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Texas A&M University-Texarkana Announces New Political Science Program

September 12, 2007 - Texas A&M University-Texarkana announced today the implementation of a Political Science Bachelor’s Degree Program.  The University received final approval for the 120 credit hour Bachelor of Science degree from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board on August 10, 2007.

A&M-Texarkana has offered a few courses in Political Science for many years, but it was not authorized to offer students a degree in the discipline.  In 2004, the University hired two faculty members in Political Science, Drs. Gary Bugh and Katia Levintova in preparation for such a program, which is part of the University’s downward expansion plans.

The two professors surveyed the surrounding community colleges and high schools in order to determine educational demand for a Political Science Bachelor’s degree and wrote the program proposal.  They also began teaching Political Science courses at the University, several of which had never been offered previously, such as Political Parties and Elections, the Presidency, and Russian and Eastern European Politics.  Dr. Bugh also developed a successful Political Science internship program with area city governments.

Whitney Redd, who graduated from A&M-Texarkana in 2006, credits her Political Science courses and internship with providing her experiences that she now uses on a daily basis with the City of Texarkana, Texas.  “The Political Science classes were stimulating and made you think,” says Whitney.  Also, “having a Political Science Internship gave me a chance to experience local and a little national government hands on in day-to-day operations, and how they interacted together as well.  Out of all the classes I took, I probably walked away with more from my Political Science classes than any other class.”

Another former Political Science intern, Alice Leisure, agrees, saying that “my experience with the Political Science Internship class was awesome.  I was able to experience first hand how and why our government works.  Being able to work with the Emergency Management Office gave me opportunities I would not have received anywhere else.”

The Coordinating Board first extended “preliminary authority” to the University in May of 2006, which permitted further preparations for the proposed degree program.  Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences and Education, Dr. Rosanne Stripling – who also teaches Educational Law – was instrumental in working with the Coordinating Board this summer for final approval.  Dean Stripling expressed pleasure with the speed in which the proposal was approved by the Board of Regents and Coordinating Board and stated that “the bachelor of science degree in Political Science is a vital component of any comprehensive university” and looks forward to marketing the program and recruiting students during the 2007-2008 academic year. 

Before receiving approval for the Political Science Bachelor’s degree, the University had established a Political Science minor for students.  A Master’s degree in Political Science is also available through a pathway program with the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, College Station.  “This has been a long time in coming,” Professor Bugh notes, “but we now offer a minor, a Bachelor’s, and a Master’s degree in Political Science.”

Political Science is a hugely popular major at universities across the United States, as much as for its intellectual curriculum, which emphasizes critical thinking and effective communication in both writing and speaking, as for its array of career possibilities that it opens up for graduates.

“Many professionals,” according to Bugh, “including attorneys, city managers, nonprofit administrators, social studies teachers, foreign service officials, diplomats, and journalists have a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science.”  As History Professor Tom Wagy puts it, “the Political Science Bachelor’s degree will prepare A&M-Texarkana students for a career in public service.”

One of the first A&M-Texarkana students to enroll in the Political Science program, Brittney Freeman, said “I’ve been waiting for this to happen.  I had heard it was being planned, and I was happy when I learned this fall that the degree would be available.”  Brittney plans on going to law school.  “A Political Science degree will give me an advantage when applying for law school.”  Up till now, Brittney was a student in the University’s General Studies Program.

Preston Adair took some Political Science courses as an undergraduate at A&M-Texarkana, and comments that they “led to a greater understanding of just how much of American politics is shaped by the courts.”  Preston moved onto graduate studies, taking a Political Science research and professional development seminar a year ago.  “I was able to conduct archival research and prepare a manuscript for publication,” Preston says of his experience at A&M-Texarkana.  National publisher CQ Press, based in Washington, D.C., will soon publish an article Preston wrote for the Political Science seminar.

“Each time I took a Political Science class I was amazed how much I learned,” elaborates Alice Leisure, who has taken several courses in the discipline, including Public Law.  She added that “these classes opened my mind to the importance of learning and understanding how our government works.”

Prospective, new, and current students interested in majoring in Political Science may contact A&M-Texarkana’s Academic Services Office, located in room 206 on the second floor of the Aikin building.  For more information, visit www.tamut.edu.