Program: B.A., Political Science
Public Policy and Management
Program Description
This option offers a variety of courses in Public Policy and Management and allows students to form a thorough understanding of the political institutions through which public plans are formulated and implemented. The option may be selected by students who wish to prepare for careers in government, politics and public offices within public and nonprofit organizations or the private sector.
Program Requirements
1. Basic Requirements (18 units)
POLS 155 American Political Institutions (3)
or POLS 355 American National, State and Local Governments (3)
POLS 156 Introduction to Comparative Politics (3)
or POLS 225 Elements of International Relations (3)
POLS 350 Great Questions in Politics (3)
POLS 360 Public Administration (3)
2. Advanced Requirements in Upper Division (30 units)
a. Choose four core courses from the following:
POLS 405 The Process of Public Policy Formation (3)
POLS 406 Fundamentals of Policy Analysis (3)
POLS 407 Policy Implementation and Program Evaluation (3)
POLS 462 Ethics in Politics and Administration (3)
POLS 463 Public Personnel Administration (3)
POLS 465 Administrative Behavior (3)
b. Choose four courses from following*:
POLS 404 Urban Politics (3)
POLS 428 International Organizations (3)
POLS 429 United States Foreign Policy (3)
POLS 458 Administrative Law (3)
POLS 460 Welfare State (3)
POLS 461 Environmental Policy (3)
POLS 464 Comparative Public Policy (3)
POLS 466 The Politics of Public Spending (3)
POLS 467 Urban Administration (3)
POLS 469/L City Planning and Lab (2/1)
*Up to 6 units may be taken outside of the department with chair approval.
c. Choose two from the following:
Choose two Proseminars (POLS 471A-F)
or Choose one Proseminar (POLS 471A-F) and one Internship (POLS 494I/A or POLS 494J/A or POLS 427A or POLS 427B)
3. General Education (48 units)
Undergraduate students must complete 48 units of General Education as described in this Catalog.
Students may not double count Political Science and GE courses. POLS 155 or POLS 355 meets both major and Title 5 Requirement courses in the major, and all Title 5 and General Education courses must be taken for a letter grade. They may not be taken Credit/No Credit. POLS 155 or POLS 355 partially fulfills the Title 5 requirement.
Total Units in the Major/Option: 48
General Education Units: 48
Additional Units: 24
Total Units Required for the B.A. Degree: 120
Contact
Chair: David Leitch
Sierra Hall (SH) 210
(818) 677-3488
www.csun.edu/social-behavioral-sciences/political-science
Student Learning Outcomes
Completion of a bachelor’s degree in Political Science will provide the student with:
- The basic concepts, theories, research methodology and empirical findings within the discipline of political science.
- A knowledge of Western and non-Western political systems, processes, values and patterns of interaction among these systems.
- An understanding of the political institutions through which public plans are formulated and implemented.
- 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.