Program: B.A., Political Science
Law and Society
Program Description
This option offers students an in-depth study of public law and the philosophies upon which our legal system is based. The option may be selected by students who wish to pursue a career in law or to prepare for careers in government, politics and public offices within public and nonprofit organizations or the private sector.
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 Introduction to Comparative Politics (3)
or POLS 225 Elements of International Relations (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 414 Western Political Theory in the 20th Century (3)
2. Advanced Requirements in Upper Division (36 units)
- Choose three courses in Domestic Politics and Policy (9 units)
- Choose three courses in Global Politics and Policy (9 units)
- Choose two Proseminars (POLS 471A-F) (6 units)*
- Choose four Electives (12 units)–must include two of the following: POLS 450, POLS 455, POLS 457A or POLS 457B.
May also include ENGL 407, PHIL 390, PHIL 446, PHIL 460, SOC 434.
*Internship (POLS 494I/A), Judicial Internship (POLS 494J/A), Model United Nations (POLS 427A/L or POLS 427B/L) or The Politics of Community Action (POLS 449) may be substituted for 3 units of POLS 471.
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,
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, including 3 units of coursework meeting the Ethnic Studies (ES) graduation requirement.
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: Tom Hogen-Esch
Sierra Hall (SH) 210
(818) 677-3488
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.