The Political Science major provides students with theoretical foundations and practical experience in preparation for opportunities available in the fields of political science and public administration, including career positions with local, state and federal governments; fellowship posts for graduate and legal studies; careers in education and various levels of political leadership. Students are encouraged to seek internship opportunities through the department. Students seeking to meet the Single Subject Matter Standards in Social Science should double major in History and Political Science selecting major elective courses that meet the requirements listed in the Social Science Single Subject Matter Competency Program.
Political Science Program Student Outcomes
TRADITIONAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Political Science Major (39 units) BA
Core Courses (30 units)
Lower Division Requirements
POL 213 American Government
Lower Division Elective Requirements
Complete three (3) units from the following:
POL 223 State and Local Government
POL 250 Introduction to International Politics
POL 255 Introduction to Comparative Politics
Upper Division Requirements
POL 431 Christianity and Citizenship
POL 450 Research Methods in Political Science
POL 499 Senior Project
American Institutions and Processes Elective Requirement
Complete three (3) units from the following:*
POL 323 Political Parties and Interest Groups
POL 390 Congress and the Presidency
POL 395 Political Economy
POL 435 Campaigns and Elections
POL 484 Constitutional Law I
POL 485 Constitutional Law II
International Relations Elective Requirement
Complete three (3) units from the following*:
POL 350 International Relations Theory
POL 415 World Geography
POL 437 Globalization
POL 439 International Conflict
POL 443 Diplomatic History of the United States
POL 444 International Law
POL 454 International Organizations
POL 471 Terrorism
Political Philosophy Elective Requirement
Complete three (3) units from the following*:
POL 395 Political Economy
POL 423 Classical Political Philosophy
POL 425 Modern Political Philosophy
POL 427 American Political Theory
POL 429 Critical Political Philosophy and Postmodernism
Pre-Law Elective Requirement
Complete three (3) units from the following*:
CJS 301 Fundamentals of Criminal Law
CJS 321 Courts and the Criminal Process
PHI 300 Logic OR PHI 324 Applied Ethics
POL 330 Law and Literature
POL 440 Law Internship
POL 444 International Law
POL 453 Administrative Law and Bureaucracy
POL 484 Constitutional Law I
POL 485 Constitutional Law II
Public Administration Elective Requirement
Complete three (3) units from the following*:
POL 395 Political Economy
POL 451 Executive Leadership and Management in the Public Sector
POL 453 Administrative Law and Bureaucracy
POL 465 Policy Process and Analysis
POL 491 Public Personnel Management
POL 493 Principles of Public Administration
*Students who double major in history and political science to meet single subject matter competency should refer to the social science single subject matter competency program requirements when selecting electives. See the Social Science Subject Matter Competence advisor, Dr. Eric Brook, for course requirement details. Political Science majors may not use any one course to satisfy two or more elective requirements.
Concentration Courses (9 units)
Students must complete at least nine (9) units, not completed in the core, in one of the following concentrations: Public Administration; Political Philosophy; American Institutions and Processes; International Relations; Pre-Law. Political Science majors may not use any one course to satisfy two or more concentration requirements.
American Institutions and Processes
Complete nine (9) units from the following:
POL 323 Political Parties and Interest Groups
POL 390 Congress and the Presidency
POL 395 Political Economy
POL 435 Campaigns and Elections
POL 484 Constitutional Law I
POL 485 Constitutional Law II
International Relations
Complete nine (9) units from the following:
POL 350 International Relations Theory
POL 415 World Geography
POL 437 Globalization
POL 439 International Conflict
POL 443 Diplomatic History of the United States
POL 444 International Law
POL 454 International Organizations
POL 471 Terrorism
Political Philosophy
Complete nine (9) units from the following:
POL 395 Political Economy
POL 423 Classical Political Philosophy
POL 425 Modern Political Philosophy
POL 427 American Political Theory
POL 429 Critical Political Philosophy and Postmodernism
Pre-Law
Complete nine (9) units from the following:
CJS 301 Fundamentals of Criminal Law
CJS 321 Courts and the Criminal Process
PHI 300 Logic OR PHI 324 Applied Ethics
POL 330 Law and Literature
POL 440 Law Internship
POL 453 Administrative Law and Bureaucracy
POL 484 Constitutional Law I*
POL 485 Constitutional Law II*
*Recommend completion of POL 484 and POL 485
Public Administration
Complete nine (9) units from the following:
POL 395 Political Economy
POL 451 Executive Leadership and Management in the Public Sector
POL 453 Administrative Law and Bureaucracy
POL 465 Policy Process and Analysis
POL 491 Public Personnel Management
POL 493 Principles of Public Administration
This page was updated March 7, 2011.