Political Science Student Handbook

Preliminary Notes: 

1. If there are any differences between regulations in this handbook and those found either in the Undergraduate Catalog or official statements of the Undergraduate Council, the student must follow the regulations in the latter two sources. See http://catalog.utk.edu/. 
2. The major and minor requirements described here apply to students entering UT during or after the fall 2016 semester. If you entered UT before the fall 2016 semester, please contact Dr. Pat Freeland, Director of Undergraduate Studies, at pfreelan@utk.edu for details on major and minor requirements. 

Political Science: an Overview 

The Department of Political Science at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville offers a variety of courses of general interest to undergraduates. The discipline of political science is broad and diverse, comprising the study of everything from campaigns and elections to ancient political philosophy. As a blend of the theoretical and the practical, political science has much to offer either as an undergraduate major or minor or as an elective field for the non-major. It provides a broad liberal arts background for careers in law, government service, business, journalism, and education. It also provides an excellent foundation for students who wish to pursue post-graduate study, especially in the fields of law, political science, and public administration. 

Political Science Major and Minor Requirements 

The Major 

The Political Science (POLS) Major consists of thirty-one (31) hours of political science course credit beyond the two major prerequisite courses, Political Science 101 (or Political Science 107, the honors version of Political Science 101), and Political Science 102. 

All majors must take Political Science 101 (or Political Science 107, the honors version of Political Science 101), and Political Science 102. Here are the requirements beyond these courses: 

1. Each POLS major must take four of the following courses in our Foundations of Political Science series: 

• POLS 200 – Introduction to Political Philosophy 
• POLS 215 – Tennessee Government and Politics 
• POLS 240 – Introduction to Public Administration and Public Policy 
• POLS 249 – Introduction to Comparative Politics 
• POLS 265 – Introduction to International Relations 

2. Each POLS major must earn eighteen (18) hours of upper-division political science course credit. 

3. Each POLS major must take our Capstone Course, POLS 480. 

Note: (1) At least nine (9) hours in the major must be earned at UTK. 

The Minor 

The Political Science Minor consists of eighteen (18) hours of political science course credit beyond the two minor prerequisite courses, Political Science 101 (or Political Science 107, the honors version of Political Science 101), and Political Science 102. 

All minors must take Political Science 101 (or Political Science 107, the honors version of Political Science 101), and Political Science 102. Here are the requirements beyond these courses: 

1. Each POLS minor must take two of the following courses: 

• POLS 200 – Introduction to Political Philosophy 
• POLS 240 – Introduction to Public Administration and Public Policy 
• POLS 249 – Introduction to Comparative Politics 
• POLS 265 – Introduction to International Relations 
• POLS 301 – Research Methods 

2. Each minor must earn twelve (12) hours of upper-division political science course 

Credit (POLS 480 – Capstone does not count toward this requirement). 

Notes: (1) At least six (6) hours in the minor must be earned at UTK. 

The Public Administration Concentration 

Students majoring in political science who wish to prepare for a career in public service may select the Political Science Major with a Concentration in Public Administration (henceforth PAC). The concentration consists of thirty-four (34) hours of political science course credit beyond the two major prerequisite courses, Political Science 101 (or Political Science 107, the honors version of Political Science 101), and Political Science 102. 

All PAC majors must take Political Science 101 (or Political Science 107, the honors version of Political Science 101), Political Science 102, and Economics 201. Here are the requirements beyond these courses: 

1. Each PAC major must take three of the following courses: 

• POLS 200 – Introduction to Political Philosophy 
• POLS 249 – Introduction to Comparative Politics 
• POLS 265 – Introduction to International Relations 
• POLS 301 – Research Methods 

2. Each PAC major must take the following course: 

• POLS 240 – Introduction to Public Administration and Public Policy 

3. Each PAC major must take any four of the following courses: 

• ECON 331 – Government and Business 
• ECON 333 – Law and Economics 
• ECON 362 – Environmental and Natural Resource Policy 
• POLS 311 – Contemporary Issues in American Public Policy 
• POLS 440 – Public Management and Human Resources 
• POLS 441 – Public Budgeting 
• POLS 442 – Administrative Law and Regulatory Policymaking 

4. Each PAC major also must earn an additional nine (9) hours of upper-division political science course credit. 

5. Each PAC major must take our Capstone Course, POLS 480. 

Note: (1) At least nine (9) hours in the major must be earned at UTK. 

