Political Science
Web site at:
http://www.utep.edu/pols/
111 Benedict Hall
(915) 747-5227
6.- Political Science (POLS) Courses
For Graduate Students Only
ALL SEMINARS may be repeated for credit when the topic varies.
American Political Processes
3510 Seminar in Political Participation (3-0)
Public political behavior in parties, interest groups, and elections.
3511 Seminar in Racial, Ethnic, Gender Politics in America (3-0)
An analysis of race, ethnicity, class, and gender in American politics,
with emphasis on such concepts as multi-culturalism, assimilation,
alienation, and separatism.
3512 Seminar in Political Leadership (3-0)
A study of the theoretical and practical foundations of leadership
behavior, including the styles and interactions, confrontational as well as
collaborative, of persons in various positions of political authority.
3513 Seminar in Political Communication (3-0)
The study of the formation of shared public perceptions through various
media and the analysis of their political effects.
3514 Seminar in Urban Politics (3-0)
Politics in the urban environment, with emphasis upon the effects of
heterogeneity and pluralism.
Public Law
3520 Seminar in Public Law (3-0)
Covers a wide range of substantive and/or procedural topics in public law
and/or the sociological analysis of the functioning of law.
3521 Seminar in Judicial Process and Behavior (3-0)
An analysis and evaluation of the judicial process and trial and appellate
judges' behavior in state and federal courts, including the organization of
courts, judicial recruitment and appointment, judicial decision making, and
the implementation and effects of judicial policies.
3522 Seminar in Comparative Law (3-0)
A study of the differences in substance, procedure, methods, and ways of
thinking between the United States and countries of the civil law tradition
(most European countries, Mexico, and Latin American countries).
Comparative and International Politics
3530 Seminar in International Politics (3-0)
Examines the political structures and the interactions that characterize
the global nation-state political system.
3531 Seminar in International Organizations and International Law (3-0)
Focuses on the creation and operation of international organizations, both
state and non-state based, and on the continuing evolution of international
law.
3532 Seminar in Foreign Policy Decision Making (3-0)
Examines in detail the process of decision making within individual
international actors and the cumulative effects of such decisions.
3533 Seminar in Comparative Politics (3-0)
Study of comparative political systems, including comparative political
cultures. Emphasis on the methodology of comparative politics.
3534 Seminar in the Politics of Developing Countries (3-0)
Focuses on the politics and economics of developing nations in global
context.
3535 Seminar in Post-Communist Transition (3-0)
Focuses on the politics and economics of selected countries undergoing
post-communist transition.
3536 Seminar in Southwestern Border Politics (3-0)
United States-Mexico relations as they affect the international frontier,
with emphasis upon political leadership, ethnicity, and institutions.
3537 Seminar in Latin American Politics (3-0)
A study of the political systems of Latin America. Offerings of the course
may focus upon one country, regions, or all of Latin America.
3603 Seminar in Cultural, Linguistic, and Political Borders (3- 0)
This seminar provides an interdisciplinary immersion into cultural,
linguistic, and political issues in the U.S.-Mexico border region, their
policy implications, and the challenges posed to policy solutions amid
political-administrative divisions. Course participants will be expected to
work as teams in problem-solving experiences designed to go beyond the
readings and classroom to make use of the border context.
Political Theory
3540 Seminar in Ancient and Medieval Political Philosophy (3-0)
Study of the works of major western political philosophers of the ancient
and medieval periods.
3541 Seminar in Modern Political Philosophy (3-0)
Study of the works of major western political philosophers from the modern
period.
3542 Seminar in American Political Thought (3-0)
Study of American political thought with special focus upon the founding.
Public Administration
3550 Seminar in Administrative Theory (3-0)
Basic introduction to the major theories and approaches which form the
basis for the practice of public administration. (MGMT 3511 may be
substituted, with permission of MPA advisor).
3551 Seminar in Advanced Research Methods in Public Administration (3-0)
Practical in-the-field application of quantitative and methodological
techniques by government agencies, with special emphasis on microcomputers.
The seminar usually will be taken during the second semester of graduate
study.
3552 Seminar in Financial Management and Administration (3-0)
Analysis of the concepts and theories of public fiscal administration.
