About Our Department
Our
department is proud of its outstanding
record of teaching, research and service. The department of Political
Science at the University of North Texas is home to outstanding
scholars and teachers who combine both cutting edge research and
award-winning teaching. Our faculty have won the top teaching awards at
UNT more than any other department on campus, including the 'Fessor
Graham Award, given annually to the very best teacher on campus by the
Student Government Association, and the President's Council Teaching
Award, given annually to the best teacher on campus as determined by a
faculty selection committee. Political Science faculty have also won
the top State of Texas teaching and research award, the Minnie Stevens
Piper Award, twice.
The
Political Science department offers a
BA
in Political Science and a minor in Peace Studies, as well as MA, MS,
and PhD programs in American Politics, International Relations,
Comparative Politics, Political Theory and Methodology. According to a
recent review of political science programs, our department ranks 3rd
nationally in “Graduate Training Programs” and 6th
in “Affiliation Rankings.” The first of these
rankings reflects the productivity of a department's graduate students
based on the “average number of PhD's granted annually in the
last 3 years.” The second ranking measures faculty
productivity adjusting for the number of faculty in the department. As
such it “identifies several departments that in recent years
have had especially productive faculty . . . [and] may be characterized
as departments whose achievements exceed their reputations.”
The department is
developing the Institute for Democracy, Development and Conflict
Resolution with a grant from the US Department of Education. On these
web sites you will find many wonderful opportunities for study in our
department and learn more about the exciting research our faculty are
involved in. Please contact any of us if you have any questions.
Latest
Department Bulletin
Eagle
Spotlight: Focusing on Our Alums
Robert
Earley, BA, Political
Science, 1983
 Robert Earley attended the
University of
North Texas and
graduated with a BA in political science in 1983. After
graduation, he went to Washington D.C. to serve on the staff of United
States Congressman Tom Vandergriff. Earley then moved back to South
Texas to seek a seat in the Texas House of Representatives. When Earley
announced his candidacy he was only 23 years old, making him the
youngest candidate in the state seeking an office in the Texas
Legislature that year. Earley was elected to serve in the
Texas House of Representatives in May of 1984. While serving in the
Texas House of Representatives for ten years, Earley was a chairman of
the Energy committee.
After leaving the
legislature in 1995,
Earley accepted a
teaching position at Texas A&M University where he taught for
three years. After leaving Texas A&M University, Robert was
President and CEO of a Public Affairs firm as well as the political
analyst for KXAN television, the Austin NBC affiliate. He also taught
at St. Edward’s University in Austin for 12 years. Robert was
named as a Senior Vice President for JPS Health Network, which includes
John Peter Smith Hospital, in October of 2005. He oversaw the
departments of Government Affairs, Strategic Planning, Volunteer
Services, Public Relations, Health Promotion, Guest Services and
Language Services. In May 2008, Earley was appointed Interim President
and CEO for JPS Health Network. On Feb. 4, 2009 he was appointed as the
President and CEO by the Tarrant County Hospital District Board of
Managers.
Earley is married,
and he and his wife
Tricia, a veterinarian,
have an 8-year old daughter.
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