Political Science (BA)

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Department majors are required to take ten courses (40 units) in political science.

Introductory Courses Requirement

All students must take at least two of the following four 100-level core courses that introduce students to the major sub-fields of political science (American, Comparative, Law and Public Policy, Political Thought).

POSC 100g Theory and Practice of American Democracy Units: 4
POSC 110g Ideology and Political Conflict Units: 4
POSC 120 Comparative Politics Units: 4
POSC 130g Law, Politics and Public Policy Units: 4

Distribution (Field) Requirement

Students fulfill the distribution requirement by completing one upper division course (300 level or above) in three of the four major sub-fields (American, Comparative, Law and Public Policy, Political Thought).

American Politics
POSC 300 , POSC 311 , POSC 315 , POSC 320 , POSC 321 , POSC 323 , POSC 325 , POSC 328 , POSC 334 , POSC 335 , POSC 418 , POSC 420 , POSC 421 , POSC 422 , POSC 423 , POSC 424m , POSC 425 , POSC 427 , POSC 428 , POSC 437 , POSC 439 , POSC 449

Comparative Politics
POSC 350 , POSC 351 , POSC 352 , POSC 354 , POSC 355 , POSC 356 , POSC 358 , POSC 360 , POSC 363 , POSC 365 , POSC 366 , POSC 430 , POSC 431 , POSC 450 , POSC 451 , POSC 453 , POSC 456 , POSC 463 , POSC 464 , POSC 469

Law and Public Policy
POSC 333 , POSC 340 , POSC 345 , POSC 347 , POSC 426 , POSC 432 , POSC 435 , POSC 436 , POSC 440 , POSC 441m , POSC 442m , POSC 443 , POSC 444 , POSC 448a , POSC 448b , POSC 452

Political Thought
POSC 370 , POSC 371 , POSC 374 , POSC 375 , POSC 377 , POSC 380 , POSC 381 , POSC 476 , POSC 479

Concentration Requirement

Students fulfill the concentration requirement by taking three courses from one of eight Concentrations that focus on major topical interests in the study of politics. Students may take no more than one 200-level course per concentration. Students may not double-count any courses taken in the distribution (field) requirement and the concentration requirement. No more than a total of four units of POSC 395 and POSC 398L can count for the concentration requirement. Four units of the Honors Seminars POSC 391 /POSC 392 can count toward a concentration if the topic of the honors thesis is in the area of the concentration. Critical Issues courses may count for a concentration area, but department approval must be received in advance.

The areas of concentration are:

Law and Human Rights (POSC 248gw , POSC 321 , POSC 340 , POSC 345 , POSC 347 , POSC 366 , POSC 421 , POSC 425 , POSC 426 , POSC 427 , POSC 432 , POSC 440 , POSC 441m , POSC 442m , POSC 443 , POSC 444 , POSC 448a , POSC 448b , POSC 452 )

Public Opinion, Communication, and Decision Making (POSC 311 , POSC 334 , POSC 335 , POSC 422 , POSC 423 , POSC 426 , POSC 435 , POSC 437 , POSC 449 )

Parties, Interest Groups, and Institutions (POSC 300 , POSC 311 , POSC 315 , POSC 325 , POSC 334 , POSC 335 , POSC 360 , POSC 420 , POSC 423 , POSC 425 , POSC 428 , POSC 435 , POSC 436 )

Political Thought and Philosophy (POSC 370 , POSC 371 , POSC 374 , POSC 375 , POSC 377 , POSC 380 , POSC 381 , POSC 476 , POSC 479 )

Applied Politics (POSC 300 , POSC 315 , POSC 323 , POSC 335 , POSC 395 , POSC 398L , POSC 418 , POSC 420 , POSC 425 , POSC 437 , POSC 449 )

Cross-National and Regional Politics (POSC 350 , POSC 351 , POSC 352 , POSC 354 , POSC 355 , POSC 356 , POSC 358 , POSC 360 , POSC 363 , POSC 365 , POSC 366 , POSC 430 , POSC 431 , POSC 450 , POSC 451 , POSC 453 , POSC 456 , POSC 463 , POSC 464 , POSC 469 )

Race, Gender, and Politics of Justice (POSC 320 , POSC 321 , POSC 328 , POSC 381 , POSC 421 , POSC 424m , POSC 427 , POSC 428 , POSC 432 , POSC 441m , POSC 442m , POSC 444 , POSC 448a , POSC 449 )

Environmental Politics (POSC 265gw , POSC 270 , POSC 321 , POSC 347 , POSC 363 , POSC 418 , POSC 436 , POSC 451 , POSC 456 )

Elective Requirement

Students must complete two additional elective courses, both of which must be upper division (300 or 400 level courses). One course (or four units) of the following courses: POSC 395 , POSC 398L or POSC 490x may be counted as an elective. In addition, one of the Honors Seminars (4 units of POSC 391 /POSC 392 ) can count as an elective.

Students who have a double major in political science and in another department in the social sciences, may, with prior permission of the department undergraduate adviser, substitute one upper-division course from the second major for one upper-division political science course. In the development of an undergraduate program, students should consult periodically with the political science undergraduate adviser and/or with departmental faculty.