The political science major at UNT Dallas offers traditional and innovative approaches to preparing graduates for work, further study and participation in government, law and communications. The program blends the study of government and human political behavior in a major that is designed to be interdisciplinary, using insights from sociology, psychology, economics and the management sciences in addition to providing foundational knowledge about political theory, political institutions and international affairs.
Political science has a deeper relevance to modern life: students will acquire knowledge at the macro level about how the world is structured and works, but students will also cultivate and understanding of how politics functions in the workplace, neighborhoods and small groups. Political science majors will become discerning consumers of political messages and understand the importance of political context in communication.
The value of an undergraduate political science degree in the job market is considerable. Political science majors find jobs in:
- Federal, state and local government.
- Political campaigns.
- Public affairs communications.
- Lobbying for interest groups, non-governmental organizations and corporations.
- Law.
- Journalism.
A political science major is also good preparation for professional degree programs in:
- Law (JD)
- Public Administration (MPA)
- Policy-based programs in business, health and education (MBA, MPH etc.).
- Journalism (MJ).
Concentrations in political science include:
- Public Law - this track will provide preparation for law school, but it is also useful to those involved in criminal justice programs.
- American Politics - UNT Dallas is an urban university that seeks to prepare students for careers in city government and politics.
- Political Behavior - Understanding the mechanics of public opinion, and party, candidate and voter behavior, and democratic institutions is important to the survival of modern democracies.
- International Relations - Politics among nations is different from local, state and national politics and warrants its own type of analysis. UNT Dallas hopes to eventually develop area study programs that will focus on Mexico and other nations in Central and South America.
Program Advisor: Dr. Walt Borges at Walter.Borges@untdallas.edu
Building Blocks for the Degree
- Texas Core Curriculum: All students are required to complete 42 hours of the Texas Core Curriculum to earn a degree.
- Major Requirements: The political science major requires 42 hours of upper level required, distribution, and pre-approved elective political science courses. Concentration grant expertise in each of the following subfields of political science: American politics, comparative government, public law and political behavior.
- Electives: To ensure that graduates have a broad context in evaluating public affairs and policy matters, 36 hours of electives are designated. History, sociology, criminal justice and policy studies courses in other disciplines are strongly recommended to meet this requirement.
- Other Courses: Students must have a minimum of 120 credit hours to graduate with a degree from UNTD. Students may complete a minor, certificate program or general elective courses to meet this requirement.
Core Curriculum Recommendations
UNTD adheres to the Texas Core Curriculum established in Texas Education Code Chapter 61, Subchapter S. Courses designated on the transcript as a Core Foundation Area will be applied to the Texas Core Curriculum. As a new Freshman student starting at UNTD (or transfer student looking ahead to attend UNTD), taking the recommended UNTD courses (or equivalent) can reduce hours to degree and provide more opportunities for elective courses.
Texas Core Curriculum (42 hours)
| Designation |
Core Foundation Area |
UNTD Recommended Course |
Course Name |
Credit Hours |
| 010 |
Communication |
ENGL 1313 |
College Writing I (grade of C or better required) |
3 |
| 010 |
Communication |
Varies |
Any course in the Core Foundation area |
3 |
| 020 |
Mathematics |
MATH 1680 |
Elementary Probability & Statistics |
3 |
| 030 |
Life & Physical Sciences |
Varies |
Any course in the Core Foundation area |
3 |
| 030 |
Life & Physical Sciences |
Varies |
Any course in the Core Foundation area |
3 |
| 040 |
Language, Philosophy & Culture |
Varies |
Any course in the Core Foundation area |
3 |
| 050 |
Creative Arts |
Varies |
Any course in the Core Foundation area |
3 |
| 060 |
American History |
HIST 2610 |
US History to 1865 |
3 |
| 060 |
American History |
HIST 2620 |
US History since 1865 |
3 |
| 070 |
Government & Political Science |
PSCI 1040** |
American Government: Laws & Institutions |
3 |
| 070 |
Government & Political Science |
PSCI 1050** |
American Government: Process & Policy |
3 |
| 080 |
Social & Behavioral Science |
SOCI 1510 |
Introduction to Sociology |
3 |
| 090 |
Component Area Option |
COMM 1010 |
Introduction to Communication |
3 |
| 090 |
Component Area Option |
SOCI 2070 |
Introduction to Race & Ethnic Relations |
3 |
** For students who come in with one course from the government & political science requirement, PSCI 1040 should be taken at UNTD to prepare for the PSCI major.
