Political Science, Bachelor of Arts

Requirements

Total Course Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree

See the "Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree" in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 40 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.

Elective Requirements

Completion of elective courses (beyond the requirements listed below) to reach a total of a minimum of 120 units.

General Education Requirements (43 units)

See the "General Education" requirements in the University Catalog or the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education requirements and course offerings.

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (3 Units)

See the "Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement" section in the University Catalog.

Statutory Requirements: United States History, Constitution and American Ideals (6 Units)

See the "Statutory Requirements" section in the University Catalog. 

Minor Requirements

Single field major, no minor required.

Major Requirements (45 units)

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required of all candidates for this degree.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Core Requirements
1. Research Methods 1		6
POL 300	Research Design in Political Science	3
POL 301	Statistical Analysis in Political Science	3
2. Cornerstone Requirements. Take one course from each area of Political Science as follows:		12
a. American Government
POL 315	Congress and the President
b. International Relations
POL 335	Introduction to International Relations
c. Comparative Politics
POL 340	Introduction to Comparative Politics
d. Political Theory
POL 350	History of Political Ideas
3. Depth in Political Science		12
Select one course from each group a through d below		12
a. American Government, Law and Politics
Select one course from the following;
POL 310	Current Issues in American Government
POL 312	State and Local Government: Organization and Problems
POL 314	American Political Parties and Elections
POL 325	Women and Politics in the United States
POL 360	American Constitutional Law: Distribution of Power
POL 361	American Constitutional Law: Civil Rights
POL 370	Public Opinion and Propaganda
b. International Relations
Select on course from the following:
POL 332	International Security
POL 334	American Foreign Policy
POL 372	International Institutions
POL 373	International Political Economy
c. Comparative Politics
Selct one course from the following:
POL 341	Gov and Politics of East Asia
POL 342	Government and Politics of the Middle East
POL 343	Political Behavior in Latin America
POL 344	Latin America: The Revolutionary Tradition
POL 345	Democratization
POL 347	Comparative Political Parties
d. Political Theory:
Select one course from the following:
POL 319	Horror and Politics
POL 351	Modern Political Thought
POL 352	Democratic Theory
POL 354	American Political Thought
POL 355	Politics and Political Theory through Film
POL 356	Political Theory and Science Fiction
POL 357	Food Politics
Concentrations
American Government, Law and Politics Concentration		45
A. Common Core
See all "Common Core" requiements above
B. Required Courses
Select three courses from the following (9 units)
POL 310	Current Issues in American Government
POL 312	State and Local Government: Organization and Problems
POL 314	American Political Parties and Elections
POL 325	Women and Politics in the United States
POL 360	American Constitutional Law: Distribution of Power
POL 361	American Constitutional Law: Civil Rights
POL 370	Public Opinion and Propaganda
C. Upper-division Electives (6 units)
Select two additional upper-division political science courses with departmental advisement. Also see "Political Science Electives" below.
International Relations and Comparative Politics Concentration		45
A. Common Core (30 units)
See all "Common Core" requirements above.
B. Required Courses (12 units)
Select four courses from the following IR/CP courses. Courses chosen fo Depth in Political Science may not be double-counted for the concentration. 2
POL 332	International Security
POL 333	International Relations of East Asia
POL 334	American Foreign Policy
POL 336	Theories of International Relations
POL 337	European International Relations
POL 339	Model United Nations
POL 341	Gov and Politics of East Asia
POL 342	Government and Politics of the Middle East
POL 343	Political Behavior in Latin America
POL 344	Latin America: The Revolutionary Tradition
POL 345	Democratization
POL 347	Comparative Political Parties
POL 372	International Institutions
POL 373	International Political Economy
POL 374	International Human Rights
C. Upper Division Electives (3 units)
Select one additional upper-division Political Science course with departmental advisement. Also see "Political Science Electives" below.
Political Theory Concentration		45
A. Common Core (30 units)
See all "Common Core" requirements above.
B. Upper-division Required Courses (9 units)
Select three courses from the following Political Theory courses. Courses chosen for Depth in Political Science may not be double-counted for the concentratin.
POL 319	Horror and Politics
POL 351	Modern Political Thought
POL 352	Democratic Theory
POL 354	American Political Thought
POL 355	Politics and Political Theory through Film
POL 356	Political Theory and Science Fiction
POL 357	Food Politics
C. Upper-Division Electives (6 units)
Select two additional upper-division political science courses with departmental advisement. Also see "Politcal Science Electives" below.
General Political Science Concentration		45
A. Common Core (30 units)
See all "Common Core" requirements above.
B. Upper-division Electives (15 units)
Select five additional upper-division political science courses with departmental advisement (15 units). Courses chosen for Depth in Political Science may not be double counted for the concentration. Also see "Political Science Electives" below.
Political Science Electives
Any upper-division Political Science course, including from any concentration above, may count as an elective for degree satisfaction, with the follwoing exceptions.
Other Elective Courses
Availability of "other" elective courses varies. See the schedule of classes and/or consult with the department chair about availability.
POL 304	Basic Concepts of Law: Substantive
POL 305	Basic Concepts of Law: Procedural
POL 318	Public Policy Choices: Distribution of Wealth
POL 320	Urban Government and Policy Choices
POL 323	Black Politics
POL 328	Cultural Pluralism in American Politics
POL 331	International Terrorism
POL 349	Government and Politics in Sub-Saharan Africa
POL 366	Criminal Law and Procedures
POL 371	Conflict, Violence, Nonviolence and Peace
POL 375	Technical Policy and the Future
POL 401	Political and Public Sector Leadership
POL 494	Independent Study
POL 495	Special Topics in Political Science
POL 496	Internships in Political Science

