Political Science, B.A.: Traditional Political Science Concentration

Icon Tip

The Program/Degree Planner icon is a print-friendly checklist of program/degree requirements and is available via the catalog’s full-website, located at the top of each page. Check it out!

Political Science, B.A. Program (120 units)

Program Description

The political science curriculum helps students to acquire an organized body of knowledge about government and to think analytically about public policy, law, and politics. The political science degree prepares graduates to enter careers in government, public service, public administration, public policy analysis, legislative advocacy, business, international relations, and teaching. Many Cal State East Bay political science graduates continue their academic careers in law school, or in the pursuit of graduate degrees in political science or public policy analysis.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with a B.A. in Political Science will be able to:

1. develop and articulate an understanding of democratic theory and practice and gain practical experience in politics, public policy, and civic engagement.
2. demonstrate through oral and written competency, an understanding of the theories, concepts, empirical content, and research agendas of the fields of political science with advanced understanding in the selected option.
3. demonstrate an understanding of political culture in the U.S. and around the world including the economic, ideological, ethnic and cultural groups and movements that engage the political process.
4. articulate career goals, demonstrate knowledge of how to achieve those goals, and produce evidence of working to achieve the goals.
5. demonstrate the ability to apply knowledge through collaborative learning and teamwork.

Career Opportunities

Administrative Assistant • Attorney • Campaign Aide/Manager • Diplomat • FBI/CIA Agent • Foreign Service Officer • International Relations Specialist • Journalist • Labor Organizer/Union Representative • Law Clerk • Legislative Advocate/Lobbyist • Legislative Aide • Paralegal • Legal Assistant • Police Officer • Politician • Polling Specialist • Private Investigator • Public Administrator • Public Information Officer • Research Specialist • Secret Service Agent • Teacher

Features

The political science major offers a Pre-Law option for students planning a career in law. The Political Science department offers a major and a minor. Special features of the Political Science major include: the Intercollegiate Model United Nations Club; field trips to Sacramento and to State and Federal courts; guest political speakers; pre-law advising; local, Sacramento, Washington, and political campaign internships; and the Political Science Club.

Preparation

For Advanced Placement course equivalencies, see Registration & Enrollment .

Degree Requirements Unit-Outline

• A baccalaureate of arts degree requires a total of 120 units:
  • The major requirements consists of 39 units
  • General Education & Graduation Requirements consists of 57 units;
  • Free Electives may consist of 24 units (actual number of free elective units may depend on GE/GR units).

Note: It may be possible to double-count units within the graduation requirements or that a course may satisfy both a graduation requirement and a major requirement. Students should contact their program and AACE advisors for information.

Traditional Political Science Concentration

Other Undergraduate Degree Requirements

In addition to major requirements, every student must also complete the University’s baccalaureate requirements for graduation, which are described in the Requirements, Exams & Testing  chapter of this catalog. 

Department Courses Listed by Course Type

Political Science Courses

Department of Political Science

Courses

Political Science

• •  POSC 100 - Introduction to Political Science Units: 3
• •  POSC 101 - American Political Institutions Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: D1-3; US-1, US-2
• •  POSC 117 - Environmental Politics Units: 3
• •  POSC 150 - Conflict in World Politics Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: D1-3
• •  POSC 300 - The Study of Political Science Units: 3
• •  POSC 398 - Internship Units: 1-3
• •  POSC 490 - Independent Study Units: 1-3
• •  POSC 495 - Political Internship Units: 1-3
• •  POSC 497 - Issues in Political Science Units: 3
• •  POSC 498 - Internship Units: 1-3
• •  POSC 499 - Capstone Units: 3

Political Science: American Government and Politics

• •  POSC 102 - Public Policy/California Politics Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: D1-3; US-1, US-3
• •  POSC 311 - The American Presidency Units: 3
• •  POSC 312 - United States Congress Units: 3
• •  POSC 314 - State and Local Politics and Government Units: 3
• •  POSC 315 - Urban Politics Units: 3
• •  POSC 316 - Politics of California Units: 3
• •  POSC 319 - Social Media and Political Communication Units: 3
• •  POSC 330 - Voting and Public Opinion Units: 3
• •  POSC 331 - Political Parties and Campaigning Units: 3
• •  POSC 332 - Citizen Action Units: 3
• •  POSC 333 - Practical Politics Units: 3
• •  POSC 334 - Interest Groups, Lobbying, and Political Reform Units: 3
• •  POSC 335 - Women and Politics Units: 3
• •  POSC 336 - Ethnic and Minority Politics Units: 3
• •  POSC 337 - African American Politics Units: 3
• •  POSC 338 - Asian American Politics Units: 3
• •  POSC 339 - LGBTQ Politics Units: 3

Political Science: Comparative Government and Politics

• •  POSC 321 - Political Systems of Western Europe Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: D4
• •  POSC 322 - Government and Politics of Eastern and Central Europe Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: D4
• •  POSC 323 - Political Systems of Asia Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: D4
• •  POSC 324 - Government and Politics in the Middle East Units: 3
• •  POSC 326 - Government and Politics of Africa South of the Sahara Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: D4
• •  POSC 327 - Political Systems of Latin America Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: D4
• •  POSC 347 - Comparative Law Units: 3

Political Science: International Relations

• •  POSC 350 - World Problems and Global Response Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: D4
• •  POSC 351 - International Relations Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: D4
• •  POSC 352 - International Security in the 21st Century Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: D4
• •  POSC 353 - Politics of the Global Economy Units: 3
• •  POSC 354 - American Foreign Policy Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: D4
• •  POSC 355 - The United Nations and World Community Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: D4

Political Science: Political Theory

• •  POSC 370 - American Political Thought Units: 3
• •  POSC 371 - Greek, Roman and Medieval Political Thought Units: 3
• •  POSC 373 - Contemporary Political Thought Units: 3
• •  POSC 374 - Marxism in Theory and Practice Units: 3
• •  POSC 375 - Theories of Empire Units: 3

Political Science: Public Law

• •  POSC 340 - Law and Society Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C4
• •  POSC 341 - American Constitutional Law: Government Units: 3
• •  POSC 342 - American Constitutional Law: Rights Units: 3
• •  POSC 343 - Survey of American Law Units: 3
• •  POSC 344 - Environmental Law Units: 3
• •  POSC 345 - International Law Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: D4
• •  POSC 377 - Philosophy of Law Units: 3 ; G.E./G.R. Area: C4; Social Justice

Political Science: Public Policy and Administration

• •  POSC 380 - Public Policy Analysis Units: 3
• •  POSC 382 - U.S. Immigration Policy and Law Units: 3
• •  POSC 383 - Labor Policy and Law Units: 3
• •  POSC 410 - Politics of Budgeting Units: 3
• •  POSC 411 - Public Policy and the Environment Units: 3
• •  POSC 412 - Bureaucratic Politics and Administrative Law Units: 3