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:

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 301POLITICAL RESEARCH I3
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
No more than 9 units (3 courses) of special topics courses (POSC 470-POSC 479) and internship credit (POSC 492, POSC 493 or POSC 494) combined may be used to fulfill the requirement
Seminar Requirement
Select one of the following: 23
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 Units39
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 1UnitsTerm 2Units
Select one of the following POSC Foundation Requirement:3Select 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)3Core 2 (or Core 1)3
Core 33Core 84
Core 43Core 103
Core 53Core 133
 15 16
Sophomore
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
Select one of the following POSC Foundation Requirement:3POSC 3013
Core 93
Core 12 (if not taken as POSC Foundation Requirement) or Elective3
Elective3
Elective3
 
 
 
Core 6 (if not taken as POSC Foundation Requirement) or Elective3 
Core 74 
Core 11 (if not taken as POSC Foundation Requirement) or Elective3 
Core 143 
 16 15
Junior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
POSC Topical Area3POSC Topical Area3
POSC Topical Area3POSC Topical Area3
Elective3Elective3
Elective3Elective3
Elective3Elective3
 15 15
Senior
Term 1UnitsTerm 2Units
POSC Seminar3POSC Upper-level Elective3
POSC Upper-level Elective3POSC Upper-level Elective3
POSC Upper-level Elective3Elective3
Elective3Elective3
Elective3Elective1
 15 13
Total Units 120
  1. Students will possess Substantive Knowledge about Politics. They will be able to describe and understand the structure and nature of politics and government.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.