Political Science: General Concentration
General Education
Introduction to the General Education Experience
- 1 unit - UNIV 101
Foundations
- 1st-year composition (ENGL 101 and ENGL 102, or ENGL 109H, or ENGL 107 and ENGL 108, or equivalent transfer courses)
- Math 107 or higher, or equivalent transfer courses (math substitutions not accepted)
- 4th-semester second language proficiency required
Exploring Perspectives
- 3 units – Artist
- 3 units – Humanist
- 3 units – Natural Scientist
- 3 units – Social Scientist
Building Connections
- 9 units (three courses)
General Education Portfolio
- 1 unit – UNIV 301
Note: Students must complete a minimum of 32 units in their General Education coursework while satisfying the requirements.
Foundations
- 1st-year composition (ENGL 101 and ENGL 102, or ENGL 109H, or ENGL 107 and ENGL 108, or equivalent transfer courses)
- Math 107 or higher, or equivalent transfer courses (math substitutions not accepted)
- 4th-semester second language proficiency required
General Education
- 6 units Tier 1 Individuals & Societies – 150
- 6 units Tier 1 Traditions & Cultures – 160
- 6 units Tier 1 Natural Sciences – 170
- 3 units Tier 2 Arts
- 3 units Tier 2 Humanities
- 3 units Tier 2 Natural Sciences
- 3 units Diversity
Minor
A minor is required for this program. Minors typically are 18-21 units.
Core Courses
- Complete 5 courses
Required courses:
National and international economic issues. An introduction to economic analysis.
General survey of the constitutional bases, organization, and functioning of the American national government; recent and current trends.
An introductory course in the fundamentals of modern statistics with applications and examples in the social and behavioral sciences. Topics include: methods for describing and summarizing data, probability, random sampling, estimating population parameters, significance tests, contingency tables, simple linear regression, and correlation.
Choose two courses:
Study of the international system, its actors and their capabilities; ends and means of foreign policy; international tension, conflict, and cooperation.
Basic issues in political thought, with emphasis on contemporary problems of democracy, liberty, authority, obligation, and ideology.
Survey of the major political systems and analysis of comparative political concepts, with a view to preparation for more advanced study.
Theory and practice of executive agencies, including policy making and other functions, processes, personnel and fiscal management, and administrative law.
Focus on the politics of diversity and inclusion in a fast-changing world. Attention to national-ethnic, racial, gender, sexual orientation, religious, and socioeconomic factors, among others, that underlie human diversity and the political conditions for cooperation, conflict, and well-being. Consideration of decision-making and political-institutional settings that may extend from the local and regional to the national and international.
Upper Division Electives
- Choose 8 courses (24 units)
- Choose at least 1 course from each of the 3 different concentration areas (American Politics, Ideas & Methods, and Foreign Affairs)
- At least 6 units must be completed through UA
- No more than 6 units can be approved cross-listed courses
- Up to 6 units can come from POL internship units
- See the major checklist for current course options and details