Course Descriptions

1311. Introduction to Political Science 3 hours
A comparative inquiry into the system of ideas, values, and political
realities which gives structure to contemporary life and a consideration of
those significant forces which have helped shape our present world.

2302. Scope and Methods of Political Science (3302) 3 hours
An introduction to the scope, design, and methods of political inquiry.

2311. American Government 3 hours
A survey of the fundamental principles of American government with
special emphasis on the Texas government and Constitution. This course
satisfies the legislative requirements for teacher certification in Texas.

2314. Judicial Process (3314) 3 hours
A comparative introduction to the structures, processes, and politics of
judicial decision making.

3312. Political Theory 3 hours
A survey of philosophy from the seventeenth century to the twentieth
century with special emphasis on political thought.

3317. Political Parties and Pressure Groups 3 hours
A study of the role of political parties in the American process of
government and the techniques of pressure groups in effecting social action.

3318. Legislative Process (PLS 3318) 3 hours
A study of the composition of American legislative bodies and their
lawmaking functions, methods, and procedures.

3319. Criminal Law and Justice (PLS 3319, CRJ 3319) 3 hours
Covers (1) substantive criminal law, including crimes against the person,
crimes against property, crimes against the public, and defenses to
criminal accusations; (2) the pre-trial, trial, and appellate processes in
federal and Texas criminal cases; and (3) constitutional criminal procedure, including searches, seizures, arrests, and police interrogation.

3322. American Constitutional Law I (3324) (PLS 3322) 3 hours
Prerequisite: POL 2311 and 2312
The study of the Supreme Court cases and related materials concerned with the relations between the individual and the government. The cases studied are designed to stimulate interest in civil and personal freedoms established in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

3323. American Constitutional Law II (PLS 3323) 3 hours
The overall purpose of this course is to stimulate interest in civil and
personal freedoms established by the United States Constitution and Bill of
Rights though critical and factual analysis of Supreme Court cases.
Interpretation and analysis of the Constitution, particularly the Bill of
Rights, is essential to this study.

3331. European Governments 3 hours
An analysis of the political and governmental systems of Great Britain,
France, West Germany, and Russia, contrasting the principles of parliamentary democracy with those of dictatorship.

3344. Development of British and American Democracy 3 hours
(HIS 3344)
This course is an intensive study of the development of democratic
institutions in the two best-known examples of working democracies. The
course will compare the parliamentary and presidential governmental
systems and emphasize the development of representative government,
constitutional theory, growth of the common law, and expansion of suffrage.

3352. Internship 3 hours
Prerequisite: POL 2311, 2312, and departmental approval
Provides the student with practical experience in government offices
(national, as in congressional district offices, state, and local in a variety of
fields) and in political campaign organizations and public service
organizations, as in consumer groups.

4322. Foreign Policy of the United States (4319) (HIS 4322) 3 hours
A study of the diplomatic relations of the United States from its pre-
Revolutionary foundations to its present international posture.

4321. International Law (PLS 4321) 3 hours
The systematic study of the legal principles determining international order.
The course emphasizes methods for settlement of disputes regarding the
rights, duties, and responsibilities of sovereign states.

4336. Russia and the Commonwealth (HIS 4336) 3 hours
An analysis of the rise and fall of the Soviet state and party system and the
contributing factors to institutional and economic alignments.

4351. International Relations (HIS 4351) 3 hours
The study of the political relations of the world of states with particular
attention being given to recent problems of international politics.

4355. History and Politics of the Middle East (HIS 4355) 3 hours
A historical and political approach to the study of the Middle East from the
Islamic era to the contemporary period.

4397. Applied Research Methods (SOC 4397, PSY 4397) 3 hours
An introduction to the fundamentals of designing, conducting, and
evaluating psychological, sociological, and organizational research in
applied settings.