Major Requirements (12 hours)
| UNTD # |
Course Name |
Co/Prerequisites |
Credit Hours |
| PSCI 3320 |
Democratic Theory |
PREQ: PSCI 1040 & 1050 or equivalent |
3 |
| PSCI 3330 |
Introduction to Public Administration |
PREQ: PSCI 1040 & 1050 or equivalent |
3 |
| PSCI 4350 |
Quantitative Research & Design |
PREQ: PSCI 1040 & 1050 or equivalent and PSCI 3320 & 3330 |
3 |
| PSCI 4351 |
Capstone |
PREQ: PSCI 1040 & 1050 or equivalent and PSCI 3320, 3330, & 4350 |
3 |
Concentration Courses (12 hours)±
| Concentration 1: American Politics |
Concentration 2: International Affairs & Comparative Government |
Concentration 3: Public Law |
Concentration 4: Political Behavior |
|
PSCI 3100* - Topics in American Govt
PSCI 3110 - Legislative Process
PSCI 3120 - Women and Politics
PSCI 3130 - Interest Groups
PSCI 3160 - Mass Media in American Politics
PSCI 3200 - American Legal System
PSCI 3210 - US Supreme Court
PSCI 3350 - Minority Politics & Political Behavior
PSCI 4020 - Urban Politics1
PSCI 4100 - Political Parties
PSCI 4120 - Public Opinion & Participation
PSCI 4140 - Presidency |
PSCI 3100* - Topics in American Govt
PSCI 3300 - International Relations
PSCI 4520 - International Human Rights
|
PSCI 3100* - Topics in American Govt
PSCI 3200 - American Legal System
PSCI 3210 - US Supreme Court
PSCI 4200 - Constitutional Law: Discrimination & Powers
PSCI 4210 - Constitutional Law: Rights & Liberties
PSCI 4220 - Jurisprudence
PSCI 4520 - International Human Rights |
PSCI 3100* - Topics in American Govt
PSCI 3120 - Women and Politics
PSCI 3160 - Mass Media in American Politics
PSCI 3350 - Minority Politics & Political Behavior
PSCI 4120 Public Opinion & Participation
PSCI/PSYC 4340 - Political Psychology |
| UNTD # |
Course Name |
Co/Prerequisites |
Credit Hours |
| |
American Politics Concentration Course± |
|
3 |
| |
International Affairs & Comparative Gov’t Concentration Course± |
|
3 |
| |
Public Law Concentration Course± |
|
3 |
| |
Political Behavior Concentration Course± |
|
3 |
*See Program Coordinator for topics courses suitable for the concentration.
1 Because UNT Dallas is an urban university with a mission to serve the surrounding community, this course is highly recommended for all majors.
± No course may satisfy the concentration requirement for more than one subfield. Four different courses must be taken to satisfy the four distributions.
Political Science Electives (18 hours)
| UNTD # |
Course Name |
Co/Prerequisites |
Credit Hours |
| |
Select one Concentration and complete 2 courses for electives±2 |
|
6 |
| |
Any elective from Concentration or preapproved general electives |
|
3 |
| |
Any elective from Concentration or preapproved general electives |
|
3 |
| |
Any elective from Concentration or preapproved general electives |
|
3 |
| |
Any elective from Concentration or preapproved general electives |
|
3 |
2 With approval from the Program Coordinator, a student could also take one course from two different distributions to meet this requirement.
Pre-Approved General Electives
Preapproved for elective credit; use of courses outside political science to satisfy concentration requirements requires approval of the political science program coordinator.
HIST 4150 Mexican Immigration and the Chicano Community (Distribution 1&2)
HIST 4172 Modern Latin America - 1801-present (Distribution 2)
HIST 4490 The American Revolution, 1763-1789 (Distribution 1)
HIST 4700 Texas History (Distribution 1)
PSYC or PSCI 4340 Political Psychology
CJUS or SOCI 2100 Crime and Justice in the US (Distribution 1&4)
CJUS or SOCI 3630 Drugs, Crime and Society (Distribution 1&4)
CJUS 3210 Judicial and Legal Systems (Distribution 3)
SOCI 3300 Urban Sociology (Distribution 4)
SOCI 3550 Collective Behavior (Distribution 4)
SOCI 4160 Developing Societies (Distribution 2)
SOCI or HSML 4350 Community Organization (Distribution 4)
SOCI 4540 Race and Ethnic Minorities (Distribution 4)
SOCI 4750 World Population Trends and Problems (Distribution 2)
MGMT 3720 Organizational Behavior (Distribution 4)
Other UNTD Degree Requirements
All students must meet the General University Requirements as well as the major requirements.
Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher
Political Science major GPA of 2.5 or higher
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