The International Affairs Concentration 

Students majoring in political science who wish to emphasize transnational politics in their study may select the Political Science Major with a Concentration in International Affairs (henceforth IAC). The concentration consists of thirty-one (31) hours of political science course credit beyond the two major prerequisite courses, Political Science 101 (or Political Science 107, the honors version of Political Science 101), and Political Science 102. 

All IAC majors must take Political Science 101 (or Political Science 107, the honors version of Political Science 101), and Political Science 102. Here are the requirements beyond these courses: 

1. Each IAC major must take both of the following courses in our Foundations of Political Science series: 

• POLS 249 – Introduction to Comparative Politics 
• POLS 265 – Introduction to International Relations 

2. Each IAC major must take one of the following courses: 

• POLS 200 – Introduction to Political Philosophy 
• POLS 301 – Research Methods 

3. Each IAC major must take four of the following courses, including at least one course from each list: 

List 1: International Relations 

• POLS 366 – United States Foreign Policy Process 
• POLS 370 – Contemporary International Problems 
• POLS 371 – Terrorism and Political Violence
• POLS 372 – Civil War and the International System
• POLS 469 – The Politics of Genocide
• POLS 470 – International Law 
• POLS 471 – International Political Economy 
• POLS 472 – Conflict Processes 
• POLS 473 – Negotiation, Bargaining, and Diplomacy 
• POLS 474 – International Organization 
• POLS 479 – Regional Analysis of International Politics 
• POLS 483 – Arms Control and Nuclear Proliferation

List 2: Comparative Government and Politics 

• POLS 350 – Political Change in Developing Areas 
• POLS 351 – Democracy and Authoritarianism
• POLS 352 – Political Challenges of Globalization
• POLS 451 – Ethnic Conflict in Foreign Countries 
• POLS 452 – The Politics of Sub-Saharan Africa 
• POLS 453 – Western European Politics 
• POLS 454 – Government and Politics of China and Japan
• POLS 455 – Identity, Conflict, and State Building in South Asian Countries 
• POLS 456 –Development and Decay of Democracy in Latin America
• POLS 459 – The Crisis of Communism 
• POLS 461 – Comparative Public Policy 
• POLS 463 – Politics and Power in the Middle East
• POLS 464 – Fear and Bias in Migration Politics
• POLS 465 – Nuclear Politics of the Middle East

4. Each IAC major must earn an additional nine (9) hours of upper-division political science course credit. 

5. Each IAC major must take our Capstone Course, POLS 480. 

Note: (1) At least nine (9) hours in the major must be earned at UTK. 

The Law and Courts Concentration

Students majoring in political science who wish to emphasize public law and judicial processes in their study may select the Political Science Major with a Concentration in Law and Courts (henceforth LAC). The concentration consists of thirty-one (31) hours of political science course credit beyond the two major prerequisite courses, Political Science 101 (or Political Science 107, the honors version of Political Science 101), and Political Science 102. 

All LAC majors must take Political Science 101 (or Political Science 107, the honors version of Political Science 101), and Political Science 102. Here are the requirements beyond these courses: 

1. Each LAC major must take all of the following five courses: 

• POLS 200 – Introduction to Political Philosophy 
• POLS 249 – Introduction to Comparative Politics 
• POLS 265 – Introduction to International Relations 
• POLS 301 – Research Methods 
• POLS 330 – Law in American Society 

2. Each LAC major must take five of the following courses: 

• POLS 341 – Judicial Process and Policymaking 
• POLS 430 – United States Constitutional Law: Sources of Power and Restraint 
• POLS 431 – United States Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties 
• POLS 435 – Criminal Law and Procedure 
• POLS 442 – Administrative Law and Regulatory Policymaking 
• POLS 470 – International Law 

3. Each LAC major must take our Capstone Course, POLS 480. 

Note: (1) At least nine (9) hours in the major must be earned at UTK. 

