Department of Political Science

What is Political Science?

Political science is the study of constitutions, law, and government, at the local, national, and international levels, and of those things that influence the exercise of political power, such as individual interests and attitudes, norms, institutions, and culture.

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M.A. Political Science Open House

February 6, 2025

On Tuesday, January 28, the M.A. in Political Science Program held an Open House hosted by the new Director of the program, Dr. Ionut Popescu. 22 people attended the event, including many of the current M.A. students in Political Science as well as prospective students that are currently undergraduates.  

The conversation centered around the opportunities available to the graduate students and on ways to improve their graduate school experience. Among the topics, the students discussed course selection, possible concentrations of study in various areas of political science, scholarships available from the department, and how to secure graduate instructional or teaching assistantships. The prospective students also asked about the new 3+2 accelerated degree option to start the M.A. program in their senior year and finish both degrees in four or five years at Texas State. 

Matthew Garza, a current graduate student in the program, said the event was “a wonderful opportunity for both undergrad and graduate students to become more familiar with the resources available to them such as department-specific funding, GIA job opportunities, optional concentration paths for MA Political Science, and much more! Events like these give students a chance to connect with their faculty and other students, making academia fun, engaging, and motivating!” 

For more information regarding the M.A. in Political Science, visit the program webpage here, the 3+2 webpage here, or contact Dr. Popescu at icp11@txstate.edu.

Dr. Rowlands on Fox 7

February 5, 2025

On Monday, January 20, Assistant Professor Dr. Lauren Rowlands was interviewed by Fox 7 in Austin, TX. The interview centered on the civics and history behind the presidential transition of power, relevant to Donald Trump retaking the presidential role from Joe Biden that day.  

Dr. Rowlands shared that the “salacious” election of 1800 made apparent the need to formalize the transition of power process. The election was characterized by opposing parties spreading misinformation about each other. Later, the Presidential Transition Act of 1963 was passed to minimize the disruption of the government in these transitional periods.  

She continued by clarifying that the Constitution outlines the protocol in two main places: Article II, Section I of the Constitution, which provides the presidential criteria and powers, and the 20th Amendment, which asserts an inauguration is necessary for a presidential term to begin and reduces the “lame duck” period. 

Finally, Dr. Rowlands discussed contentious transitions throughout history. She stated that “deep political divisions” are often a cause for tension, as was the case in the election of 1860 regarding slavery and the Civil War. Economic turmoil can also be a factor, as was the case in 1932 with the Great Depression.

First SWIPS Meeting of Spring 2025

January 31, 2025

On Tuesday, January 28, Supporting Women in Political Science (SWIPS) hosted its first meeting of the Spring 2025 semester. 19 members attended the meeting, which opened with icebreaker questions and the introduction of the spring officers: Madelyn Byers (President), Lauren Garcia (Vice President), Lilli Jones (Treasurer), Yovanna Contreras (Secretary), and Lucy Cifreo (Social Media Coordinator). The officers shared information about upcoming events, including the upcoming student organization fair, museum tours, capitol tours, Bobcat Build, and the next SWIPS meeting on February 11.  

The heart of the meeting was its “Political Jeopardy” games. VP Lauren Garcia stated that the games “allowed us to create a fun environment with our members while simultaneously testing their knowledge on certain political topics.” Topics ranged from Supreme Court cases, speeches, Texas politics, and the federal government. 

SWIPS is a nonpartisan women’s organization at Texas State University. This professional education and development organization is dedicated to helping political science majors and other students explore the various aspects of political science, enabling them to pursue their professional and academic interests. SWIPS meets every other Tuesday at 6:00PM in THH 309.  

If you’d like to learn more information about this organization, please contact SWIPS President Madelyn Byers at mgb174@txstate.edu

Department Holiday Party 2024

December 20, 2024

On Sunday, December 8th, the Department of Political Science held its annual holiday party at Palmer’s Restaurant, Bar, and Courtyard in San Marcos. More than 65 faculty, staff, graduate instructional assistants, and their families attended the event. Attendees enjoyed quality time together and delicious food. Children, alongside their parents, enjoyed a colorful cookie decorating table. It was a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season!

