Stephen F. Austin State University

Department of Government

Areas of Study & Degrees

The Department also offers students an option of graduating in 5 years with both an undergraduate degree and an MPA in one of the following combinations:

Faculty

Introduction

The Department of Government is a community of teachers and scholars devoted to studying all aspects and every component of political power. The scope of study is broad, including the nature of democracy, American political thought, jurisprudence, political institutions, public policy, public opinion, political participation, political economy, the international political system, and all interactions between citizens and their governments including interest group activities, crime, corrections, legal studies, public law and public administration. Our courses offer both the theoretical knowledge and the practical skills essential to succeed in graduate or professional schools, and they provide a sound foundation for practice in such fields as law, practical politics, criminal justice administration, corrections, nonprofit organization management, public administration, law enforcement, court administration, public opinion research, legal assistantship and juvenile justice.

Our Political Science program involves the social-scientific study of power in four subfields: American Politics, Comparative Politics (the institutions and political processes of other nations), Political Theory and International Relations (transactions among states, international organizations and transactional actors). Complementing this program is our Criminal Justice program, bridging the gap between the law and the social sciences. We accomplish this through the study of the administration of justice (both civil and criminal), the nature of crime, the relationship between law and society, the development of criminal law, and the most effective techniques of crime control, corrections, and law enforcement. Rounding out the study of power is our program in Public Administration, emphasizing professional development and the values that undergird a lifetime of civic involvement, in preparation for management positions in government and nonprofit organizations. This strong tradition of interdisciplinary research and study provides a rich context for the professional study of public policy analysis and management. Together, these three programs embrace the importance of interdisciplinary and cross-cultural inquiry, and through our research, and the opportunities we offer for study abroad, we examine explicitly the international dimensions of politics, crime, justice and administration.

Beyond our undergraduate programs, our Master of Public Administration degree provides the sophisticated knowledge and skills necessary to advance a career in public service, and offers an opportunity for integrating the study of administration with the study of the other social sciences, including economics, geography, history, political science and sociology.

5-Year Overlap Course Sequences

To enhance the educational and career opportunities of our students, the department offers course sequences that combine undergraduate coursework with graduate study leading to the MPA. Each sequence involves a defined progression of courses affording students the opportunity for advancement in their chosen careers and opening doors to more employment opportunities. Students complete their undergraduate degree requirements in the fourth year of study and graduate with a BA or BS. In the fifth year, students earn the MPA with an emphasis area chosen by the student. Each student will work closely with a faculty advisEr to determine the appropriate courses.

Political Science Majors & Minor

A first major in political science consists of PSC 303, 490, and 30 additional advanced hours in political science. A second major consists of PSC 303 and 24 additional advanced hours in political science. A minor in political science consists of 18 hours in advanced coursework. PSC 141 and 142 do not count toward the major, second major or minor. Students with a first major in political science may choose the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree.

Legal Studies

The department offers courses designed to prepare students for law school, public service careers with a strong legal component, and graduate study in political science with a public law emphasis. Appropriate political science courses for a pre-law emphasis would include: PSC 301, 302, 402, 403, and 12 semester hours selected from PSC 305, 313, 405, 412, 413, 441, 442, 447, 448, 449 and 450. Electives could include ACC 231 and 232; BLW 335 and 437; CJS 413; and PHI 163. There is no pre-law major.

Undergraduate Honors Study in Political Science

A student may apply for Honors in Political Science if he or she meets the criteria described under the title "Departmental Honors Study" in the introductory section devoted to the College of Liberal and Applied Arts in this bulletin. Applicants may procure admission forms from the chair of the department. An honors committee of the department reviews applications, approves admissions, suggests individual projects and administers all regulations pertaining to honors study.

The number of semester hours of credit (one to six) for the honors course (PSC 398H) is determined by the scope of the project undertaken. At the completion of the project, the student will receive a written and an oral examination. He or she also must submit to the department a copy of the research project to be retained by the department. Before registering for the honors course, a student must receive written permission from the dean of Liberal and Applied Arts.

Political Science Honor Society

Junior, senior and graduate political science students who, (1) have completed at least 12 semester hours in political science, with at least six of those hours at SFA, and (2) have a 3.20 grade point average both overall and in political science, may apply for membership in Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society.

Public Administration Programs

The Public Administration Program provides a liberal arts education to career-oriented students. It prepares students for managerial careers at the local, state, and national levels of government, affords career-enhancing fundamentals for those in the private sector, and provides a strong foundation for graduate school. Supervised internships are available for qualified students. The high level of contact between the public administration faculty and representatives from local, regional, state, and national governments enhances job placement possibilities.

