COLLEGE of ARTS and SCIENCES
GOVERNMENT
Professor Neil Harvey, department head
Professors Baker, Harvey, Lapid, Taggart; Associate Professors Ackleson, Butler, Garcia; Assistant Professors Medina, Scheller;
College Professor Seckler; Emeritus Professor Winn
(575) 646-4935; (575) 646-2052 (fax)
http://www.nmsu.edu/~govdept/
DEGREE: Bachelor of Arts
MAJOR: Government
SUPPLEMENTARY MAJOR: Law and Society
MINORS: Government
American Government and Politics
Comparative Politics
International Relations
Public Administration
Political Theory
Public Law
Contemporary Social Studies
The study of government (political science) blends the strengths of a liberal arts education in public affairs with a preparation for careers in federal, state, and local government, in public administration and public service, in public policy analysis, in electoral politics and for general opportunities for college graduates.
The government major program calls for a thorough preparation in the study of government as described below with the opportunity for those interested in specific careers to concentrate in one of the subfields: American government and politics, public law, public administration and policy, comparative politics, political theory and international relations.
The department also offers a supplementary major in law and society, which is supportive of law-related careers.
A government minor program involving 18 credits of course work is also offered. A disciplinary field minor or a general minor may be selected. In addition, the department participates in an interdisciplinary minor in Contemporary Social Studies.
DEGREE: Bachelor of Arts
MAJOR: Government
Departmental Requirements
| GOVT 100G, American National Government (or HON 249G American Politics in a Changing World) | 3 |
| GOVT 101, Introductory Government Seminar | 1 |
| GOVT 110G, Introduction to Political Science (or HON 248G The Citizen and the State: Great Political Issues) | 3 |
| GOVT 300, Political Research Skills, or another social science research methods course (a list of approved options is available in the department office) | 3 |
| GOVT 415 Senior Seminar | 1 |
One upper-division course in four of the six subfields. Subfields are identified by the middle course numbers: public administration and policy (20/30 series), American government and politics (40/50 series), international relations (60 series, may include HON 304V), comparative politics (70 series, may include HON 307V), political theory (80 series, may include GOVT 380V), and public law (90 series). Additional credits in government to bring total credits in major to 33, including 20 upper-division.
Note: Majors should complete lower level requirements before registering for upper division government credits. Students may not count S/U grades taken in their major unless the particular course is regularly graded S/U. All courses must be passed with grades of C or better. In addition, while research methods courses taken outside of the department may count toward the methods requirement, only GOVT 300 counts toward the 33 credits in the major.
Up to twelve hours of internship credit are available. However, only three hours count toward the major. Internship guidelines are available in the department office and on the Government Department web page, http://www.nmsu.edu/~govdept/.
Students are required to fulfill a Second Language. Please refer to the Arts & Sciences College Degree Requirements for specifics.
SUPPLEMENTARY MAJOR: Law and Society
The Department of Government also coordinates a supplementary major in law and society that may be taken in addition to a regular major. The program is designed to provide a multidisciplinary preprofessional education for undergraduates who plan to attend law school or who contemplate careers in fields closely related to the legal profession, such as government, social work and law enforcement.
Departmental Requirements
The supplementary major consists of 24 credits chosen from the courses listed below. At least 18 credits must be earned in upper-division courses and 6 credits must be earned from listed courses outside the students primary major. Candidates for the Law and Society degree must declare their supplementary major prior to completing the last 9 credits of the program.