Retired faculty members Bill Stouffer and Ted Hindson, both former department chairs, joined in on the festivities.

Denise Bjerke, an administrative assistant in the department who organized the party, commented, “We, the department, love to be able to give faculty, staff, and our student employees an opportunity where they can be themselves and socialize in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. They have worked hard all year and really given 100%. This is a way we can say thank you.”

The Department of Political Science thanks all those who worked very hard to make the party a success, and it especially thanks Dr. Balanoff and the Hobby Center for their continued support of this annual event.

Photo credits: Dr. Walter Wright

5th Annual Poli Sci Alumni Homecoming Tailgate

December 19, 2024

On Saturday, November 16th, a group of political science alumni who work at the Capitol or with the legislature held their fifth annual homecoming tailgate. About 30 Capitol Cats Alumni attended the event along with dozens of their friends, family, and current students. This was the first year of officially partnering with Texas State University through the Capitol Cats internship program, which seeks to empower students by providing them with support necessary to participate in internships in the state capitol in Austin, TX. Students actively participating in the program as well as those interested in doing so were able to connect with the alumni, build networking relationships, and seek advice for job opportunities and internships for the coming spring semester. Additionally, attendees could celebrate the significant anniversary of 125 years of TXST while cheering on the Bobcats.

Notable alumni attendees included:

  • Sergio Rey (Chief Financial Officer for the Texas Lottery Commission) 
  • Harold Stone (Chief of Staff to Senator Pete Flores) 
  • Julie Frank (Senior Advisor for Governmental Affairs for Texas Parks & Wildlife) 
  • Mike Wintemute (Vice Chancellor of Marketing and Communications for the Texas State University System) 
  • Jeff Burdett (Texas State Director for the National Federation of Independent Business) 
  • Tom Holloway (Partner – Cross Oak Group). 

Morghan Armenta, a K-12 Policy Analyst with the Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott who attended the event, said, “The demographics of TXST University’s student body most closely mirror the population of Texas more than any other public university in the state. It’s time we provided those students an official partnership to demonstrate their uniquely Texan skills and leadership in our state’s Capitol. I’m sure they will undoubtedly bring success to any office they choose to join for the spring legislative Session.” 

The event was coordinated by Vanessa Cortez Tanner, an alumnus who serves as Chief of Staff for State Representative Brad Buckley.

For more information about the Capitol Cats internship program, see the webpage here. Undergraduate and graduate political science majors interested in receiving academic credit for an internship should contact Dr. Vance McMahan at tvm20@txstate.edu. Undergraduate public administration majors interested in doing so should contact Dr. Susan Johnson at sj16@txstate.edu.

SWIPS Hosts Final Meeting of Fall Semester

November 25, 2024

On November 19th, Supporting Women in Political Science (SWIPS) hosted its final meeting of the Fall 2024 Semester. 19 members attended the meeting, which was opened by officers highlighting upcoming events before transitioning into the night’s topic: “What Comes Next.” 

The presentation consisted of a recap of the 2024 election results, a deep dive into voter demographics, and an analysis of the transition of power and the upcoming Trump administration. Throughout the presentation, SWIPS officers took turns educating members about topics they found most interesting from the election. Officers also engaged attending members with trivia questions about the election process, the presidential cabinet, and the electoral college. Officers finished the presentation with an open discussion about any questions members had about the election or interesting trends they saw in Texas. 

SWIPS is a nonpartisan women’s organization at Texas State University dedicated to helping political science majors and other students explore the various aspects of political science, enabling them to pursue their professional and academic interests. SWIPS meets every other Tuesday at 6:30PM in THH 428. 

If you’d like to learn more information about this organization, please contact SWIPS President Madelyn Byers at mgb174@txstate.edu