State Government and Politics
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents, or consent of instructor. Problems
facing the states in the 20th century; roles of the legislature
and governor; party systems, finances, and taxation; nature of
governmental policies.
3371: Introduction to Urban Politics
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents, or consent of instructor. The
city and its environment including social, economic, and governmental
problems resulting from increased urbanization.
3372: Chicano Politics
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisite:
POLS 1336 and
1337
or equivalents, or consent of instructor. Analysis
of the cultural, economic, sociological, and psychological roots
of the political life of Chicanos and their impact on current
political struggles.
3373: Poverty and American Public Policy
Cr. 3. (3-0).
Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents or consent of
instructor. The incidence, cause and policy responses to poverty
in America with a comparison of American and Western European
experiences.
3374: Regulatory Processes
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents or consent of instructor. Federal,
state and local regulatory agencies: policies, politics, legislative
processes and administrative behavior.
3375: Health Policy and Politics
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents, or consent of instructor. Problems
and opportunities in the health and medical care system in the
context of political institutions, processes, and behavior.
3376: Black Political Thought
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents,
or consent of instructor. Explores the lives and writings of prominent
African Americans to explore how black political thought has
evolved and developed.
3377: Politics of Prosperity
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents, or consent of instructor. Formation
and administration of public economic policies as a political
process. Regulation of business, the political-economic cycle,
and political attempts to enhance economic prosperity.
3378: Political Economy
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents, or consent of instructor. Study of systems
for allocating scarce resources. Consideration of the strength
and weaknesses of market solutions and political solutions to
allocation questions.
3379: Decision Making
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337
or equivalents, or consent of instructor. Study of
decision making in complex organizations; rational, boundedly
rational, political, and garbage can models of decision making.
3380: The Policy Making Process
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents, or consent of instructor.
Agenda setting, legislative approval, implementation, and program
evaluation, with an emphasis on specific policy areas.
3390: Women in Politics
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337
or equivalents, or consent of instructor. Study of
women's roles in the political system beginning with the
attainment of suffrage and continuing through current problems
of mobilization and recruitment to office.
4315: Telecommunications History and Policy
Cr. 3. (3-0).
Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents, or consent of
instructor. The past, present, and future of telecommunications
and its interface with government, economy, and society.
4361: Civil War Politics
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and
1337, and
HIST 1376 or
HIST 1377
or equivalents, or consent of instructor. A comparative analysis of the political and
philosophical commitments and beliefs of the founding period and the American Civil War, with an emphasis on theories of conflict and consensus.
4362: Energy Politics (formerly 3375)
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisite:
POLS 3318 or consent of instructor. Examination of the roles of
administrative agencies, interest groups, Congress, and courts
in formation of public policy on land use, pollution, and energy.
4363: Science, Technology, and Public Policy
Cr. 3. (3-0).
Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and
1337, or equivalents, or consent of
instructor. Examines the political institutions and processes
that involve scientific and technical policy issues; public participation
and advisory groups; and risk assessment.
4364: Intergovernmental Relations (formerly 3375)
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalent, or consent
of instructor. Examines the changing relationships among federal,
state, and local governments, including such topics as revenue
sharing, "New Federalism," and impact of recent changes
of the political system.
4365: National Defense Policy
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents, or consent of instructor. The
evolution of U.S. national defense strategy and policy making.
4368: Administrative Law
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites: a
total of nine semester hours of advanced political science or
consent of instructor. Legal and constitutional principles governing
the behavior of administrative organizations and personnel.
4395: Selected Topics in American Government and Urban Politics
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents,
or consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit when topics
vary.
Methodology
13381: Computer Applications in Political Science
and Sociology (also SOC 3381)
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents,
or consent of instructor. Using mainframe and microcomputers in
political and sociological research, including bibliographic,
word processing, and statistical applications.
4394: Selected Topics in Political Theory and Methodology (formerly
3385)
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalent,
or consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit when topics
vary.
Departmental
3399-4399: Senior Honors Thesis
Cr.
3 per semester. Prerequisite: approval of chair.
4198:4298:4398:4498:4598: Special Problems
Cr. 1-5 per
semester, or more by concurrent enrollment. Prerequisite: approval
of chair.
4390: Government Internship
Cr. 3. (1-6).
Prerequisites:
POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents, and consent of instructor. Internships
in offices of selected local, state, and national government officials
and correlated readings.
Integrative
2
4308: Social Analysis: The Individual in Society
(also PSYC 4308)
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites: a total of nine semester hours from the two disciplines
being integrated, of which at least three are advanced. Analysis of individual behavior, society, and social
change. Readings will focus on families, religion, organizations, work, law, and
technology.
2
4309: Social Analysis: The City
(also PSYC 4309)
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites: a total of nine semester hours from the two disciplines
being integrated, of which at least three are advanced. An examination of the social, economic, cultural, and
political development of cities.
4310: Foundations of Law and Politics
Cr. 3. (3-0). Prerequisites: junior standing, POLS 1336 and
1337 or equivalents, or consent of
instructor. An examination of the theoretical underpinnings of jurisprudence and the general
functioning of legal systems, with a primary focus on the Anglo-American tradition.
For applications and admissions information: admissions@uh.edu
Undergraduate Catalog Online Disclaimer
Undergraduate Catalog Online at
University of Houston
Comments to: academics@uh.edu