Political Science

Return to: USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

The Department of Political Science and International Relations offers the BA in Political Science; minors in political science; law and society; race, ethnicity and politics; human rights; political organizing in the digital age; and practical politics.

The Political Science major combines study of the foundations of political systems and institutions with examination of public attitudes, participation and behavior. The major allows students to acquire an in-depth understanding of citizens’ relationship to government while developing critical thinking and research skills.

The Political Science major offers courses in four broad fields: American politics, political thought, comparative politics, and law and public policy. Faculty provide regional specialization in Latin America, East Asia, Western Europe, Russia and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

The Political Science major also offers eight concentrations, allowing students to develop expertise in the areas of: applied politics; cross national and regional politics; environmental politics; law and human rights; parties, interest groups, and institutions; political thought and philosophy; public opinion, communication, and decision-making; and race, gender, and the politics of justice.

The Center for the Political Future / Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics offers students traditional internship opportunities with governmental and nongovernmental organizations as well as research internship opportunities as part of the political science program of study.

Dr. Joseph Medicine Crow Center for International and Public Affairs, DMC 327
(213) 740-6998
FAX: (213) 740-8893
Email: poir@usc.edu

Chair: Sally Pratt, PhD

Faculty: see Political Science and International Relations

Undergraduate Degrees

Advisement

The department has faculty and staff advisers who provide academic advisement, career counseling and advisement to pre-law students and those wishing to go on to graduate studies. All majors are encouraged to see their adviser.

Political Science Honors Program

The department offers an honors program for outstanding undergraduate students in the junior and senior years. The two semester program emphasizes a specialized topic (a different area each year) in political science. The organization of the course during the first semester follows the seminar model, emphasizing independent research, discussion, and oral and written reports. In the second semester, the student is required to write a thesis under the direction of a faculty member. Students are admitted to the program after careful screening on the basis of their academic record and a personal interview. Classes are limited to about 10 students.

The department also offers an honors sequence for freshmen and sophomores, POSC 190a , POSC 190b . The first semester is a small seminar of about 10 students. The second semester is a continuation with a major research paper due as the final.

Political Science Honor Societies

There are two honor societies of special interest to political science majors. Pi Sigma Alpha stimulates scholarship and interest in the subject of government by providing tangible recognition to students who have excelled in the field. Political science majors are eligible to join after successful completion of at least three upper-division courses in political science. An overall grade point average of 3.5 or higher is required, with a minimum of 3.5 in all political science classes.

The second honor society is Blackstonians. This is a pre-law honor society for undergraduate students designed to recognize academic excellence, assist the student in his or her preparation for law school, and expand the knowledge of the legal profession. Membership is restricted to students who have completed at least 32 units (16 of which must be from USC), but not more than 118 units, and have maintained at least a 3.5 grade point average.

Mock Trial Team

The department hosts the USC Mock Trial Team. This trial advocacy training program is designed to develop students’ knowledge of substantive areas of civil law, criminal law and evidence. Additionally, public speaking skills are honed and societal mores are explored. Legal concepts, sociocultural theory and presentational skills are then applied through participation in courtroom advocacy competitions nationwide and local public interest advocacy assignments. Academic credit is earned through POSC 398 . Membership on the team is required to enroll.

Graduate Degrees

Degree Requirements

These degrees are under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Refer to the Requirements for Graduation section and The Graduate School section of this catalogue for general regulations. All courses applied toward the degrees must be courses accepted by the Graduate School.

All graduate students are required to maintain regular contact with the graduate coordinator to assure compliance with departmental regulations.

Programs

Bachelor’s Degree

Political Science (BA)

Minor

Courses

Political Science