• Courses counted towards the Common Core or as upper-division required courses within any concentration may not also be counted as electives for degree satisfaction (no double-counting of any course is allowed).
• Only one POL 494 (independent study) course may be counted as an elective for degree satisfaction.
• POL 495 (variable subject) courses may be counted more than once only if the subject matter of any subsequent course taken is significantly different than the first POL 495 course counted as an elective for degree satisfaction. Consultation with the department chair is advised.
• A maximum of two POL 496 (internship) courses may be counted as electives for degree satisfaction.

¹

POL 300 must be completed by the student within the first two semesters of taking any upper-division course for the major. POL 301 should be completed as soon as possible thereafter, preferably in the semester following successful completion of POL 300. POL 300 and POL 301 may not be taken concurrently. POL 300 is a prerequisite for POL 301.

²

POL 33X courses and POL 37X courses in this section are International Relations courses and POL 34X courses are Comparative Politics courses. However, the chosen four courses may come from either area or any combination of the two.

1.  

General Political Science Concentration

4- Year Roadmap

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Fall		Hours
GE 1A English Composition		3
GE 1B Critical Thinking and Composition		3
GE 2 Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning		3
GE 3A Arts		3
POL 101	American Institutions	3
	Hours	15
Spring
GE 1C Oral Communication		3
GE 3B Humanities		3
GE 4A Individual Perspectives, Groups and Society		3
GE 5A Physical Science		3
HIS 101	History Of United States	3
	Hours	15
Second Year
Fall
GE 4B Global and Historical Perspectives		3
GE 5B Biological Science		3
GE 5C Laboratory		1
GE 6 Ethnic Studies		3
GE 3UD Integrative Studies in the Humanities		3
Elective to meet 120 units		3
	Hours	16
Spring
GE 4UD Integrative Studies in Social Sciences		3
GE 5UD Integrative Studies in Natural Sciences		3
Elective to meet 120 units		3
Elective to meet 120 units		3
Elective to meet 120 units		2
	Hours	14
Third Year
Fall
POL 300	Research Design in Political Science	3
POL 315	Congress and the President	3
POL 335	Introduction to International Relations	3
POL Depth: American Government, Law and Politics		3
Elective to meet 120 units		3
	Hours	15
Spring
POL 301	Statistical Analysis in Political Science	3
POL 340	Introduction to Comparative Politics	3
POL 350	History of Political Ideas	3
POL Depth: International Relations		3
Elective to meet 120 units		3
	Hours	15
Fourth Year
Fall
POL Depth: Comparative Politics		3
POL Depth: Political Theory		3
POL Upper Division Elective		3
POL Upper Division Elective		3
Elective to meet 120 units		3
	Hours	15
Spring
POL Upper Division Elective		3
POL Upper Division Elective		3
POL Upper Division Elective		3
Elective to meet 120 units		3
Elective to meet 120 units		3
	Hours	15
	Total Hours	120

International Relations and Comparative Politics Concentration

4- Year Roadmap

American Government, Law, and Politics Concentration

 

2-Year Roadmap (transfer students)

Political Theory Concentration