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Political Science BA/BS in Political Science

PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT

BA/BS in Political Science

The BS in Political Science is granted upon completion of the University requirements for the bachelor's degree and the requirements for the major. The BA is granted when all the requirements for the bachelor's degree are met and the student demonstrates intermediate level proficiency in a foreign language.  Please see catalog for current list of course requirements.

MAJOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE

The political science major requires 39 units, to be divided as follows:

A.  Foundation Requirements

• Three introductory courses from the following list for a total of 9 units. Only one can be at the 200 level. 

• POSC 101 - Introduction to Political Science *

• POSC 103 - American National Government

• POSC 105 - Governments of the World

• POSC 107 - Introduction to International Relations *

• POSC 207 - State and Local Government

• POSC 209 - Introduction to Law

• POSC  212 - Honors in Political Science

* The honors courses POSC 102 and POSC 108 can be substituted for POSC 101 and POSC 107 respectively.

B. Research Requirements

• All Student must take POSC 301 - Political Research I

C.  Topical Core Requirements

• Students must take four of the following courses.  Each course must be in a different topical area.

       Topical Area:  American National Government & Public Administration.. 

• POSC 375  Public Administration

• POSC 381  The Presidency

• POSC 383  Congress

• POSC 384  The Judicial System 

       Topical Area:  Comparative Politics

• POSC 337  Comparative Govt. of  Foreign Powers

• POSC 339  Comparative Political Systems

• POSC 340  Comparative Public Policy

        Topical Area: International Relations

• POSC 303  Theory of International Relations

• POSC 307   Contemporary International  Politics

• POSC 434   Comparative Foreign Policy

• POSC 436   US  Foreign Policy

        Topical Area: Law & the Judicial System

• POSC 418   Constitutional Law and Politics

• POSC 419   Civil Rights and Civil Liberties:  The First &

•                        Fourteenth Amendments

• POSC 420   Constitutional Protections: Personal Liberty and the

•                        Rights of the Accused

• POSC 422   The Supreme Court

        Topical Area:  Political  Theory

• POSC 427  Political Theory I

• POSC 428  Political  Theory II

       Topical Area: State & Local Government

• POSC 305  Urban Government

• POSC 375  Public Administration

D. Elective Requirements:

Students must take four upper division political science electives (12 units).  Courses taken in section C cannot be used to fulfill this requirement in Section D.  No more than 9 units (3courses) of special topics courses (POSC 470-479) and internship credit (POSC 493) combined may be used to fulfill the requirement of  section D.  All courses must be completed with a grade equivalent of 2.00 or higher except POSC 465.  “Pass” will count only for POSC 465.   

Seminar Requirement:

Students must take one of the following seminars in political science.  Specific topics of the seminars vary from semester to semester.  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  the catalog.

• POSC 481  Seminar in American Government and Public  Policy

• POSC 482  Seminar in Comparative Politics

• POSC 483 Seminar in International Relations

• POSC 484  Seminar in Law & the Judicial System

• POSC 485  Seminar in Political  Theory

• POSC 486 Seminar in State & Local Government

COMBINED MAJOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND

ECONOMICS

Completion of individual majors in Political Science and Economics requires the successful completion of 72 units (39 in political science and 33 in economics). However, by electing the combined major in Political Science and Economics, students will be able to complete both majors with a total of 60 units.  Students interested in either of the combined majors  should consult with an adviser in both departments to review requirements. 

In political science, students must complete all requirements for the major. However, they must substitute two upper-level courses (6 Units) in economics toward fulfillment of the required four  courses (12units) of upper division electives in Section D of the political science major.   See catalog for most recent listing of approved courses.

*Topic to be approved by the Chair of the Political Science Department.

In economics, students must complete all requirements for the major.  However, they must substitute two upper-level courses (6 units) in political science toward fulfillment of the required four courses (12 units) of upper-division economics electives:

See catalog for most recent listing of approved courses.

*Topic to be approved by the Chair of the Department of Economics.

 COMBINED MAJOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND GEOGRAPHY AND  ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING

Completion of individual majors in Political Science and Geography requires the successful completion of 78 units (39 in political science, 39 in geography). However, by electing the combined major in Political Science and Geography, students will be able  to complete both majors with a total of 68 units.  Students interested in this combined major should consult with an adviser in either department to review requirements. 

 In Political Science, students must complete all requirements for the major.  However, they must substitute two of the following upper-level courses (6 units) in geography and environmental planning toward fulfillment of the four courses (12 units) of upper division elective in Section D of the political science major.

See catalog for most recent listing of approved courses.

*Topic to be approved by the Department of political Science

 Electives (15 units)

Students may select 2 political science courses toward the fulfillment of the required 5 courses (15 units) of lower/upper division geography and environmental planning electives.  In political science, students may substitute 2 upper-level courses (6 units) in geography and environmental planning toward the fulfillment of the required four upper-level (12 units) in section D of the political science major.

See catalog for most recent listing of approved courses.

*Topics to be approved by the Department of Geography and Environmental Planning.

COMBINED MAJOR PROGRAMS WITH MASS COMMUNICATION AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES

Completion of individual majors in Political Science and Communication Studies or Political Science and Mass Communication requires the successful completion of 75 units (36  in Communication Studies  or  Mass Communications and 39 in Political Science).  However, by electing the combined major in  Political Science and Communication Studies or Political Science and Mass Communication, students will be able to complete both majors with a total of 63 units.

Students interested in either of the double majors should consult with advisers in both departments to review requirements.  See catalog for most recent listing of approved courses.

 COMBINED MAJOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND COMMUNICATION STUDIES

In Political Science, students must complete all requirements for the major.  However, they must substitute two upper level courses (6 units) in communication studies toward fulfillment of the required four courses (12 units) of upper division elective in Section D of the political science major.

In communication studies, students must complete all requirements for the major.  However, they must substitute two upper-level courses (6 units) in political science toward fulfillment of the required three courses (9units) of communication electives.

Students interested in either of the double majors should consult with advisers in both departments to review requirements.  See catalog for most recent listing of approved courses.

*Topic to be approved by the Department of Mass Communication and Communication Studies. 

Combined Major in Political Science and Mass Communication

In political science, students must  complete all requirements for the major.  However, they must substitute tow upper-level courses (6 units) in mass communication toward fulfillment of the required four courses (12 units) of upper division elective in Section D of the political science major.  See Catalog for required courses.

*Topic to be approved by the Department of  Political Science

In mass communication, students must complete all requirements for the major.  However, they must  substitute two upper-level courses (6 units) in political science toward fulfillment of the required seven courses (21units) of electives in mass communication.  See catalog for required course listing.

*Topic to be approved by the department of Mass Communication and Communication Studies.

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