Political Science, AA-T
Program Description
Political Science as a social science is mainly concerned with the systematic analysis of governmental institutions and processes and the development of power. It fully analyzes the political behavior of human beings. Specific areas of specialization within the major include international relations, comparative government, political theory, political economy, public administration, and American politics.
The Associate in Arts in Political Science for Transfer degree prepares students for transfer to California State Universities (CSUs). Students who complete the Associate in Arts in Political Science for Transfer degree will be ensured preferential transfer status to CSUs for Political Science majors and majors in related disciplines. The Associate in Arts in Political Science for Transfer degree requirements will fulfill the lower division major requirements at many CSUs. Students are advised, however, to meet with a counselor to assess the course requirements for specific CSUs. This degree may also provide excellent preparation for other majors.
Learn more about the program on the Political Science website.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Graduates will be able to demonstrate critical, analytical, research, and writing skills in political science and its sub-fields using basic scientific tools underlying modern social science.
- Graduates will be able to analyze the major theoretical formulations and concepts of political science and its sub-fields and the philosophical basis of those formulations.
Units Required
- Major: 27-29
Associate Degree Requirements
Associate in Arts in Political Science for Transfer requires completion of a minimum of 90 units, including:
- Core and support courses for the major (27-29 units)1
- Summer Session 2025 only–CSU General Education Breadth (CSU GE Breadth) or Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC)2 (49-58 units) (full certification is required)
- Beginning Fall Quarter 2025–California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)3 (45 units) (full certification is required)
- Transferable electives necessary to meet the 90-unit minimum requirement
- 1
Some units from the core and support courses may be used to satisfy the GE requirement. Please see a counselor for more information.
- 2
Summer Session 2025 is the final term during which CSU GE Breadth and IGETC may be used. Please see a counselor for more information. Important Note: Although it is possible to fulfill the requirements for the Associate Degree for Transfer by completing the IGETC for UC pattern, admission to CSU requires completion of an Oral Communication course (IGETC Area 1C; CSU GE Area A-1); therefore, students who plan to transfer to CSU should complete this course as part of their GE or elective units.
- 3
Cal-GETC begins in Fall Quarter 2025. Please see a counselor for more information.
Note: All courses pertaining to the major must be completed with a grade of "C" (or "P") or better. In addition, the student must obtain a minimum GPA of 2.0.
Core and Support Courses
Code | Title | Units |
---|---|---|
Core Courses | ||
Complete three courses from the following: | 13-14 | |
POLITICAL SCIENCE: INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT & POLITICS | ||
COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT & POLITICS | ||
or POLI 2H | HONORS COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT & POLITICS | |
INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY/POLITICAL THEORY | ||
or POLI 3H | HONORS INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY/POLITICAL THEORY | |
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS/WORLD POLITICS | ||
or POLI 15H | HONORS INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS/WORLD POLITICS | |
Support Courses | ||
List A | ||
Complete two courses from List A: | 8-10 | |
Any course not used from the Core Courses | ||
ELEMENTARY STATISTICS | ||
or MATH 17 | INTEGRATED STATISTICS II | |
or PSYC 7 | STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES | |
or SOC 7 | STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES | |
CALIFORNIA POLITICS & GOVERNMENT | ||
INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY | ||
or POLI 9H | HONORS INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY | |
or ECON 9 | INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY | |
or ECON 9H | HONORS INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY | |
List B | ||
And complete one course from List B: | 4-5 | |
Any course not used from the Core Courses or List A | ||
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY | ||
or ANTH 2AH | HONORS CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY | |
BUSINESS LAW I | ||
PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS | ||
PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS | ||
INTRODUCTION TO ETHNIC STUDIES | ||
INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES | ||
INTRODUCTION TO LATINX STUDIES | ||
INTRODUCTION TO NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES | ||
INTRODUCTION TO ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES | ||
HISTORY OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION TO 800 CE | ||
HISTORY OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION: 700-1800 | ||
HISTORY OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION 1789-PRESENT | ||
HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES TO 1815 | ||
HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES FROM 1812 TO 1914 | ||
HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES FROM 1914 TO THE PRESENT | ||
SOCIAL WORK & HUMAN SERVICES | ||
SOCIOLOGY OF CRIME | ||
MAJOR SOCIAL PROBLEMS | ||
RACE & ETHNIC RELATIONS | ||
WOMEN IN GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE | ||
Total Units | 27-29 |