Political Science

Career potential

A bachelor's degree with a major in political science will prepare you for careers in government service, politics and private industry within the United States and abroad. You may:

• become a lobbyist in Washington, D.C
• work in a citizens' advocacy group
• manage a non-profit association
• enter the foreign service, the State Department or the Federal Bureau of Investigation

Because the program also trains students to be analytical and to become problem solvers, many alumni fill management positions in private businesses or own companies.

This degree also will prepare you for graduate work or law school. More than 900 attorneys in the Dallas-Fort Worth region are UNT graduates, many with political science degrees. Our political science alumni include two former assistant attorney generals of Texas, federal and state judges, and state, county and local legislators.

For its success, the political science department has received national recognition and student awards from the American Political Science Association, the discipline's professional association.

UNT's Career Center can help you prepare to pursue your career. The center has information about jobs and employers, and the staff can help you with resume and letter writing, job search strategies and interview preparation.

Majoring in political science

As a political science major, you may choose courses in American politics, foreign governments, international relations, political theory, public policy and public law. You will take one required course to learn how to use computers and conduct statistical analyses. Several elective courses will help you learn advanced research techniques, making yourself more competitive in the job market.

If you wish to enter law school, you will want to take public law courses and other courses that emphasize written and oral communication, research into problems facing society, logical reasoning and business practices. These courses will prepare you for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).

Becoming involved in organizations such as Amnesty International, the North Texas College Republicans, the North Texas Democrats, the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance or other politically affiliated groups will enhance your learning experience. You also may be eligible for Pi Sigma Alpha, the political science honor society, or Phi Alpha Delta, the pre-law honors fraternity.

UNT's political science faculty members are excellent teachers as well as outstanding researchers. One has received the university's highest faculty rank, Regents Professor, for excellence in research and teaching. Regents Professors devote half of their teaching time to introductory-level courses. Two faculty members have received UNT's 'Fessor Graham Award for outstanding and unselfish service to students, and five have either been named "Top Profs" by Mortar Board (a senior honor society) or received university awards for teaching excellence.

The department is also among the nation's most active in conducting political science research. Faculty members have received numerous university and national grants to study issues such as

• presidential use of force
• public opinion
• political parties and campaigning
• legislative behavior
• democracy and elections in foreign countries
• international human rights

Several faculty members are considered national experts on their topics, and most members have written books and articles that can be found in top-ranked publications.

The department is committed to meeting the needs of a changing society. To that end, we have established peace studies and international studies programs. These are the department's fastest-growing programs.

The Johnie Christian Family Professorship of Peace Studies provides funding for peace studies and for one senior faculty member to conduct research, as well as funds for student internships.

The international studies program is an interdisciplinary major, and it prepares students for careers in international economics and politics, international development and regional studies such as those of Western and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, East Asia, Latin America and Africa.

In addition to scholarships offered by the university, the department offers two Pender Scholarships of $1,000 each to outstanding new students who declare their intention to major in political science. See the department's undergraduate advisor for more information.

Based on their academic background and faculty nomination, juniors and seniors are also eligible for university awards for their outstanding performances.

Getting hands-on experience

During your junior or senior year, if you have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA, you may spend a semester working as a congressional intern through a practicum course. You may choose to intern in a law office or with a legislator or citizens' group in the Dallas- Fort Worth region.

You may gain experience in political science research by working with a faculty member on a research project. The department also has a special fund that provides travel money to undergraduates who are presenting their research at political science association meetings.

Several faculty members have worked closely with the Ronald E. McNair program, which helps prepare undergraduate students for graduate school.

Upon completion of 12 semester hours at UNT with at least a 2.5 GPA, you may work in a job related to your major through UNT's office of Cooperative Education and Internships. This allows you to earn academic credit and money and gain valuable work experience. Co-op employers pay extremely well, and the jobs usually last several semesters, often until graduation.

More than 1,800 employers work with the office to provide excellent learning opportunities, many of which become permanent full-time positions upon graduation. The office staff also assists with placing students in internships, which last for one full semester or summer.

Preparing for UNT

If you are a high school student, we suggest you prepare for college by becoming computer proficient and taking:

• English … 4 years
• Math … 4 years
• Social science — economics, geography, government, history … 4 years
• Science … 3 years
• Foreign language … 3 years
• Fine arts … 1 year

You will need to take courses in most of these subjects under the university core curriculum required of all undergraduates, in addition to your major courses. Talk with your high school counselor about preparing for college, including the entrance exams (SAT Reasoning Test or ACT) that you should take during your junior year.

As a benefit for transfer students, UNT participates in the Texas Common Course Numbering System. This system makes it easier to transfer credits for general academic courses from one Texas institution to another.

If you're attending a Texas community college, you should consult the UNT Transfer Guide, the UNT Undergraduate Catalog and an academic counselor to discuss your degree plan. Proper planning will help you receive the maximum amount of transfer credits.

Charting your path with academic advising

The political science department has a faculty member who will help you each semester to select the courses you will need to earn your degree. Other faculty members and advisors guide students who are thinking of entering law school. The department office is in Wooten Hall, Room 125.

Curious about courses and other features of this major?
See the current catalog.