Honors in Political Science 

The department’s Honors Program emphasizes the ideals of a superior liberal arts education and gives students a more rigorous and intensive preparation in political science. The Honors Concentration (henceforth HC) consists of thirty-four (34) hours of political science course credit beyond the two major prerequisite courses, Political Science 101 (or Political Science 107, the honors version of Political Science 101), and Political Science 102. These thirty-four (34) hours must include four courses numbered at the 200-level, which must be completed with a minimum cumulative average of 3.0. An HC major must have a minimum GPA of 3.3 in political science, a minimum overall GPA of 3.25, and at least 12 hours of university-designated honors courses (POLS 487 and POLS 488 count toward this total, as do any hours earned through honors by contract). 

All HC majors must take Political Science 101 (or Political Science 107, the honors version of Political Science 101), and Political Science 102. Here are the requirements beyond these courses: 

1. Each HC major must take three of the following courses in our Foundations of Political Science series: 

• POLS 200 – Introduction to Political Philosophy 
• POLS 215 – Tennessee Government and Politics 
• POLS 240 – Introduction to Public Administration and Public Policy 
• POLS 249 – Introduction to Comparative Politics 
• POLS 265 – Introduction to International Relations 

2. Each HC major also must take the following course: 

• POLS 301 – Research Methods 

3. As a senior, each HC major must take the following two courses (the Senior Honors sequence): 

• POLS 487 – Senior Honors: Thesis and Seminar I (fall; the student will develop a thesis topic) 
• POLS 488 – Senior Honors: Thesis and Seminar II (spring; the student will complete an honors thesis) 

4. Each HC major also must earn an additional fifteen (15) hours of upper-division political science course credit. 

5. Each HC major must take our Capstone Course, POLS 480. 

Notes: (1) At least nine (9) hours in the major must be earned at UTK; (2) The number of students in the Honors Program is small. Admission to the program is selective, and by application. Generally, the department admits only those majors who have completed more than forty (40) hours of coursework with a minimum GPA of 3.0. A student’s GPA, however, does not automatically qualify or disqualify him/her from admission to the Honors Program. A student must apply for and be admitted to the Honors Program by the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Political Science. An application for the Honors Program is available on the Department of Political Science website and at the department’s physical location in 1001 McClung Tower. 

The BA-MPPA Accelerated Degree Program 

For qualified undergraduate students, the Department of Political Science offers a BA-MPPA program in which a student may earn a BA in Political Science and an MPPA degree (Master of Public Policy and Administration). This program enables a qualified undergraduate student to take up to 9 hours of approved graduate courses as a senior and to have these hours count toward the BA degree and the MPPA degree. A student who is conditionally admitted to the BA-MPPA program may, during the fourth year of undergraduate study, complete up to 9 hours of graduate credit that counts toward both the BA and MPPA, provided that these graduate credit hours were approved by the Department Head (or designee) and by the Graduate School prior to satisfying all requirements for the BA degree. 

A student typically is considered for conditional admission to the BA-MPPA program during or immediately following his/her third year of undergraduate study at UT. A student must be conditionally admitted before taking a graduate course that is to be used to satisfy the requirements of both the BA degree and the MPPA degree. The Department of Political Science will inform an applicant of his/her admission status prior to the beginning of his/her fourth or final year of undergraduate study. Conditional admission into the BA-MPPA program does not guarantee acceptance into either the Graduate School or the MPPA program. A student who has been admitted conditionally to the BA-MPPA program must apply for admission to the Graduate School and the MPPA program during his/her fourth or final year of undergraduate study. A student will be admitted fully to the BA-MPPA program only after he/she has been accepted by both the Graduate School and by the MPPA program. Once fully admitted to the MPPA program, each BA-MPPA student is required to complete the standard curriculum for the MPPA degree. 