Public Administration Major and Minor

The public administration major consists of two components:

  1. A 21 semester hour core requirement of PBA 300, 305, 310, 400, 405, 415, and CJS 101, and
  2. Nine additional semester hours selected from PBA 410, 470, 475; PSC 313, 403, 446, 447, 448, 449, 450, or 499.

Students who major in public administration may choose the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree.

Students also may elect to minor in public administration. The minor consists of the 21-semester hours public administration core requirement of PBA 300, 305, 310, 400, 405, 415, and CJS 101.

A second major in public administration consists of the 21 semester hour core requirement of PBA 300, 305, 310, 400, 405, 415, and CJS 101 plus six semester hours from political science.

Public Administration Honor Society

Junior, senior and graduate public administration students who, (1) have completed at least 12 semester hours in political science, with at least six of those hours at SFA, and (2) have a 3.20 grade-point average both overall and in public administration, may apply for membership in Pi Alpha Alpha, the National Public Administration Honor Society.

Criminal Justice Programs

A major in criminal justice prepares students for one of several professional options in the field of justice administration. The Law Enforcement sequence makes possible a career in public law enforcement (federal, state or community) as well as private and industrial security. The Corrections emphasis prepares criminal justice majors to become practitioners in institutional corrections, community-based correctional settings or juvenile justice administration. Legal Assistant enables students to prepare for occupations in ancillary aspects of the legal profession such as legal assistant, paralegal research and court administration.

The criminal justice major requires 33 to 34 semester hours of course work to include a minimum of 27 advanced (300-400) hours. All majors are advised that they should consider selected courses depending upon specific career interests in the field of justice administration.

Law Enforcement (33 hours with a Minimum of a C in each course)

Corrections (33 hours with a Minimum of a C in each course)

Legal Assistant (34 hours with a Minimum of a C in each course)

Note: Students are encouraged to select from the following to meet the elective requirement in the Legal Assistant sequence: BLW 335 (Business Law), 366 (Real Estate Law), 448 (Estate Planning) or 456 (Employment and Agency Law).

Second Major in Criminal Justice (24 hours)

A second major in criminal justice requires 24 semester hours, including CJS101 (three hours) and the following:

Criminal Justice Minor (18 hours)

The minor in Criminal Justice requires 18 semester hours, including CJS101 (three hours), & the following:

Professional Organizations

Students who are academically qualified may join Alpha Phi Sigma, the National Criminal Justice Honor Society. Undergraduate students must maintain a minimum of 3.2 overall GPA on a 4.0 scale and a 3.2 GPA in criminal justice courses. Students must also rank in the top 35 percent of their class and have completed a minimum of four courses within the criminal justice curriculum. The Honor Society is open to criminal justice majors and minors. Graduate students are required to maintain a minimum of a 3.4 GPA in both criminal justice courses and overall courses. Students must have completed a minimum of four courses within the criminal justice curriculum.

Each curricular pattern or sequence within the department has one or more professional organizations in which students in that area of study are eligible for membership and participation.

SFA is an institutional member of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences and the American Association for Paralegal Education.

Courses in Political Science (PSC)

Unless otherwise indicated, courses are 3 semester hours credit, 3 hours lecture per week.

Students must successfully complete six semester hours of introductory political science courses (PCS 141, 142, or equivalent) before enrolling in advanced political science courses.

141.

Introduction to American Government: Theory and Politics (GOV 2301) - Origins and development of American and Texas government systems; federalism; civil liberties and civil rights; and interest groups, political parties and elections. This course meets the legislative requirements for a course on the constitutions of the United States and Texas.

142.

Introduction to American Government: Structure and Functions (GOV 2302) - Legislative, executive and judicial functions in American and Texas governments; public policy areas such as finance, social services and foreign policy; Texas local and county governments.

301.

Judicial Process - Analysis of law and the legal system; legal training, the bar and legal occupations; the jury system; criminal and civil procedures. Prerequisites: PSC 141 and 142.

302.

Topics in the Development of American Law - Usually taught as Judicial Behavior: judicial activism and restraint roles, judicial selection, Texas and federal court structure with emphasis upon the U.S. Supreme Court. With a change in topic, may be repeated one time for a total of six hours credit. Prerequisites: PSC 141 and 142.

303.

Introduction to Political Science - Introduction to the discipline of political science emphasizing political ideas, concepts, institutions and methods of analysis. Required of all political science majors and second majors. Prerequisites: PSC 141 and 142.