Emphasis is placed on budgeting, accounting, purchasing, and debt
administration. (FIN 3505 may be substituted, with permission of MPA
advisor.)
3553 Seminar in Human Resources Management (3-0)
The study of the social, political, and legal dimensions of public
personnel management with emphasis on human resources, development, and
implementation. (MGMT 3522 may be substituted, with permission of MPA
advisor.)
3554 Seminar in Administrative Law and Regulation (3-0)
The legal problems of the administrative process, including the uses of
administrative discretion, fact-finding, and hearing procedures, and the
methods and scope of judicial review of administrative decisions.
3555 Seminar in Comparative Public Administration (3-0)
A comparative view of government administration in developed and developing
countries. Examines both the effects of culture on government bureaucracy
and the efforts of governments to promote socioeconomic development. May
include emphasis on U.S.-Mexico border administration.
3556 Seminar in Non-Profit Sector Administration (3-0)
Examines the special administrative challenges in the nonprofit sector,
with attention to practical management and problem-solving. Includes topics
such as the nature and scope of the nonprofit sector, fund raising,
volunteer management, government and public relations, and the organization
of nonprofit institutions.
3557 Women and Men in Management (3-0)
Analyzes gender diversity in public and private institutions.
3558 Administrative Ethics and Responsibility (3-0)
The course deals with ethical issues that face public
administrators--responsibilities, accountability, discretion, the public
interest, professionalism, codes of ethics, and corruption. It focuses on
applied ethics and the reasoning process administrators can use to analyze
and evaluate ethical dilemmas.
3559 Seminar in Regional and Urban Planning (3-0)
Covers planning topics associated with satisfying area-wide service needs
in urban and regional environments. Topics may include land-use
regulations, capital facilities siting, and transportation planning.
3560 Seminar in Urban Administration (3-0)
Public Administration at the level of service delivery with emphasis upon
the management and policy problems facing local agencies.
3561 Seminar in Political Economy (3-0)
Teaches how political and economic theory, tools, and techniques can be
used to analyze public policy issues and problems. Substantive topics may
vary with instructor.
3562 Seminar in Public Sector Accounting (3-0)
Examination of the public sector and non-profit accounting process
including the preparation of annual financial reports, transaction
analysis, auditing, and cost analysis for grants and service efforts.
3563 Seminar in Intergovernmental Relations (3-0)
Covers the interrelationships among international, national, state, and/or
local governmental institutions in the policy making, executive, and/or
administrative processes. The special issue of states and communities
situated on international borders is also discussed.
3564 Seminar in Public Policy Analysis (3-0)
The study of the politics of the policy making process. Emphasis is on the
actors involved in public policy-making, their interactions, and the
outputs of the policy process.
3565 Seminar in Policy and Decision Making (3-0)
The use of quantitative decision tools and formal modeling in legislative,
executive, and judicial policy making and evaluation processes.
3566 Internship in Public Administration (0-0-20)
Practical internship experience with a public or nonprofit sector agency,
selected in consultation with the MPA program advisor. The experience
consists of at least twenty hours of work per week with the selected
agency. The internship will be under close supervision by the agency and
the MPA program advisor.
3567 Comprehensive Integration of Public Administration (3-0)
The course is designed to prepare the student for the final comprehensive
examination in public administration. Key management concepts, issues, and
value concerns in the subject areas of public administration are reviewed
and integrated. This course is taken in the student's final semester in the
MPA program.
General
3500 Seminar in Research Methods in Political Science (3-0)
Basic introduction to quantitative and methodological techniques in the
field for students in both the MA and MPA programs. Required of all
graduate Political Science majors. The seminar usually is taken during the
first semester of graduate study. (MPA students may substitute ECON 3501 or
QMB 3511 with the permission of the MPA advisor).
3580 Selected Problems in Government (3-0)
Independent study, research, and writing on a topic agreed upon by student
and professor.
3598 Thesis (0-0-3)
As part of this course, the student will successfully prepare and defend a
prospectus for the MA thesis. The prospectus must be approved by the
student's thesis committee, and failure to meet this requirement within two
long semesters will preclude continuation of the student in the MA program.
Prerequisite: Instructor approval.
3599 Thesis (0-0-3)
Continuous enrollment required while work on the thesis continues.
Prerequisites: POLS 3598 and instructor approval.