To be considered for conditional admission to the BA-MPPA program, a student must: 

 Be a declared Political Science major 

 Have a minimum overall GPA of 3.4 

 Have completed at least 15 hours of coursework in Political Science 

 Have completed at least 90 hours of the 120 hours of coursework required for the BA degree 

 Provide three letters of recommendation and complete a personal interview with faculty members in the Department of Political Science. 

In addition, applicants are strongly encouraged (but not required) to complete ECON 201 (or ECON 207), POLS 240, and POLS 301 before applying for admission to the BA-MPPA program. An application to the BA-MPPA accelerated program is available on the Department’s website at http://polisci.utk.edu/pdf/BA-MPPA.pdf. 

Political Science Courses 

Undergraduate courses in the Department of Political Science are numbered 101-499. The 

100-level courses are considered introductory and are appropriate for all students. The 300 and 400-level courses are upper division courses and are generally taken by juniors and seniors, though first-year students and sophomores are permitted to take them. The Undergraduate Catalog provides descriptions of all of our courses. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth three credit hours. 

Introductory Courses 

• 101 United States Government and Politics 
• 102 Introduction to Political Science 
• 107 Honors United States Government and Politics 

Foundations of Political Science 

• 200 Introduction to Political Philosophy 
• 215 Tennessee Government and Politics 
• 240 Introduction to Public Administration and Public Policy 
• 249 Introduction to Comparative Politics 
• 265 Introduction to International Relations 

American Government and Politics / Public Administration 

• 311 Contemporary Issues in American Public Policy 
• 312 Popular Culture and American Politics 
• 320 State Government and Politics 
• 321 Urban Politics and Process 
• 330 Law in American Society 
• 341 Judicial Process and Policymaking 
• 411 Presidency 
• 412 Congress 
• 420 Political Attitudes and Behavior 
• 421 Political Parties and Interest Groups 
• 422 Political Campaigns and Elections 
• 425 Media and Politics 
• 430 United States Constitutional Law: Sources of Power and Restraint 
• 431 United States Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Liberties 
• 435 Criminal Law and Procedure 
• 440 Public Management and Human Resources 
• 441 Public Budgeting 
• 442 Administrative Law and Regulatory Policymaking 

Comparative Government and Politics 

• 350 Political Change in Developing Areas 
• 451 Ethnic Conflict in Foreign Countries 
• 452 The Politics of Sub-Saharan Africa 
• 453 Western European Politics 
• 454 Government and Politics of China and Japan 
• 455 South Asian Government and Politics 
• 456 Latin American Government and Politics 
• 459 Government and Politics of Post-Communist Countries 
• 461 Comparative Public Policy 
• 463 Contemporary Middle East Politics 

International Relations 

• 366 United States Foreign Policy Process 
• 370 Contemporary International Problems 
• 470 International Law 
• 471 International Political Economy 
• 472 Conflict Processes 
• 473 Negotiation, Bargaining, and Diplomacy 
• 474 International Organization 
• 479 Regional Analysis of International Politics 

Political Theory 

• 374 American Political Thought 
• 475 Ancient and Medieval Political Thought 
• 476 Modern Political Thought 

Other Courses 

• 301 Research Methods 
• 410 Special Topics in Political Science (1-6) 
• 480 Capstone in Political Science 
• 487 Senior Honors: Thesis and Seminar I 
• 488 Senior Honors: Thesis and Seminar II 
• 491 Foreign Study (1-15) 
• 492 Off-Campus Study (1-15) 
• 493 Independent Study (1-15) 
• 494 Internship (1-6) 
• 496 Undergraduate Research Practicum in Political Science 
• 499 Service Learning in Political Science (1-3) 

Special Opportunities 

Political science students should be aware of opportunities available to them that go beyond regularly scheduled courses. These opportunities are available to qualified students who wish to 

pursue interests that require independent study and/or which involve academically related activities away from campus. 

