Major and Minor
The Department of Political Science offers a major, which requires twelve courses, and a minor, which requires six. The sections below provide more information on the requirements for the major and minor. Visit the undergraduate curriculum page to learn more about the political science curriculum.
If you are ready to declare a political science major or minor, visit the Declare a Major/Minor page to see the instructions for declaring a major or minor.
Major Requirements
The Political Science major requires twelve units:
- Three Political Science gateway courses chosen from the following:
- POLI_SCI 201: Introduction to Political Theory
- POLI_SCI 220: American Government and Politics
- POLI_SCI 230: Introduction to Law in the Political Arena
- POLI_SCI 240: Introduction to International Relations
- POLI_SCI 250: Introduction to Comparative Politics
- One Political Science methodology course chosen from the following
- POLI_SCI 210: Introduction to Empirical Methods in Political Science
- POLI_SCI 211: Introduction to Interpretive Methods in Political Science
- POLI_SCI 212: Evaluating Evidence
- POLI_SCI 310: Methods of Political Inference
- POLI_SCI 311: Logics of Political Inquiry
- POLI_SCI 312-0 Statistical Research Methods
- POLI_SCI 395: Political Research Seminar
- Seven additional 300-level Political Science courses
Notes and restrictions
- POLI_SCI 390 Special Topics courses count as 300-level courses for the major
- At most two units of POLI_SCI 399 may count toward the 300-level requirement for the major.
- Only one additional POLI_SCI 395 course may count towards the 300-level requirement for the major.
- CFS 391, 394, 396, or 397 may substitute for one of the 300-level courses
- The Senior Thesis Seminars (POLI_SCI 398-1 and POLI_ SCI 398-2) do not count toward the major.
- Urban Politics, previously 221, is now 321. Effective Fall 2018, Urban Politics is a 300-level elective. For students who took this course prior to Fall 2018, this serves as a gateway course. Students who took Urban Politics as 221 may take no more than two American Politics gateway courses (220, 221, and 230) to fulfill the gateway requirement.
AP Credit
Receiving a 5 on an AP exam (either American Government or Comparative Politics) can place students out of the equivalent 200-level course, but does not reduce the total number of courses (12) required to complete the major. Thus, instead of taking POLI_SCI 220 or POLI_SCI 250, the student must take an additional 300-level course. Students receiving 5’s on the AP exams in both American Government and Comparative Politics may place out of both equivalent 200-level courses and thus need to take two additional 300-level courses.
If you would like to use your AP credit in this way, you will need to:
- Email the Director of Undergraduate Studies after you have taken a Poli Sci 300-level class to place the request.
- In that email, include your student ID number, expected graduation term/year, and specify which 300-level class you have already taken that you would like to substitute for the 200-level gateway course. That information is necessary for the Registrar to make this change on your Degree Progress report.
IB Credit
Receiving a 6 or 7 on the Global Politics exam can place students out of POLI_SCI 240: Intro to International Relations. It does not reduce the total number of courses (12) required to complete the major. Thus, instead of taking POLI_SCI 240, the student must take an additional 300-level course.
If you would like to use your IB credit in this way, you will need to:
- Email the Director of Undergraduate Studies after you have taken a Poli Sci 300-level class to place the request.
- In that email, please include your student ID number, expected graduation term/year, and specify which 300-level class you have already taken that you would like to substitute for POLI_SCI 240.
Study abroad
A maximum of two courses per quarter taken while studying abroad may count toward the Political Science major. More courses may be accepted toward the major for longer study abroad programs. Visit the study abroad page for more information on study abroad policies.
P/N Grades
Courses taken P/N cannot be counted toward the major, with the exception of courses taken during the Spring 2020 quarter. Courses completed with a grade of P in Spring 2020 will count toward the major requirements.
Minor Requirements
The minor offers a student the opportunity to complete an abbreviated yet coherent plan of study in Political Science. It is also designed to enable students to enrich their studies in various ways, especially by complementing a major in another field by adding a Political Science perspective on key subjects, and by preparing for certain careers (for example, law, public service, business, or teaching) by taking courses in Political Science that address relevant topics. The minor is structured to permit students to explore a variety of courses across subfields in political science or to concentrate their studies in one of them. Prospective minors are encouraged to consult with an undergraduate advisor to develop a program of study tailored to their needs.
Minor requirements (6 units):
- At least two Political Science gateway courses chosen from the following:
- POLI_SCI 201: Introduction to Political Theory
- POLI_SCI 220: American Government and Politics
- POLI_SCI 230: Introduction to Law in the Political Arena
- POLI_SCI 240: Introduction to International Relations
- POLI_SCI 250: Introduction to Comparative Politics
- Four additional political science courses, including at least three at the 300-level
- 100-level First-Year Seminar courses do not count towards the minor
Notes and restrictions
- POLI_SCI 390 Special Topics courses count as 300-level courses for the minor
- At most two units of POLI_SCI 399 may count towards the minor.
- Urban Politics, previously 221, is now 321. For students who took this course prior to Fall 2018, this was a gateway course. Effective Fall 2018, Urban Politics, 321, is a 300-level elective.
AP Credit
Receiving a 5 on an AP exam (either American Government or Comparative Politics) can place students out of the equivalent 200-level course, but does not reduce the total number of courses (6) required to complete the minor. Thus, instead of taking POLI_SCI 220 or POLI_SCI 250, the student must take an additional 300-level course. Students receiving 5’s on the AP exams in both American Government and Comparative Politics can place out of both equivalent 200-level courses and thus need to take two additional 300-level courses.
If you would like to use your AP credit in this way, you will need to:
- Email the Director of Undergraduate Studies after you have taken a Poli Sci 300-level class to place the request.
- In that email, include your student ID number, expected graduation term/year, and specify which 300-level class you have already taken that you would like to substitute for the 200-level gateway course. That information is necessary for the Registrar to make this change on your Degree Progress report.
IB Credit
Receiving a 6 or 7 on the Global Politics exam can place students out of POLI_SCI 240: Intro to International Relations. It does not reduce the total number of courses (6) required to complete the minor. Thus, instead of taking POLI_SCI 240, the student must take an additional 300-level course.
If you would like to use your IB credit in this way, you will need to:
- Email the Director of Undergraduate Studies after you have taken a Poli Sci 300-level class to place the request.
- In that email, please include your student ID number, expected graduation term/year, and specify which 300-level class you have already taken that you would like to substitute for POLI_SCI 240.
Study abroad
At most one course from study abroad may count toward the minor. Visit the study abroad page for more information on study abroad policies.
P/N Grades
Courses taken P/N cannot be counted toward the minor, with the exception of courses taken during the Spring 2020 quarter. Courses completed with a grade of P in Spring 2020 will count toward the minor requirements.