The department faculty sponsor such organizations as the Political Science Association, the UTPA Pre-Law Society; the College Republicans, Chinese Students and Scholars Association and the College Democrats.

Chinese Students and Scholars Association:

The Chinese Students and Scholars Association at the University of Texas, Pan American (UTPA-CSSA) is formally registered in spring 2011. The association was established to represent Chinese students and scholars on campus, express their voices, protect their rights, and promote social, cultural and academic activities both among its members and with other on and off campus organizations as well.

The membership is open to all UTPA faculty members, students, scholars from China.

For more information contact:
Dr. Chen, Xi                              SBSC 224/#3341               chenx@utpa.edu     

The Political Science Association :

The Political Science Association provides students with a chance to take what they’ve learned in the classroom and apply it in the real world. PSA is involved in a number of campus activities, including luring members of the faculty into debates on controversial subjects and sponsoring appearances by candidates for local, state, and national office.

For more information contact:
Dr. Alianak, Sonia                              SBSC 224/#3343               alianak@utpa.edu     
Dr. Mounce, Gary                              SBSC 200H/ #3343           gmounce@utpa.edu

UTPA Pre-Law Society :

The Pre-Law Society is open to students of all majors. The only requirement is an interest in the law and, perhaps, a desire to attend law school. The goals of the society are to provide interested students with opportunities to explore as many facets of the law and the practice of the law as possible. Activities include guest speakers from among the leaders of the local legal community including prominent attorneys and judges as well as field trips to law schools and the law related forums in other parts of the state.

For more information contact:
Dr. Polinard, Jerry                           SBSC 208A/ #3342               polinard@utpa.edu 

The College Republicans :

The College Republicans is composed of students who identify with the ideas and policy positions of the Republican Party. The organization provides a forum in which conservative students can organize politically and discuss issues with like minded colleagues and involve themselves in local, regional, and national political affairs.

For more information contact:
Dr.Turk, William                             SBSC 227 / #3345                turk@utpa.edu 

The Young Democrats :

The Young Democrats are students who gravitate toward the policy positions of the Democratic Party. Like their more conservative Republican counterparts the Young Democrats provide an opportunity for politically motivated students to get involved in partisan politics.

For more information contact:
Dr. Adam J. Mcglynn                       SBSC 208                        mcglynnaj@utpa.edu
Dr. Jessica Lavariega Monforti       SBSC 228                        lavariegaj@utpa.edu

 

Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honors Fraternity:

The Alpha Alpha Zeta Chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha (PSA), the National Political Science Honor Society at the University of Texas – Pan American was established on our campus in 2009. However PSA was founded in 1920 at the University of Texas for the purpose of bringing together students and faculty interested in the study of government and politics. Today there are over 650 chapters throughout the country. There is at least one college or university with a Pi Sigma Alpha chapter in every state and the District of Columbia and, as of 1995, the U. S. territory of Guam.

Membership in Pi Sigma Alpha is open to juniors, seniors, and graduate students currently enrolled in programs of political science in institutions where chapters are located.

Undergraduates must meet the following criteria: They must be at least juniors who have completed at least ten semester-credits (or 15 quarter-credits if their institution is on the quarter system) of work in political science including at least one upper-division course, with an average grade of B or higher in those courses. They must have achieved an overall GPA placing them in the top one-third of their whole class (i.e., junior or senior class). They need NOT be political science majors to qualify for membership.

Graduate students must have completed 9 graduate credits in political science with no grade lower than a B. Undergraduate coursework does not count towards graduate student eligibility, and graduate students must be pursuing a degree in political science to qualify for membership.

For more information contact:
Dr. Jessica Lavariega Monforti       SBSC 228                        lavariegaj@utpa.edu