Core Courses (select three of the five options)
| 1. C J 205, Criminal Law I | 3 |
| 2. GOVT 395, Law and Society | 3 |
| 3. GOVT 391, Constitutional Law | 3 |
| 4. GOVT 394, Judicial Process | 3 |
| 5. One of the following three courses: C J 306, Criminal Procedural Law; GOVT 392, Civil Liberties; JOUR 493/HON 377V, Freedom of Speech and the Law (same as GOVT 493 ) | 3 |
Communication Skills (select one)
| COMM 351, Persuasion Theory and Practice | 3 |
| COMM 353, Advanced Public Speaking | 3 |
| ENGL 311G, Advanced Composition | 3 |
| PHIL 448, Writing Philosophy | 3 |
Critical Thinking Skills (select one)
| GOVT 382, Classical Political Thought | 3 |
| PHIL 211G, Informal Logic | 3 |
| PHIL 312, Formal Logic | 3 |
Jurisprudence (select one)
| C J 307, Law of Evidence | 3 |
| C J 424, Forensic Law | 3 |
| GOVT 385, American Political Thought | 3 |
| PHIL 376, Philosophy of Law | 3 |
| PSY 330, Psychology and the Law | 3 |
| SOC 391, Crime and Society | 3 |
| SOC 485, Sociology of Law | 3 |
Legal Policy Issues (select two)
| BLAW 316, Legal Environment of Business | 3 |
| BLAW 385V/HON 385V, Consumers and the Law | 3 |
| C J 250, Courts and the Criminal Justice System | 3 |
| C J 332, Correctional Law | 3 |
| C J/GOVT/HIST/JOUR/SOC 399, New Mexico Law | 3 |
| GOVT 345, The Supreme Court | 3 |
| GOVT 387, Religion and Politics | 3 |
| GOVT 390, Special Topics in Public Law | 3 |
| GOVT 396, International Law | 3 |
| GOVT 397, Law and Sex | 3 |
| HIST 407, American Social and Cultural History to 1900 | 3 |
| HL S 489, Ethics and Jurisprudence for Health Personnel | 3 |
| HON 335V, Legal Issues in Modern Society | 3 |
| HON 350V, Law, Culture, and Conflict | 3 |
| HON 352V, Crime, Justice, and Society | 3 |
| HRTM 304, Hospitality and Travel Law | 3 |
| PHIL 100G, Philosophy, Law, and Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 320, Social and Political Philosophy | 3 |
| PLAN 301, Legal Aspects of Planning | 3 |
| SOC 392, Juvenile Delinquency | 3 |
| SOC 475, Advanced Social Stratification | 3 |
MINORS
The Department of Government offers a general Government minor and specialized sub field minors. In addition, the department participates in a minor in Contemporary Social Studies with History and other departments.
A student can not earn both a B.A. in Government and a general minor in Government. Government majors may pursue a subfield minor in the department, however, they can not double count any upper division courses in Government.
GENERAL MINOR: Government
| GOVT 100G, American National Government (or HON 249G American Politics in a Changing World) | 3 |
| GOVT 110G, Introduction to Political Science (or HON 248G The Citizen and the State: Great Political Issues) | 3 |
| Twelve additional credits, of which at least 9 are upper division, including 3 upper division courses from different subfields. The subfield series include courses in the 20/30 series (public administration and policy), 40/50 series (American government and politics), 60 series and HON 304V (international relations), 70 series and HON 307V (comparative politics), 80 series, including GOVT 380V (political theory), and 90 series (public law) | 12 |
SUBFIELD MINORS: American Government and Politics
Comparative Politics
International Relations
Political Theory
Public Administration and Policy
Public Law
Students pursuing a subfield minor may count a maximum of 3 credits in an independent studies course or an internship. Students may request permission to substitute courses between subfields, subject to approval of the Department of Government undergraduate committee.
| GOVT 100G, American National Government, (or HON 249G, American Politics in a Changing World) | 3 |
| GOVT 110G, Introduction to Political Science, (or HON 248G, The Citizen and the State: Great Political Issues) | 3 |
| Twelve additional credits, of which at least 9 are upper division, including 3 upper division courses from the same subfield. The subfield series include courses in the 20/30 series (public administration and policy), 40/50 series (American government and politics), 60 series and HON 304V (international relations), 70 series and HON 307V (comparative politics), 80 series, including GOVT 380V (political theory), and 90 series (public law) |
MINOR: Contemporary Social Studies
This minor focuses on world issues since 1900. See requirements for this minor under Department of History.