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

Course List

Code	Title	Units
Core Courses
Complete three courses from the following:		13-14
POLI 1	POLITICAL SCIENCE: INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
POLI 2	COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
or POLI 2H	HONORS COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
POLI 3	INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY/POLITICAL THEORY
or POLI 3H	HONORS INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY/POLITICAL THEORY
POLI 15	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
MATH 10	ELEMENTARY STATISTICS
or MATH 17	INTEGRATED STATISTICS II
or PSYC 7	STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
or SOC 7	STATISTICS FOR THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
POLI 4	CALIFORNIA POLITICS & GOVERNMENT
POLI 9	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
ANTH 2A	CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
or ANTH 2AH	HONORS CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY
BUSI 18	BUSINESS LAW I
ECON 1A	PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS
ECON 1B	PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS
ETHN 1	INTRODUCTION TO ETHNIC STUDIES
ETHN 2	INTRODUCTION TO AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES
ETHN 3	INTRODUCTION TO LATINX STUDIES
ETHN 4	INTRODUCTION TO NATIVE AMERICAN STUDIES
ETHN 5	INTRODUCTION TO ASIAN AMERICAN STUDIES
HIST 4A	HISTORY OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION TO 800 CE
HIST 4B	HISTORY OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION: 700-1800
HIST 4C	HISTORY OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION 1789-PRESENT
HIST 17A	HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES TO 1815
HIST 17B	HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES FROM 1812 TO 1914
HIST 17C	HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES FROM 1914 TO THE PRESENT
SOC 11	SOCIAL WORK & HUMAN SERVICES
SOC 14	SOCIOLOGY OF CRIME
SOC 20	MAJOR SOCIAL PROBLEMS
SOC 23	RACE & ETHNIC RELATIONS
WMN 11	WOMEN IN GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
Total Units		27-29