304.

Major Foreign Governments - Latin America, Europe, Asia, Middle East, Africa - Government and politics of the principal countries of each area. Prerequisites: PSC 141 and 142.

305.

Appellate Advocacy I - Introduction to appellate courts and the appellate process with a focus on practical knowledge and skills such as persuasive writing and client advocacy necessary for the successful study of law.

306.

Political Parties & Interest Groups - An analysis of the development and functioning of American political parties and interest groups and their role in the political, policy and administrative processes of government. Prerequisites: PSC 141 and 142.

313.

State Governments - Systematic and intensive study of state governmental organization, operation and functions as carried on at the state level throughout the United States. Prerequisites: PSC 141 and 142.

332.

International Politics - Forces and forms of international politics. Restraints on the struggle for power, balance of power, morality, law. Problems of world stability, peaceful change, international interdependence, global governance, structure and dilemmas of the international political economy, nature and influence of non-state and transnational actors. Prerequisites: PSC 141 and 142.

333.

International Political Economy - A survey of the analyses of the relationship between economics and politics in the formation of states’ economic policies and in international economic relations. Prerequisites: PSC 141 and 142.

334.

International Human Rights - Studies the sources of human rights and the evolution of an international human rights norm. Investigates the struggle between international human rights and state sovereignty, the question of universalism versus cultural relativism, and the motivations for state-sponsored torture and its effectiveness. Analyzes first-hand accounts of torture. Prerequisites: PSC 141 and 142.

335.

Classical Political Thought - Development and analysis of classical political thought from the pre-Socratic period through the Middle Ages. Prerequisites: PSC 141 and 142.

336.

Modern Political Thought - Development and analysis of political thought from Machiavelli through the present. Prerequisites: PSC 141 and 142.

337.

Theories of Democracy - An examination and comparison and contrast of the varieties of democratic theory, including those based in liberalism and civic republicanism. Traces the development of those theories over time with emphasis on recent variations such as libertarianism and deliberative democracy. Prerequisites: PSC 141 and 142.

338.

American Foreign Policy - Analysis of the formulation and control of United States foreign policy and the origin and content of contemporary policies; formulation and application of theories of U.S. foreign policy. Prerequisites: PSC 141 and 142.

339.

The European Union - An overview of the forces that shape the creation of the European Union and the ongoing process of European integration. The course includes a survey of the institutional arrangements, decision-making processes, and polices of the European Union.

397.

Topics in International and Comparative Politics - Analysis of selected topics in international politics. May be repeated one time with different topic for a total of six semester credit hours. Prerequisite: PSC 141 and 142.

398H.

Honors Reading and Research - Two to six semester hours. Program of reading and research for individual instruction of the honors student. Amount of credit determined by the scope of the program. Prerequisites: PSC 141 and 142.

399.

Topics in American Politics - Analysis of selected topics in American politics. May be repeated one time with different topic for a total of six-semester hours credit. Prerequisites: PSC 141 and 142.

403.

American Constitutional Law - A study of the American federal constitutional provisions concerning the organization of government and the powers, rights, duties, and responsibilities of both the government and the individual citizen. Major Supreme Court cases will be analyzed and critiqued. Prerequisites: PSC 141 and 142.

405.

Appellate Advocacy II - Significantly more advanced in skill building than PSC 305, this course emphasizes complex appellate level research, writing, oral advocacy, and the fine points of courtroom procedure and decorum. Students are required to participate in moot court activities.

412.

Public Opinion & American Democracy - A study of the origins, measurement and impact of public opinion in the practice of American democracy. Prerequisites: PSC 141 and 142.

413.

Campaigns and Elections - Examination of the behavior of candidates, campaigns and voters in the electoral process. Topics: the role of the media, the impact of money, the operation of political campaigns and the effect of campaign laws. Prerequisites: PSC 141 and 142

433.

American Political Thought - Development of American political ideologies. Ideas of leading American political thinkers and movements from colonial times to the present. Prerequisites: PSC 141 and 142.

441.

International Law - Nature, sources and application of the law of nations. Prerequisites: PSC 141 and 142.

442.

Readings in Public Law - Readings from the literature that exemplify the social scientific study of the state and federal courts, judicial selection, judicial behavior, criminal and civil procedure, the politics of law, the actors in the court system, the legal profession, and the nature and functions of law.

447.

The U.S. Congress - Structure, powers, organization, political control and procedures of Congress. Prerequisites: PSC 141 and 142.

448.

