- AcademicsDegree TypeLocations
- Admissions
- Tuition & Aid
- Student Life
- About UNT
- Research
- Athletics
- Giving
Political Science Minor
Program type:
Minor
Format:
On Campus
Est. time to complete:
2-3 semesters
Credit Hours:
18
Enhance your degree with new perspectives and scientific skills that unravel the way
the world works.
UNT's Political Science program combines cutting-edge research with award-winning
teaching to ensure your academic and career goals are met. Our courses provide a deep
understanding of relevant issues in local, national and international governments.
The faculty of the Department of Political Science at the University of North Texas
have an outstanding reputation for scholarly research and teaching in a highly-ranked
department.
Want more info?
We're so glad you're interested in UNT! Let us know if you'd like more information and we'll get you everything you need.
Request More InfoWhy Earn a Political Science Minor?
UNT’s Department of Political Science department offers students the opportunity to study American Politics, Comparative Politics, International Relations and Political Theory. The department also has strengths in areas that bridge traditional subfield boundaries, such as Peace and Conflict, Political Institutions, and Race and Ethnic Politics.
You may choose courses in American politics, public law, political theory, public policy, government and politics around the world, and international relations. You'll also take one required course in political research methods. A minor in political science will help diversify your education and prepare you for a career path working with public policy or politics.
Our faculty members are among the most active researchers in the field, and many are considered experts in their focus area. They've written books and articles for respected publications and received numerous grants to study:
- Conflict and security research
- Data visualization and text-mining
- Democracy and elections in foreign countries
- International human rights
- Legislative behavior
- Political parties and campaigning
- Presidential use of force
Political Science Minor Highlights
UNT's Moot Court — a simulation of an appellate court's proceedings —provides experience
in legal research, brief writing and oral argument. UNT has one of the state's top
Moot Court programs.
We offer a five-year B.A./Master’s grad track program for highly motivated Political
Science majors that allows you to take graduate-level courses during your senior year
and earn and M.A. in five years.
The Department of Political Science also oversees the Peace Studies program and the
Castleberry Peace Institute. Our Peace Studies program is the only one of its kind
at a four-year university in the Southwest, and the Castleberry Peace Institute houses
the region's only peace studies research center.
You can meet other students who share your interest by joining one of UNT's politically
affiliated student groups, the Pi Sigma Alpha national political science honor society
or the Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity.
Our political science alumni include attorneys in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, two
former assistant attorney generals of Texas, federal and state judges, and state,
county and local legislators.
The Department of Political Science provides opportunities to supplement your learning
with real-world experience, including research assistantships, department-sponsored
internships and research presentations at conferences.
Political Science Minor Courses You Could Take
US and Texas Constitutions and Institutions (3 hrs)
An introduction to the institutions of government, with particular emphasis on the
U.S. and Texas Constitutions. Focus on the structure and powers of the three branches
of government (both national and Texas); the division of power between those branches
(separation of powers); the division of power between the national and state governments
(federalism); and issues related to civil rights and civil liberties.
The Legislative Process (3 hrs)
Legislative behavior, representation, selection of legislators, organization and procedures;
relationships to other branches of government.
Political Economy of Race, Gender and Immigration (3 hrs)
Examines theoretical approaches to understanding and integrating gender, race, and
immigration in economics and their political impact. Additionally, examines capitalist
development in the context of race, gender, and immigration both historically and
in the modern political era on the national, state, and local level.
International Ethics (3 hrs)
A reading of authors from ancient to the modern world who have examined ethical issues
as they relate to international politics. Consideration of ethical positions such
as amoral realism, legal positivism, human rights, critiques of human rights, just
war theories and Islamic approaches to international ethics. Topics may include the
nature of law and morality as well as policy issues such as the use of force against
terrorist.
American Intergovernmental Relations (3 hrs)
Federal system; constitutional and theoretical bases of federalism; national/state/local
government conflict and cooperation; regional arrangements; political centralization;
impact upon American traditions; future prospects.
US Political Behavior and Policy (3 hrs)
Explores the connection between the will of the people and the policies implemented
by government by focusing on individual political values and attitudes, the mechanisms
that connect individual beliefs to government action, the US Constitution, and the
outcomes of government policies.
Learn More About UNT
Watch this video to learn more about what makes UNT great!
