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Political Science

Undergraduate

The University of Houston
3551 Cullen Boulevard Room 447
Houston, TX 77204-3011
Tel: (713) 743-3890
Fax: (713) 743-3927

American Politics

  • 2336: U.S. Government and Texas Constitution, Politics and Institutions Cr. 3 (3-0). Constitutions and politics of the United States and Texas, emphasizing constitutional structure; executive, legislative, and judiciary institutions, state and federal; limited government, public opinion, elections, and civil liberties.
  • 3331: American Foreign Policy Cr. 3 (3-0). Prerequisite:  1336 and  1337 or equivalent, or consent of instructor. The foreign policy-making process and factors influencing U.S. international behavior, especially since World War II.
  • 3360: Politics and Mass Media Cr. 3 (3-0). Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and 1337 or equivalent, or consent of instructor. Impact of 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: Politics and Literature. Cr. 3 (3-0). Prerequisite: POLS 1336 and 1337 or equivalents, or consent of instructor. An examination of enduring political problems through the study of classic works of literature.
  • 3362: Political Marketing Cr. 3 (3-0). Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and 1337 or equivalent, 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 equivalent, and junior standing, 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: United States Campaigns and Elections Cr. 3 (3-0). Prerequisite: POLS 1337. Uses examples and data from historic and current elections to examine the strategies candidates employ, the role of money and the media, and how voters respond.
  • 3368: Race, Gender, and Ethnic Politics Cr. 3 (3-0). Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and 1337 or equivalent, and junior standing, 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 equivalent, 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 equivalent, or consent of instructor. The city and its environment including social, economic, and governmental problems resulting from increased urbanization.
  • 3372: Latino Politics Cr. 3 (3-0). Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and 1337 or equivalent, or consent of instructor. Analysis of the cultural, economic, sociological, and psychological roots of the political life of Latinos and their impact on current political struggles.
  • 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.
  • 3378: Political Economy Cr. 3 (3-0). Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and 1337 or equivalent, 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.
  • 3388: Politics in Film and Television. Cr. 3 (3-0). Prerequisite: POLS 1336 and 1337 or equivalents, or consent of instructor. An examination of enduring political problems through the study of film and television and the effects of each on the American public and electorate.
  • 3390: Women in Politics Cr. 3 (3-0). Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and 1337 or equivalent, 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.
  • 3391: Political Scandals Cr. 3 (3-0). Prerequisites: 1337 or equivalents, or consent of instructor. A selected examination of contemporary American political scandals including Watergate and the Clinton impeachment.
  • 3395: Selected Topics in American Government Cr. 3 (3-0).
  • 4365: National Defense Policy Cr. 3 (3-0). Prerequisites: POLS 1336 and 1337 or equivalent, or consent of instructor. The evolution of U.S. national defense strategy and policy making.
  • 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 and when topics vary.