Political Science         

Dr. Marcus Stadelmann, Chair

Are you interested in American Politics? International Affairs? The nature of justice? Are you concerned about critical issues like health care, the environment, civil rights, nuclear proliferation, and the face of the "New World Order"? Do you want to study these subjects and pursue a career based on your interests? If so, you should select political science as your major.

Bachelor of Arts/Science in Political Science

Mission Statement

The Political Science department at the University of Texas at Tyler provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the problems and processes of politics. In addition to acquiring critical writing, communication, and analytical skills, political science majors master the political institutions of both Texas and the United States, explore the intricacies of international relations and foreign policy, compare political systems, gain experience with the law, and are challenged by the basic philosophical questions of political existence.

Learning Outcomes

As a result of their experience in the program in Political Science at UT-Tyler, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of American governmental institutions, law and policy: Students will demonstrate an understanding of the constitutional, institutional, political and legal processes and structures of the United States.

2. Describe and analyze political theories and ideologies: Students will describe, classify, and analyze the major theories and ideologies that are used to frame political discussions and explain the basic institutions of government and politics, including what they do in times of economic, political, and social change.

3. Describe and analyze global politics: Students will describe, classify, and analyze the major theories, methods, and findings that are used to explain and to assess the roles performed by citizens and by governments in global politics and around the world.

4. Describe and compare governments: Students will demonstrate basic knowledge of a variety of approaches used to study governments, politics, and cultures of other countries.

5. Apply critical thinking and research methodology: Students will deploy critical thinking and their methodological and writing skills to design and to conduct research on problems in government, law, politics, and/or policy, and to deal with real-world goals, events and developments at the local, regional, state, national, and international levels.

Master of Arts in Political Science

Mission Statement

The Master of Arts program at UT Tyler is designed to train scholars who want to not only understand the modern world, but act in it as well. The M.A. program in Political Science leads to an entry-level professional degree and is designed to develop advanced speaking, writing, analytical, and research skills to prepare students to pursue a Ph.D. at an accredited research institution or for careers in teaching or in the public or private service sector.

Learning Outcomes

1. Political Science graduate students will be well-versed in the scholarly debates in each subdiscipline and their implications for our understanding of contemporary politics.

2. Political Science graduate students will demonstrate advanced writing, reading, research and orals skills.

3. Graduate students interested in continuing their graduate education in Ph.D. programs will acquire the necessary skills to get accepted and succeed in their studies.

4. Graduate students wanting to teach at the Junior College level, will acquire the necessary skills to succeed in this endeavor.

Political Science is the study of the fundamentals of government and the political behavior of individuals and groups through both humanistic and scientific methodologies.