Office:  ELA 345
Email:  rh14@txstate.edu
Phone:  512.245.3267

Curriculum Vitae

B.A., M.A. Texas State University-San Marcos

Senior Lecturer

Rick Henderson is currently a Senior Lecturer in the Political Science Department at Texas State University – San Marcos. He received his B.A. and M.A. in Political Science from Southwest Texas State University and teaches a number of undergraduate and senior-level courses. Mr. Henderson has received awards for excellence such as the Excellence in Teaching Award by the Liberal Arts Department in 2002, as well as an Outstanding Professor Award in 1998 and 2006 by the Pan-Hellenic Council. He has also sponsored the Politics in Film Series since 1996. His areas of interest include party politics, state and local government as well as politics in film.

COURSES TAUGHT

POSI 1309 (GOVT 2304) Basic Political Institutions
An introduction to the study of political institutions emphasizing the fundamentals of political science research and analysis, the tools used by social scientists in bibliographical research, and basic methods of locating and presenting data for comparing political institutions.

POSI 2310 (GOVT 2301) Principles of American Government
A survey of the principles of political science, of the American system of government, and of the origins and development of the constitutions of the United States and Texas.

POSI 2320 (GOVT 2302) Functions of American Government
A study of functions performed in the American system of government, both national and state, with special reference to Texas.

POSI 3307 Parties and Party Politics
The American political system, including its history and organization, suffrage, nominations and elections, campaigns, and the related areas of public opinion and pressure group activities.

POSI 3308 Congress and the Legislative Process
The dynamics of lawmaking and legislative politics in the United States. The structure, party organization, rules of procedure, and actual operation of the Congress and of selected state legislatures (including Texas) are analyzed, compared, and evaluated.

POSI 3314 State and Local Government
A study of the organization, functions, and powers of state, county, and municipal government in the United States with particular reference to patterns of such governments in Texas.

POSI 3318 Public Personnel Administration
A study of public personnel systems in the United States with major concentrations on the national civil service system. Special emphasis is given to current research in the areas of leadership, informal organization, motivation, and small group theory.

POSI 3320 Comparative Public Administration
A survey of the field of Public Administration that will emphasize those aspects of administration that are common to all administrative systems.

POSI 4301 Politics in Film
This course will expose the students to films which explicitly address political issues such as racism in the United States, the conflict between public duty and private conscience, and politics and media manipulation, and the role of perception in all the actions people take.

POSI 4399 Senior Seminar in Political Science
Seminar devoted to intensive reading, research, writing, and discussion focusing on different sub-fields in the discipline taught by appropriate faculty. Students in consultation with faculty in their area of interest should select a particular sub-field seminar in accordance with their needs and professional objectives.