The American Presidency - Development, power, organization and influence of the presidency. Prerequisites: PSC 141 and 142.

449.

Urban Affairs - Analysis of urban setting, growth and change, legal framework, participation and politics, reform, administration and finance. Prerequisites: PSC 141 and 142.

450.

Urban Political Problems - Analysis of such contemporary urban political problems as crime and law enforcement, transportation, pollution, health, education, welfare and poverty, housing and urban renewal, planning and zoning. Prerequisites: PSC 141 and 142.

475.

Special Problems - One to three semester hours. Credit determined by the amount and difficulty of the project undertaken. Individual research for advanced political science students. Prerequisites: PSC 141, 142 and six semester hours of upper-level political science; consent of the instructor and department chair; Junior standing.

476.

Special Problems - One to three semester hours. Credit determined by the amount and difficulty of the project undertaken. Individual research for advanced political science students. Prerequisites: PSC 141 and 142, six semester hours of upper-level political science, plus PSC 475; consent of the instructor and department chair; Junior standing.

490.

Senior Seminar - Three hours of course credit; seminar format. A capstone course to refine research and writing skills of majors in their final year of study by providing an opportunity to draw together concepts from previous coursework. Topics vary by semester. Prerequisites: PSC 303, plus nine additional hours of upper level (300-400) political science coursework. Senior standing.

498.

Intern Seminar - Familiarizes students with policy processes through exposure to participants ranging from interest group representatives to bureaucratic leaders to elected decision makers. This course is open only to students who are participating in the department’s organized, supervised, semester-long internship program. Prerequisites: PSC 141, 142; advanced standing and permission of instructor.

499.

Internship in Political Science - Supervised work with governmental bodies to gain field experience that augments classroom training; one to six semester hours credit. Prerequisites: PSC 141, PSC 142, junior standing, and nine hours of advanced (300 level and above) PSC courses; and approval of the supervising faculty member and department chair.

Courses in Public Administration (PBA)

Unless otherwise indicated, courses are 3 semester hours credit, 3 hours lecture per week.

300.

Introduction to Public Administration - An overview of the field including topics, such as public versus private administration, the study of organizations, personnel administration, financial resources management, budgeting, decision-making and policy-making. Prerequisites: PSC 141 and 142.

305.

American Public Policy - Study of various concepts, approaches and the processes used in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of public policy. Prerequisites: PSC 141 and 142.

310.

Public Personnel Administration - Context, processes and challenges of human resource management including legal rights and responsibilities, job analysis, recruitment, selection, position classification, job evaluation, performance appraisal, compensation and benefits, and training. Prerequisites: PSC 141 and 142.

400.

Management of Public Organization - Behavior, structures, environment, culture, group dynamics and development of public sector organizations from a managerial perspective. Prerequisites: PSC 141, 142 and PBA 300 or instructor approval.

405.

Policy Analysis - Study of analytical tools necessary for evaluating public policies and problems. Prerequisites: PSC 141, 142 and PBA 300 or instructor approval.

410.

Topics in Public Administration - Study of selected subject areas in contemporary public administration with an emphasis on practical skills and field experiences. Sample topics: ethics, conflict resolution, administrative law and advanced topics in public policy. May be repeated once with a change of topic for a total of six hours credit. Prerequisites: PSC 141, 142 and PBA 300 or instructor approval.

415.

Public Budgeting and Financial Administration - Budgeting processes, types of budgets, the politics of budgeting, revenue systems, capital improvement planning, cash management, debt administration, purchasing, risk management, and financial control as practiced in local governments. Prerequisites: PSC 141, 142 and PBA 300 or instructor approval.

470.

Internship in Public Administration - Supervised work experience with an approved public or not-for-profit organization. The course is graded on a P/F basis (three semester hour credit). The course may be repeated once for a maximum of six hours credit toward the degree. Prerequisites: completion of 18 hours in PBA courses with a 2.5 GPA; consent of the instructor and department chair; Junior standing.

475.

Independent Study in Public Administration - One to three semester hours. Credit determined by the amount and difficulty of the project undertaken. Individual research for advanced political science students. Prerequisites: completion of nine hours in PBA courses with a 2.5 GPA; consent of the instructor and department chair; Junior standing.

Courses in Criminal Justice (CJS)

Unless otherwise indicated, courses are 3 semester hours credit, 3 hours lecture per week.

101.

Introduction to Criminal Justice (CRIJ 1301) - History, development and philosophy of law enforcement; introduction to criminal justice agencies. Required for all criminal justice majors and minors.

201.

