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Government
The mission of the Government Department at Collin College is to support students
and the College’s broader mission through excellence in undergraduate teaching and
research. Through our focus on introductory coursework in the Department, we integrate
the core fields of Political Science and Governance studies - American Politics, Comparative
Politics, International Relations, and Public Law - to prepare them for successful
careers in the discipline, including but not limited to law, journalism, public administration,
non-profit leadership, campaign management, political consulting, and academia. To
this end, the Department of Government seeks to build highly knowledgeable students
who are able to utilize the key core skills of critical thinking, evidence-based argumentation,
verbal and written communication skills, working productively with diverse groups.
All of this is achieved by our focus on training students to be active, informed,
and contributing citizens and residents.
Political Science and Government involves the study of interesting and important topics
about citizenship, government and politics. This includes analyzing the effects of
citizens on government decision making, the responsibilities, powers and strength
of government institutions, and the influence and behavior of elected officials and
other civil servants. These topics are critical components of what political scientists
know about American government and politics, state and local government, comparative
government and politics, international relations, political behavior, political economy,
political institutions, and political theory. Political scientists pay special attention
to the design, implementation, and evaluation of laws and public policies that may
affect people's well-being. In addition to this, political scientists analyze other
components of governance beyond the institutions, including political parties, electoral
systems, civil rights, constitutionalism, and political theory.
While students are allowed to take any course within the set of course offerings in
a given semester, students are encouraged to complete the Political Science Field
of Study to streamline the transfer of credit to any other public college or university
in the State of Texas.
The Political Science Field of Study introduces the student to the structure of government
institutions; the development and impact of constitutions; and contemporary issues
affecting local, state, national, and international governments. The field also examines
political systems, institutional development, as well as theoretical and direct applications
of political behavior. As a field of study, it helps the student develop an understanding
of how laws and public policy shape and interact with issues of political ideology,
voting rights, gender, civil rights, and civil liberties. It further emphasizes the
importance of civic engagement both inside and outside the classroom. By including
MATH 1342, the student will learn how data is collected and understand the direct
skills needed to statistically analyze various topics like public opinion, voting
behavior, interstate conflict, and predicting judicial decisions. The study of Political
Science and Government will allow the student to develop various marketable and transferable
skills including critical thinking, leadership, and applied quantitative analysis
that can be used in many career fields in the discipline. After successfully completing
the Political Science Field of Study, the courses will be transferred and applied
to the Bachelors degree in Political Science and Government at any public college
or university in Texas as a block.
| Recommended Electives | ||
| GOVT | 2304 | Introduction to Political Science |
| GOVT | 2311 | Mexican-American Politics |
| CRIJ | 1301 | Introduction to Criminal Justice |
| CRIJ | 1306 | Court Systems and Practices |
| CRIJ | 1310 | Fundamentals of Criminal Law |
| ECON | 2301 | Principles of Macroeconomics |
| ECON | 2302 | Principles of Microeconomics |
| MATH | 1342 | Elementary Statistical Methods |
| PHIL | 2303 | Introduction to Formal Logic |
| PHIL | 2306 | Introduction to Ethics |
| PHIL | 2307 | Introduction to Social and Political Philosophy |
| PSYC | 2301 | General Psychology |
| SOCI | 2319 | Minority Studies |
| SOCI | 2306 | Social Problems |
| X4XX Foreign Language Sequence I | ||
| X4XX Foreign Language Sequence II | ||
Program Options
Certificate – Political Science Field of Study
Department Website
https://www.collin.edu/department/politicalscience/index.html