Department Links

Department of Political Science: Presidential Studies Minor

 

Overview

The goal of the Presidential Studies minor is to enable the undergraduate student seeking a career in Political Science, Public Administration, History, Journalism/Mass Communication, Business, or Education to select a minor field of study that will significantly enhance his/her substantive knowledge of the institutions, procedures, and policies of the American national government. Unlike the Political Science major and minor, which place equal emphasis upon political theory, American politics, and global politics, the Presidential Studies minor concentrates on American national politics and policy, focusing on how the chief executive influences, and in turn is influenced by, other institutions in the making of American national policy at home and abroad. Enhancing the minor is the close proximity of the William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum with its guest lectures, learning programs, and extensive museum and archive holdings.  For more information about the president studies minor program, please contact Dr. Gary Wekkin at 450-5686 or garyw@uca.edu.

Presidential Studies Minor checklist

 

William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum 

in Little Rock, Arkansas

 

Curriculum (21 hours, not including recommended courses and prerequisites)

 

Recommended courses: HIST 2301, 2302, 2320.

 

Prerequisites (6 hours): PSCI 1330, 2300.

 

Required core courses (6 hours): PSCI 4315, 4334.

 

Electives (15 hours): Select one course from each of five modules: Module 1 - Chief Executive: PSCI 3361, 3360, 4391; Module 2 - Chief of State (Ceremonial Head-of-State): PSCI 4390, 4399; Module 3 - Chief Diplomat: PSCI 4388, HIST 4335; Module 4 - Commander-in-Chief: HIST 3381, PSCI 4395; and Module 5 - Chief Legislator: PSCI 4335.

 

Courses (Prerequisite, Core, and Electives)

PSCI 1330 - UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS:  Introduction to the principles and problems of American government, governing institutions, and political processes.  This course is a part of the General Education program as either an American History & Government or a Behavioral & Social Sciences elective, is a core requirement for the Public Administration major, is a prerequisite for the Presidential Studies minor, and is a prerequisite for all upper-division Political Science courses.  (Fall, Spring, and Summer)

 

PSCI 2300 - INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: A study of the interactions and behaviors of state and non-state actors in the international system, with particular emphasis on the concepts and theories related to the subfields of international security, international political economy, and globalization.  This course is part of the General Education program as a Behavioral & Social Sciences elective, is a prerequisite for all upper-division international relations courses and the Presidential Studies minor, and is a core requirement for the Political Science major and minor.  (Fall, Spring, and Summer)

 

PSCI 3360 - PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION: An introduction to the concepts, structures and procedures of the bureacratic process.  This course is an elective for the Political Science major and minor, and is a core requirement for the Public Administration major.  Prerequisite: PSCI 1330. (Fall)

 

PSCI 3361 - PUBLIC POLICY: A study of the public policy process in the United States, with focus on various theories of public policy and specific policy areas.  This course is an elective for the Political Science major and minor, and is a core requirement for the Public Administration major.  Prerequisite: PSCI 1330. (Spring)

 

PSCI 4315 - THE POLITICS OF PRESIDENTIAL SELECTION: A study of the process by which US presidential candidates are nominated by their parties and then elected, and the constitutional devices (federation, electoral college) that shape the process. Campaign organization, finance, and strategy are thoroughly examined, as is electoral behavior in presidential elections.  This course is an elective for the Political Science major and minor, and is a core requirement for the Presidential Studies minor. Prerequisite: PSCI 1330.  (Fall or Spring)

 

PSCI 4334 - THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY: A study of the U.S. Presidency, nomination, election, responsibilities and powers, and principles of contemporary executive-legislative relationships.  This course is an elective for the Political Science major and minor, and is a core requirement for the Presidential Studies minor.  Prerequisite: PSCI 1330. (Fall, on demand)

 

PSCI 4335 - THE AMERICAN CONGRESS: A study of the U.S. Congress and Arkansas state legislature, examining how people are nominated and run for these legislative offices, how the legislative branch is organized, and legislative procedures.  This course is an elective for the Political Science major and minor.  Prerequisite: PSCI 1330. (Fall or Spring, on demand)

 

PSCI 4388 - AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY: A study of the foreign policy of the United States since the end of World War II, with emphasis on the goals and instruments of U.S. foreign policy, as well as the individual, societal, governmental, interstate, and global influences on U.S. foreign policy decisions.  This course is an elective for the Political Science major and minor.  Prerequisites: PSCI 1330 and 2300. (Spring, even years)

 

PSCI 4390 - INTERNSHIP IN POLITICAL SCIENCE:  This course involves full-time or part-time employment for an agency of the federal, state or local government; political party or political campaign; or non-governmental (non-profit) organization in Arkansas or elsewhere.  Students who are interested in a political science internship should contact the Internship Coordinator in the Department of Political Science at least one semester prior to the start of the internship.  This course is an elective for the Political Science major and minor.  (Fall and Spring, on demand)

 

PSCI 4391 - GOVERNMENT BUDGETING: An examination of the administrative and political aspects of budgeting. Attempts to integrate the process of budgeting with the formulations of public policy alternatives.  This course is an elective for the Political Science major and minor, and is a core requirement for the Public Administration major.  Prerequisite: PSCI 1330 and 3360. (Fall)

 

PSCI 4395 -  INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT:  A study of the concepts and theories of crisis, conflict, and war, as well as the techniques and theories of conflict management.  This course is an elective for the Political Science major and minor.  Prerequisites:  PSCI 1330 and PSCI 2300.  (Spring, odd years)

 

PSCI 4399 - STUDIES IN POLITICAL SCIENCE: Independent studies course in political science designed to meet the individual needs of a student. Credit from on to four hours may be earned in one semester. The work is chosen by the student and his tutor with the approval of the department chair. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor and department chair. (Fall and Spring, on demand)

 

HIST 3381 - AMERICAN MILITARY HISTORY - This course is an upper-division elective that surveys the history of the American military establishment. Emphasis on military policy, the principles of war, and the interrelationship among military affairs, technology, and the general pattern of societal development. (Fall and Spring, on demand)

 

HIST 4335 - DIPLOMATIC HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES - This course is an upper-division elective in which students examine the diplomatic history of the Revolutionary period, the early national era, the Civil War, America's rise to world power, two world wars, and the Cold War. Lecture, discussion, documentary analysis, writing. (Fall and Spring, on demand)