Criminal Investigation (CRIJ 2314) - Introduction to the fundamentals of criminal investigation, including collection and preservation of evidence.

213.

Civil Procedure - Introduction to the rules of procedure governing the process of civil litigation with emphasis on those portions that normally involve the legal assistant in trial preparation, discovery and drafting of pleadings.

214.

Legal Ethics - One semester hour, one hour lecture. Review of the required standards of ethical conduct required by the legal profession for legal assistants.

231.

Introduction to Corrections (CRIJ 2313) - Comprehensive survey of measures used, with and without confinement, under provisions of penal law.

301.

Law Enforcement - Policing as a social activity; police institutions and processes examined from historical and contemporary perspectives.

303.

Criminal Law - Analysis of the substantive law of crime and defenses.

305.

Criminal Procedure - Examination of the rules of procedure governing due process issues in the enforcement of the criminal law.

307.

Criminal Justice Practitioner and Stress - Inform future criminal justice practitioners about the phenomenon known as stress and specifically the stressors involved in all facets of the criminal justice profession.

308.

Agency Response to Terrorism - Assessment of terrorist threats to both government and residents of the United States from foreign and domestic sources.

309.

Management of Critical Incidents - Survey of methods for effectively managing critical incidents in criminal justice agencies, including hostage and barricaded incidents, as well as emotionally disturbed suspects. Emphasis on negotiations as the best means for resolving conflicts and saving the lives of those involved.

310.

Administration of Criminal Justice Agencies - Examination of management of criminal justice agencies to include the role, scope, and functions of supervisors and the role of risk management.

311.

Evidence - Techniques, rules and methods applied to the acquisition, admissibility and use of evidence.

312.

Correctional Procedural Law - Examination of the legal procedures applicable to the administration of correctional institutions and community-based supervision of convicted offenders.

313.

Corporate Security Law - Survey of the law governing the private sector processes of protecting lives and property in the business environment.

314.

Corporate Security and Assets Protection - Analysis of protective measures utilized by industrial, commercial and community organizations.

332.

Community Based Corrections - Analysis of methods utilized in probation and parole. Examines alternative methods, such as halfway houses.

350.

Comparative Criminal Justice Systems - Comparison of the U. S. criminal justice system with systems of selected other countries, beginning with a review of the foundations of the criminal justice system and extending to the various components of these systems.

351.

Criminal Deviance - Examination of the economic, social and spatial aspects of selected criminal offenses. Prerequisite: SOC354. Suggested background: SOC 353 and PSY 385.

371.

Survey of Forensic Science - Introductory survey of forensic sciences; fingerprints, firearms, tool marks, documents, hairs, fibers, glass, soil and biological materials, such as blood and semen; crime scene procedures and methods of laboratory analysis.

401.

Readings in Criminal Justice - Advanced readings in the theories, philosophies and practices in criminal justice. Requires extensive review of writings with emphasis on major development in the practice of criminal justice. Prerequisite: Junior standing. May be repeated once with a change of topic.

411.

Juvenile Justice Administration - Legal and philosophical foundations of the juvenile justice system with respect to recent legislative and judicial mandates and social science research.

413.

Legal Research and Writing - Students will develop their legal research and writing skills by preparing appellate briefs and memoranda developed from a research methodology that includes the use of restatements of the law, legal digests, law encyclopaedias, state and federal regulation, law reporters, federal and state statutes, and law reviews. Prerequisite: Junior standing.

420.

Criminal Justice Planning - Introduction to planning and evaluation techniques. Examines the design of experimental programs in the field of criminal justice. Prerequisite: Junior standing.

431.

Penology - Examination of the theories of punishment. Economic impact of these punishment models compared within the context of the operation and function of confinement institutions. Prerequisites: CJS 312 and 332.

450.

Problems in Criminal Justice - Analysis of particular issues posing major difficulties to the police, courts and correctional agencies. May be repeated once with a change of problem examined. Prerequisite: Junior standing.

460.

Internship in Criminal Justice - Supervised work experience with an approved justice agency. Graded on a P/F basis. Prerequisites: Criminal justice major or minor with Junior standing, both overall and criminal justice GPA of 2.5 or better, completion of 18 semester hours of criminal justice course work, and consent of the instructor. Incidental fee required is $50.

475.

Independent Study - Directed independent study, including in-depth research, reading and writing in the field of criminal justice. Prerequisites: Criminal justice major or minor with junior standing, both overall and criminal justice GPA of 2.5 or better, completion of 18 semester hours of criminal justice coursework, and consent of the instructor and department chair. May be repeated only once.