2000-2001 Undergraduate Catalog

College of Arts and Sciences - Government
NMSU

Professor William A. Taggart, department head

Professor Taggart; Associate Professors Baker, Butler, Garcia, Harvey, Lapid, Winn; Assistant Professors Prindeville, Rubaii-Barrett, Ward

(505) 646-4935; (505) 646-2052 (fax)

DEGREE: Bachelor of Arts
MAJOR: Government
SUPPLEMENTARY MAJOR: Law and Society

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 law, in management and public administration, in public policy analysis 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, public law, public administration, 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. Information on specific requirements is available in the department office.

MAJOR: Government

Departmental Requirements

GOVT 100G, American National Government (or HON 249G) 3
GOVT 110G, Introduction to Political Science (or HON 248G) 3

One upper-division course in four of the six fields: public administration (40 series), American government and politics (50 series may include HON 387G), international relations (60 series may include HON 304G), comparative government (70 series), political theory (80 series), and public law (90 series). Additional credits in government to bring total credits in major to 33, including 20 upper-division. Majors will not be allowed to register in upper-division government courses until lower-level departmental requirements are completed.

Degree candidates must also complete GOVT 302 or 3 credits of course work in social science research methods. A list of approved courses is available in the department office.

Six hours of internship credit also are available. However, only three hours count toward the major. Internship guidelines are available in the department office.

Electives: Sufficient to bring total credits to 128, including 55 upper-division.

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 student's primary major. Candidates for the Law and Society degree must declare their major prior to completing the last 9 credits of the program.

Core Courses (select three of the four options)

1. C J 205, Criminal Law I 3
2. GOVT 390, Constitutional Law 3
3. GOVT 391, Judicial Process 3
4. One of the following three courses: C J 306, Criminal Procedural Law; GOVT 492, Civil Liberties; JOUR 493, Mass Communications Law (same as GOVT 493 , COMM 493) 3

Critical Thinking (select one)

COMM 351, Persuasion Theory and Practice 3
COMM 353, Advanced Public Speaking 3
ENGL 211G, Writing in the Humanities and Social Sciences 3
ENGL 311G, Advanced Composition 3
GOVT 387, Contemporary Political Theory 3
PHIL 211G, Informal Logic 3
PHIL 312, Formal Logic 3
PHIL 313, Inductive Logic and Probability 3

Jurisprudence (select one)

C J 307, Law of Evidence 3
C J 332, Correctional Law 3
C J 399/GOVT 399/HIST 399/JOUR 399/SOC 399, New Mexico Law 3
GOVT 383, American Political Ideas 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 Issues in Society (select one)

C J 250, Courts and the Criminal Justice System 3
GOVT 393, Law and Sex 3
GOVT 394, The Supreme Court 3
GOVT 395, Law and Society 3
HIST 407, Recent United States, 1960-Present 3
PLAN 301, Legal Aspects of Planning 3
SOC 371, Race and Ethnic Relations 3
SOC 392, Juvenile Delinquency 3

Electives (6 credits)

  1. All courses listed above (no repeats)
  2. Honors law courses: HON 335G, 350G, 352G, 377G, 385G
  3. All government law courses (90 series)
  4. Business college law courses: BLAW 316, 317, 318, 320, 325, 385G
  5. GOVT 442, The Regulatory Process
  6. HL S 489, Ethics and Jurisprudence for Health Personnel
  7. HRTM 304, Hospitality and Travel Law


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