Political Science Department

• Who's Who in the Department of Political Science
• Overview
• State Mandated Courses in American Government
• Political Science Major
• Minor in Political Science
• Minor in Values, Law and Policy
• Pre-Law Training in Political Science
• Courses: Political Science (POLS)

Who's Who in the Department of Political Science

Chair:
Gregory Weiher

Professors:
Robert A. Carp, James Granato, Robert L. Lineberry, Donald S. Lutz, Victor L. Mote, Richard Murray, Harrell R. Rodgers, Jr., Susan E. Scarrow, John W. Sloan, Arthur K. Smith, Kent Tedin, Gregory Weiher

Associate Professors:
Eduardo Aleman, George Antunes, Jeremy Bailey, Susan Collins

Assistant Professors:
Tanya Bagashka, Scott Basinger, Jeff Church, Jennifer Clark, Jeronimo Cortina, Noah Kaplan, ryan Kennedy, Brandon Rottinghaus, Jonathon Slapin, Lydia Tiede

Overview

The political science program focuses on the study of theories of government, government processes, and political forces that contribute to the formation, evolution, and operation of government. Students are offered a wide range of courses in several areas including political theory, comparative politics, international politics, American government, public law, public administration, and methodology. These areas draw on the related disciplines of economics, history, and sociology.

The study of political science assists students in developing reasoning and analytical skills and in building competence in oral and written expression. Students are also given the opportunity to learn research and methodology procedures, and are encouraged to become familiar with statistical analysis and use of the computer. All of this training will be useful to students, regardless of their career choices.

The Department of Political Science has designed its program not only to develop informed and active citizens, but also to be useful for those who plan careers in higher education, the legal profession, state and local government, urban planning, the federal bureaucracy, journalism, or any other field that requires critical thinking and analysis. Political science also provides an excellent background for those who wish to pursue advanced studies in business, law, or public administration.

State-Mandated Courses in American Government

Senate Bill 254, passed by the 54th Legislature and amended by House Bill 935 of the 60th Legislature, provides that no person may receive an undergraduate degree without having credit for six semester hours, or its equivalent, in the constitutions of the United States and Texas.

Students may satisfy the state requirements in the constitutions of the U.S. and Texas in any of the following ways:

1. By successfully completing POLS 1336 AND 1337.
2. By successfully completing POLS 1336H and three additional hours of advanced political science credit from the subfields of public administration, public law, and American politics, or from POLS 3331, 3349, 4361, and 4366.
3. By receiving American Government AP score of 3 or better or CLEP score of 50 or better (POLS 1337 - 3 hours) and

• Successfully completing POLS 1336 - OR -
• Passing a 3 hour departmental credit exam for Texas Government, Politics and Constitution (POLS 1336) - OR -
• Completion of 3 credit hours of an advanced Political Science course from the subfields of Public Administration, Public Law and American Politics or from POLS 3331, 3349, 4361, and 4366.

AND

Completion of a 1 credit hour course for Federal and Texas Constitutions (POLS 1107 - 1 hour) or by passing a departmental credit exam.

4. By receiving transfer credit in one of the following combinations. Please consult with your academic advisor.

TRANSFER CREDIT TEXAS COMMON CORE

I. a) 2301 and 2302

II. a) 2305 and 2306

III. a) 2301 and 2305, or

IV. a) 2301 and 2305 and 2107 or

b) 2302 and 2306 and 2107

NOTE: GOVT 2107 = UH POLS 2107

Pre-Law Training in Political Science

The Political Science Department recommends that students interested in a pre-law curriculum seek advising in the department for courses stressing analytic reading, writing, and critical thinking.

Address inquiries about pre-law counseling and training to:

University of Houston
Attn: Undergraduate Advisor
Department of Political Science
447 Philip G. Hoffman Hall
Houston, Texas 77204-3011

or

University of Houston
Attn: Pre-Law Advisor
Department of Political Science
447 Philip G. Hoffman Hall
Houston, Texas 77204-3011

Catalog Publish Date: August 19, 2010
This Page Last Updated: July 15, 2010
Effective Date of Archive: August 15, 2011