Mar 29, 2024  
2020-2021 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog 
    
2020-2021 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Department of Political Science


 

Timothy P. Nokken, Ph.D., Chairperson

Tullock Professor of Political Economy: Grier
Professors: Hayhoe, Khan, A. Lee, McKee, Patterson, Thames
Associate Professors: Bak, Barkdull, Gittner, Kwon, H. Lee, Lektzian, McKenzie, Meserve, Nokken, Rider
Assistant Professors: Banda, Forbis, Lewis, Sievert, Wright

CONTACT INFORMATION: 113 Holden Hall | Box 41015 | Lubbock, TX 79409-1015 | T 806.742.3121 | F 806.742.0850 | www.depts.ttu.edu/politicalscience

About the Department

This department supervises the following degree programs and certificate:

Dual Degree Program

The department also participates in the Bachelor of Arts in Languages and Cultures with a concentration in Russian Language and Area Studies ; a minor in women’s studies ; Honors College  programs; and Arts & Sciences minors in urban studies , international studies , ethnic studies , and Asian studies .

Undergraduate Program

The political science curriculum is designed to provide students with a solid foundation and broad understanding of the discipline of political science and to allow them to specialize in areas of particular substantive interest. Political science provides excellent instruction for students inter­ested in politics, law, journalism, teaching, or civil service. Insight into political values, domestic policy issues, and foreign policy are invaluable for students interested in such careers as well as for careers in business.

Students seeking an undergraduate degree in political science must complete 36 hours of coursework within the department. Political science majors are required to take POLS 1301 POLS 2306 , POLS 2361 , POLS 2371 , POLS 3314 , and 21 additional hours of upper-level POLS courses (must include 9 hours of communication literacy courses).

Under state law, all students who receive bachelor’s degrees from Texas Tech must have received credit for 6 semester hours in political science, covering the federal and Texas constitutions. Students will normally fulfill this requirement by completing POLS 1301 , which is a prerequisite for all upper-division political science courses, and POLS 2306  

Requirements and Prerequisites. POLS 1301  is a prerequisite for all upper-division political science courses. A student must receive at least a C in POLS 1301  and POLS 2306  and all courses in political science that apply to major, minor, or teaching field requirements.

Communication Literacy Requirement. Students majoring in political science are expected to develop proficiency in written, oral, and graphical/mathematical communication. To satisfy this requirement, all majors are required to take three 3-hour courses (9 hours) of communication literacy courses in the department. The three courses that satisfy this requirement are POLS 3314 , POLS 3300  or POLS 3303  (not both), POLS 3301  or POLS 3302 .

Selected Topics Courses. Multiple sections of POLS 3300  and POLS 3301  are offered each semester with varying topics of contemporary interest. These courses are repeatable for credit up to four times each (totaling 12 hours). In order to apply to a student’s major or minor, these courses must each cover different topics, as indicated by the course title found online each semester. Additionally, for students to grade replace either course, the topics must be the same.

Graduate Program

For information on graduate programs offered by the Department of Political Science, visit the Graduate Programs  section of the catalog.

Undergraduate Program Offerings, Course Descriptions & Curricular Tables

(Click on program for curricular table.)

Programs

Courses

    GLST - Global Studies (Undergraduate Courses)POLS - Political Science (Undergraduate Courses)