POLS 491, POLS 492, and POLS 493 are intended to facilitate the needs of students who wish to undertake independent study or who wish to earn academic credit while engaging in academically related activities appropriate and relevant to the study of political science. Students interested in earning credit through any of these courses should contact either Dr. Pat Freeland at pfreelan@utk.edu, or Dr. Brandon Prins at bprins@utk.edu. 

Legislative Internships 

Two established Tennessee state legislative internship programs may be of interest to political science majors. The Tennessee State Legislative Internship Program is an officially sponsored program of the Tennessee General Assembly and is open to students enrolled in any Tennessee college or university. In addition, the University of Tennessee Alumni Association 

Legislative Internship Program selects several legislative interns each year. Internships are full-time during the legislative session, and require residency in Nashville during the session. Each intern is paid a fixed stipend during the internship. Both programs require that students be either juniors or seniors. Information and applications for both programs are distributed early in the fall semester of each academic year. For information about either of these programs, contact Dr. Pat Freeland at pfreelan@utk.edu. 

Department Sponsored Internships 

Students may earn course credit through internships. Credit is earned through POLS 494 – Internship, and grades are assigned on a satisfactory/no credit basis. Students have the option of doing additional work, usually in the form of a paper directed by a faculty sponsor, in connection with an internship. To exercise this option, students must enroll in POLS 493 – Independent Study, which may be used to fulfill major requirements. For information about a department-sponsored internship, contact Dr. Pat Freeland at pfreelan@utk.edu. 

Political Science Honor Society / Political Science Student Organization 

Pi Sigma Alpha is the national political science honor society. It has over 190 chapters in the United States. Local chapters induct students who have achieved academic distinction. Applications for membership are accepted on a rolling basis, and students are inducted each spring semester. For qualifications and further information, contact Dr. Anthony J. Nownes at anownes@utk.edu. 

If a student is interested in Pi Sigma Alpha but is not yet eligible (because, for example, he/she does not have the requisite number of credit hours), he/she may join the affiliated Political Science Student Organization. The Organization works with Pi Sigma Alpha on all its programs. For further information on the Political Science Student Organization, contact Dr. Anthony J. Nownes at anownes@utk.edu. 

Advising for Majors 

Upon their arrival at UTK, political science majors are advised by Gina Ondercin, Coordinator of Academic Advising for the Department of Political Science.  

Questions, Problems, and Grievances 

Questions about the undergraduate program should be addressed to one’s faculty advisor. Grievances arising from courses should be brought to the attention of the course instructor. If the problem remains unresolved, students should make an appointment to see the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Dr. Pat Freeland, or the Department Head, Dr. Brandon Prins. 

Undergraduate Program Administrative Personnel 

Gina Ondercin Coordinator of Academic Advising for the Department of Political Science, gonderci@utk.edu 

Dr. Brandon Prins Department Head, 974-2261, bprins@utk.edu 

Dr. Pat Freehand Director of Undergraduate Studies and Internship Coordinator, pfreelan@utk.edu

Dr. Anthony J. Nownes Honors Program Director, 974-7052, anownes@utk.edu 

Political Science Faculty 

Professors

Freeland, P.K., PhD – Wisconsin

Houston, D.J., PhD – State University of New York (Binghamton)

Hwang, W., PhD — Michigan State

Morgan, J., PhD – North Carolina 

Nownes, A.J., PhD – Kansas 

Pacelle, R.L., PhD – Ohio State

Prins, B., PhD – Michigan State 

Associate Professors

Down, I., PhD – North Carolina

Buehler, M., PhD – Texas 

Han, K., PhD – UCLA 

Assistant Professors 

Banerjee, V., PhD — Indiana

Gentil-Fernandes, L., PhD — Pittsburgh

Holmes, C., PhD — Indiana

Marsh, W., PhD — Notre Dame

Morrison, K., PhD — Pittsburgh

Osei-Kojo, A., PhD — Colorado

Peterson, J.C., PhD — USC

Pierce, S., PhD — Ohio State

Widner, K., PhD — Emory

Emeritus

Fitzgerald, M.R., PhD – Oklahoma

Folz, D.H., PhD – Tennessee

Tonn, B., PhD — Stanford