Major in Political Science
Thirty-nine units with a grade equivalent of 2.00 or higher are required for the major in Political Science. Students must complete the following requirements:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Requirements | ||
| Select three of the following: | 9 | |
| INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL SCIENCE 1 | ||
| AMERICAN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT | ||
| GOVERNMENTS OF THE WORLD | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1 | ||
| STATE GOVERNMENT | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO LAW | ||
| HONORS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE | ||
| Research Requirement | ||
| POSC 301 | POLITICAL RESEARCH I | 3 |
| Topical Areas Required Courses | ||
| Select four of the following (each course must be in a different topical area): | 12 | |
| Topical Area: American Government and Public Administration | ||
| PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION | ||
| THE PRESIDENCY | ||
| CONGRESS | ||
| JUDICIAL SYSTEM | ||
| Topical Area: Comparative Politics | ||
| THE POLITICS OF ETHNICITY AND NATIONALISM | ||
| COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT OF FOREIGN POWERS: THE WESTERN WORLD | ||
| COMPARATIVE POLITICAL SYSTEMS | ||
| COMPARATIVE PUBLIC POLICY | ||
| Topical Area: International Relations | ||
| THEORY OF INTERNATIONAL POLITICS | ||
| COMPARATIVE FOREIGN POLICY | ||
| U.S. FOREIGN POLICY | ||
| INTERNATIONAL LAW AND ORGANIZATION | ||
| Topical Area: Law and the Judicial System | ||
| CONSTITUTIONAL LAW AND POLITICS | ||
| CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES: THE FIRST AND FOURTEENTH AMENDMENTS | ||
| CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS: PERSONAL LIBERTY AND THE RIGHTS OF THE ACCUSED. | ||
| THE SUPREME COURT | ||
| Topical Area: Political Theory | ||
| POLITICAL THEORY I | ||
| POLITICAL THEORY II | ||
| AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT | ||
| Topical Area: State and Local Government | ||
| POLITICS OF METROPOLITAN GROWTH AND CHANGE | ||
| URBAN GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS | ||
| PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION | ||
| Electives | ||
| Select four upper-division political science electives: | 12 | |
Courses taken in Topical Areas cannot be used to fullfill this requirement | ||
| Seminar Requirement | ||
| Select one of the following: 2 | 3 | |
| SEMINAR IN AMERICAN GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC POLICY | ||
| SEMINAR IN COMPARATIVE POLITICS | ||
| SEMINAR IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS | ||
| SEMINAR IN LAW AND JUDICIAL SYSTEM | ||
| SEMINAR IN POLITICAL THEORY | ||
| SEMINAR IN STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT | ||
| Total Units | 39 | |
- 1
The honors courses POSC 102 and POSC 108 can be substituted for POSC 101 and POSC 107 respectively.
- 2
Specific topics of the seminars vary from term to term. Students must have completed at least 15 units in political science prior to taking the seminar. POSC 301 is also a prerequisite for each seminar course. Each seminar has its own additional prerequisites that are shown in the course listing section of this catalog.
Sample Four-Year Plan
The selected course sequence below is an example of the simplest path to degree completion. Based on course schedules, student needs, and student choice, individual plans may vary. Students should consult with their adviser to make the most appropriate elective choices and to ensure that they have completed the required number of units (120) to graduate.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| Select one of the following POSC Foundation Requirement: | 3 | Select one of the following POSC Foundation Requirement: | 3 |
POSC 101 (Core 6) | |||
POSC 103 (Core 11) | |||
POSC 105 (Core 12) | |||
POSC 107 (Core 12) | |||
POSC 207 (Core 11) | |||
POSC 209 (Core 11) | |||
POSC 212 (Core 11) | |||
| Core 1 (or Core 2) | 3 | Core 2 (or Core 1) | 3 |
| Core 3 | 3 | Core 8 | 4 |
| Core 4 | 3 | Core 10 | 3 |
| Core 5 | 3 | Core 13 | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| Select one of the following POSC Foundation Requirement: | 3 | POSC 301 | 3 |
| Core 9 | 3 | ||
| Core 12 (if not taken as POSC Foundation Requirement) or Elective | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | ||
| Elective | 3 | ||
| Core 6 (if not taken as POSC Foundation Requirement) or Elective | 3 | ||
| Core 7 | 4 | ||
| Core 11 (if not taken as POSC Foundation Requirement) or Elective | 3 | ||
| Core 14 | 3 | ||
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| POSC Topical Area | 3 | POSC Topical Area | 3 |
| POSC Topical Area | 3 | POSC Topical Area | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Term 1 | Units | Term 2 | Units |
| POSC Seminar | 3 | POSC Upper-level Elective | 3 |
| POSC Upper-level Elective | 3 | POSC Upper-level Elective | 3 |
| POSC Upper-level Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 1 |
| 15 | 13 | ||
| Total Units 120 | |||
- Students will possess Substantive Knowledge about Politics. They will be able to describe and understand the structure and nature of politics and government.
- Students will develop Critical Thinking Skills. They will be able to identify historical, cultural and socio-economic assumptions that underlie politics and explain how they affect perceptions and actions.
- Students will obtain an appreciation for the Affective Meanings of Politics. They will be able to explain the importance of politics in their attitudes and beliefs about current issues that affect local, national and international affairs.
- Students will acquire Skills for Learning and Life. They will be able to present articulate and persuasive arguments about politics in written and oral communications.