• 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:
Harrell R. Rodgers, Jr

Professors:
Robert A. Carp, 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:
George Antunes, Ernesto Calvo, Susan Collins, James Granato

Assistant Professors:
Isabella Alcaniz, Eduardo Aleman, Jeremy Bailey, Scott Basinger, Jennifer Clark, Jeronimo Cortina, Timothy Hellwig, Noah Kaplan, Christine LeVeaux, Dennis Rasmussen, Elizabeth Rigby, Brandon Rottinghaus

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.

The requirement may be satisfied:

1. By successfully completing POLS 1336 AND 1337
2. By successfully completing either POLS 1336 or POLS 1337 and three hours of advanced political science credit from the following:
   Substitutes for POLS 1336: POLS 3349, 3365, 3366, 3367
   Substitutes for POLS 1337: POLS 3355, 3364, 3369
3. By receiving three hours of credit in American government by examination (AP or CLEP) 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.
4. 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.
   

   Note:  All members of the Honors College must complete the American government requirement by means of option 3 or 4.

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