This is an archive of the 2019-2020 University Catalog.
To access the most recent version, Please visit catalog.csun.edu.

This is an archive of the 2019-2020 University Catalog.
To access the most recent version, please visit catalog.csun.edu.

UNIVERSITY CATALOG: 2019-2020

Program: B.A., Political Science

Politics and Government

Program Description

This option offers a variety of courses in domestic and global politics and policy. The curriculum may be selected by students who (a) wish a liberal arts education; (b) who desire to pursue graduate education in political science or other fields, such as law; (c) who wish to enter government; or (d) who intend to teach in secondary schools.

Social Science Subject Matter Program for the Single Subject Credential

Political Science majors interested in teaching social studies at the middle school or high school level may combine their major program with the Single Subject Social Science Subject Matter Program to meet requirements for entering a Single Subject Credential Program. View Social Science Subject Matter Program for Secondary School Teachers (.pdf) for more information. The Political Science department advisor also can provide assistance in coordinating the completion of both the major and the subject matter program simultaneously. See also the disclosure statement regarding Programs Leading to Licensure and Credentialing.

Program Requirements

1. Basic Requirements (12 units)

POLS 155 American Political Institutions (3)
or POLS 355 American National, State and Local Governments (3)*

POLS 156 European and Comparative Government (3)
or POLS 225 Elements of International Relations (3)

POLS 372 Principles and Methods of Political Science (3)

POLS 350 Great Questions in Politics (3)
or POLS 411 Greek, Roman and Medieval Political Theory (3)
or POLS 412 Modern Western Political Theory (3)
or POLS 413 American Political Thought (3)
or POLS 414 Western Political Theory in the 20th Century (3)

*Students will receive credit for either POLS 155 or POLS 355, but not both.

2. Advanced Upper Division Requirements (36 units)

  1. Choose three courses in Domestic Politics and Policy (9 units)
  2. Choose three courses in Global Politics and Policy (9 units)
  3. Choose six courses in Domestic or Global Politics and Policy or General Electives** (18 units)

**Courses in the Advanced Requirements electives must include two proseminars (POLS 471 A-F) or one proseminar and one internship (POLS 427A/L, POLS 427B/L, POLS 449, POLS 494I/A, or POLS 494J/A).

Advanced Courses

Domestic

POLS 360, POLS 361, POLS 380, POLS 403, POLS 404, POLS 405, POLS 406, POLS 407, POLS 413, POLS 440, POLS 441, POLS 442, POLS 443, POLS 444, POLS 445, POLS 446, POLS 447A, POLS 448, POLS 449, POLS 450, POLS 455, POLS 457A, POLS 457B, POLS 458, POLS 460, POLS 461, POLS 462, POLS 463, POLS 465, POLS 466, POLS 467, POLS 469/L, POLS 471A, POLS 471E and POLS 471F

Global

POLS 310, POLS 321, POLS 330, POLS 332, POLS 410, POLS 420A, POLS 420B, POLS 420C, POLS 420D, POLS 420E, POLS 420F, POLS 420G, POLS 420H, POLS 421, POLS 422, POLS 423, POLS 424, POLS 426, POLS 427A/L, POLS 427B/L, POLS 428, POLS 429, POLS 430, POLS 431, POLS 432A, POLS 432B, POLS 433A, POLS 433C, POLS 434A, POLS 434B, POLS 435A, POLS 435B, POLS 436A, POLS 438, POLS 439A, POLS 439B, POLS 448, POLS 471B, POLS 471C, POLS 480 and POLS 481

General

POLS 303, POLS 321, POLS 350, POLS 411, POLS 412, POLS 414, POLS 415, POLS 471D, POLS 486SOC, POLS 490CA, POLS 494SOC, POLS 496A-Z, POLS 498A, POLS 498B, POLS 498C, POLS 499A, POLS 499B, POLS 499C and POLS 499RIA

3. General Education (48 units)

Undergraduate students must complete 48 units of General Education as described in this Catalog.
9 units are satisfied by the following courses in the major: POLS 372 satisfies B5 Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning; POLS 156 or POLS 225 satisfies 3 units of D1 Social Sciences; and POLS 155 or POLS 355 satisfies D3/D4 Constitution of the United States/State and Local Government.

If taken, POLS 310, POLS 350 or POLS 380 satisfies upper division D1 Social Sciences; and POLS 321 and/or POLS 332 satisfies 3-6 units of upper division F Comparative Cultural Studies.

Total Units in the Major/Option: 48

General Education Units: 39

Additional Units: 33

Total Units Required for the B.A. Degree: 120

Contact

Department of Political Science
Chair: David Leitch
Sierra Hall (SH) 210
(818) 677-3488

Student Learning Outcomes

Completion of a bachelor’s degree in Political Science will provide the student with:

  1. The basic concepts, theories, research methodology and empirical findings within the discipline of political science.
  2. A knowledge of Western and non-Western political systems, processes, values and patterns of interaction among these systems.
  3. An understanding of the political institutions through which public plans are formulated and implemented.
  4. A working knowledge of research designs, measurement, computer-assisted data analyses, use of the Internet and the ability to interpret the result of using these tools.