Department of Political Science/Criminal Justice (PS/CJ)


Ruth Ann Strickland, Chair


Phillip J. Ardoin
Jawad I. Barghothi
James F. Barnes
Mona R. Brandon
William E. Cassie
Daniel B. German
Dennis O. Grady
Marvin K. Hoffman
Andrew M. Koch
Kenneth L. Mullen
Daniel S. Murphy
Elicka S.L. Peterson
Matthew B. Robinson
Curtis R. Ryan
Renee G. Scherlen
Kathleen M. Simon
Dragan Stefanovic
Ronald Stidham
C. David Sutton
Joel A. Thompson
Shannon Kaye Richardson Vaughan
Barbara H. Zaitzow




The purposes of the Department of Political Science/Criminal Justice are to
prepare students to critically observe, analyze, and understand the complex
political world in which they live; to prepare students to recognize and
address the problems of our society which affect our governmental and criminal
justice systems; and to encourage students to become knowledgeable, active
citizens who play a role in the political processes of the nation and the
world.


All majors in political science/criminal justice require a minimum of 122
semester hours for the degree. Social Science teaching licensure with a
political science concentration requires 123 semester hours. The Bachelor of
Arts degree requires a minor. In addition to core curriculum, major and minor
requirements, electives must be taken to meet the total required minimum hours.
Two semester hours of free electives OUTSIDE the major discipline are
required.


A major in political science leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree consists
of 34 hours including PS 1000, 1100, 3115, and at least one course in four of
the following areas: (1) Theory and Methodology; (2) International Relations;
(3) American Politics and Government; (4) Comparative Government; (5) Public
Law and Judicial Behavior; (6) Public Administration; (7) Political Behavior;
(8) Public Policy. The area in which any particular course may be credited is
indicated by the third digit of the course number. For example, PS 3660 is
credited to area (6) public administration. The remaining 12 hours are
elective. To earn the Bachelor of Arts degree a student must complete six hours
of the second year of a foreign language. Normally, an internship will not be
offered for students seeking a Bachelor of Arts degree. A candidate for the
Bachelor of Arts degree may count NOT more than a total of 40 hours above core
curriculum requirements in political science.


A major in political science leading to the Bachelor of Science (non-
teaching) degree with a specified concentration consists of a minimum of 61
semester hours in a chosen area. This includes:


1. Selection of an area of concentration. The seven concentrations offered are: 
   American Politics; International and Comparative Politics; Media, Politics
   and Campaigns; Pre-Professional Legal Studies; Public Policy; Public 
   Management; and Town, City, County Management.
2. Thirty-one semester hours of core courses and electives in political science.
   Each concentration has specific required core courses in political science.
   The Town, City, County Management concentration requires an internship.
3. A minimum of 30 semester hours in a career-oriented area with courses
   selected from several departments and disciplines. Courses will be chosen
   with the consent of the advisor.


   Statistics 2810 is required.




BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN SOCIAL SCIENCES EDUCATION
(with teacher licensure and a concentration in Political Science)
The Bachelor of Science degree and teacher licensure in Social Sciences
education requires 123 semester hours consisting of the core curriculum, the
Social Sciences education core, a concentration, professional education
requirements (see Reich College of Education), and electives (if needed) to
reach the required minimum of 123 hours. The required Social Science core
courses are ANT 1215(MC) and 2400(MC); ECO 2030 and 2040(ND); GHY 1010 and
1020(MC) or GHY 1510 and GHY 1515(MC); HIS 2201 and 2204; PS 1100 and 2130; SOC
1000 and 1100; CI 3100; RE 4630; and STT 2810(ND,C) or ECO 2100(ND). A minimum
grade of "C" is required in CI 3100 and RE 4630 and all professional education
courses. A student majoring in social sciences education should select MAT
1010(W,ND,C) to satisfy the core curriculum mathematics requirement. A
concentration is required in one of the social sciences (anthropology,
economics, geography, history, political science, or sociology).


A concentration in political science for the social sciences education degree
requires PS 2120(MC), and either 2240(MC) OR 4722(W,S); and nine semester
hours in political science chosen in consultation with department advisor.


A minor in Political Science consists of 18 hours including PS 1000 or 1100.
The remaining 15 hours are elective but the courses must come from at least
three of the areas of political science, as outlined above, and nine of the 15
elective hours must be taken at the 3000-4000 level.


The department also provides a concentration in political science for those
majors in social science education seeking a Bachelor of Science degree and
teacher licensure. Refer to index for that section. For the requirements in
teacher education, see the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.


The Bachelor of Science Criminal Justice (BSCJ) degree consists of 64
semester hours including completion of CJ 1100, 2120, 2150, 2430, 3115, 3400,
3551, 4900; PS 1100; PSY 1200, 2401; SOC 1000 OR 1100, 3330; STT 2810; and 12
semester hours of electives to be taken from a group of specified courses and
approved by the advisor.


To earn a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice degree a field experience in
the form of an internship for 12 semester hours is required. This may be waived
if the student has more than one year of successful work experience in a
criminal justice agency. If it is waived, the student will complete 12 semester
hours of approved criminal justice electives as a substitute.


A minor in criminal justice shall consist of eighteen semester hours
including CJ 1100, 2120, 2430, 3551, and six hours of electives in criminal
justice.


The Department of Political Science/Criminal Justice maintains an honors
program in political science to provide qualified students with an opportunity
for advanced research in a seminar atmosphere. At the freshman level, the
Department of Political Science/Criminal Justice participates in the campus
wide honors program for eligible new students, offering honors sections of a
variety of introductory courses on a rotating basis. 


Honors courses at the junior and senior level will be open to majors with a 3.0
GPA or above in their junior year or by invitation of the instructor or the
honors committee. To graduate with honors, a student must take 9 semester hours
of honors courses in political science, including PS 4510. A student completing
9 semester hours of honors courses with a "B" average and with a 3.45 GPA in
political science will graduate with "honors" in political science. A student
with an "A" average in the honors courses and a 3.56 GPA in all political
science courses will graduate with "highest honors" in political science.
Honors courses count toward the hours requirements for majors, and courses will
satisfy one of the area distribution requirements for majors. For invited
non-majors, honors courses carry full elective credit.


The Department of Political Science/Criminal Justice offers the Master of Arts
and Master of Public Administration degrees. The department also provides
concentrations in community, junior and technical college teaching (political
science) or secondary school teaching (political science) for those majors in
social science education seeking a Master of Arts degree. Persons interested in
these degrees are requested to consult the Graduate Bulletin for
further information.




COURSES OF INSTRUCTION IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE (PS, CJ)
This catalog reflects only the fall and spring semester courses. Courses
offered in summer terms can be found in the Summer Sessions Bulletin.
(For a description of the course abbreviations used in the following list of
courses, see the index for abbreviations.)