Political Science, Bachelor of Arts College of Letters & Science
Political science is the study of politics and political systems at the local, national, and international levels. It concerns not only the institutions of government but also the analysis of such phenomena as political behavior, political values, political change and stability, parties, pressure groups, bureaucracies, administrative behavior, justice, national security, and international affairs.
The Program
The Department of Political Science offers three majors:
- International Relations — Explores problems of security, development, ethnic conflict, human rights, health, and the environment at a global level.
- Political Science — Aims to provide the student with a broad understanding of political concepts, political institutions, political behavior, and political processes.
- Political Science—Public Service — For students who desire opportunities for practical hands-on experience in their major. It differs in particular from the political science major in its internship requirement and its focus on the American political system.
Major Advisors
Contact the Department of Political Science.
Internships & Career Alternatives
Both the proximity of UC Davis to the state capitol and the programs offered by the UC Washington Center afford exceptional internship possibilities in local, state, and national government offices, providing students with actual experience in politics and government service while still attending school. A student who majors in political science acquires research and analytic skills relevant to many professional fields. Consequently, the majors offered in political science are valuable not only in providing students with a better understanding of politics and political systems, but also as a first step toward careers in teaching, law, management, government, urban planning, journalism, politics, administration, or for graduate studies in numerous fields.
American History & Institutions
This University requirement may be satisfied by passing any one of the following Political Science (POL) courses:1
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| POL 001 | American National Government | 4 |
| or POL 001Y | American National Government | |
| POL 005 | Contemporary Problems of the American Political System | 4 |
| POL 100 | Local Government & Politics | 4 |
| POL 102 | Urban Public Policy | 4 |
| POL 104 | California State Government & Politics | 4 |
| POL 105 | The Legislative Process | 4 |
| POL 106 | The Presidency | 4 |
| POL 108 | Policy Making in the Public Sector | 4 |
| POL 109 | Public Policy & the Governmental Process | 4 |
| POL 113 | American Political Thought | 4 |
| POL 130 | Recent U.S. Foreign Policy | 4 |
| POL 131 | Analysis of U.S. Foreign Policy | 4 |
| POL 160 | American Political Parties | 4 |
| POL 163 | Group Politics | 4 |
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See also under American History & Institutions Requirement.
Graduate Study
The Department of Political Science offers a program of graduate study and research leading to a Ph.D. degree or an M.A./J.D. joint degree. The M.A./J.D. joint degree is done only in conjunction with UC Davis School of Law. Information concerning admission to these programs and requirements for completion are available in the Graduate Program Coordinator's office.
Graduate Advisor
Contact the Department of Political Science.
The major requirements below are in addition to meeting University Degree Requirements & College Degree Requirements; unless otherwise noted. The minimum number of units required for the Political Science Bachelor of Arts is 68.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Preparatory Subject Matter | ||
| Political Science | ||
| POL 051 | Scientific Study of Politics (required) | 4 |
| Choose three: 1 | 12 | |
| American National Government | ||
or POL 001Y | American National Government | |
| Introduction to Comparative Politics | ||
| International Relations | ||
| Basic Concepts in Political Theory | ||
| Choose one: 1 | 4 | |
| American National Government | ||
or POL 001Y | American National Government | |
| Introduction to Comparative Politics | ||
| International Relations | ||
| Basic Concepts in Political Theory | ||
| Contemporary Problems of the American Political System | ||
| Contemporary Issues in Law & Politics | ||
or POL 007V | Introduction to Law & Politics | |
| America Decides: Who Will Win This Year's Election? | ||
or POL 011AV | America Decides: Who Will Win This Year's Election? | |
| Citizen Lawmaking: Direct Democracy, Public Policy & Political Representation in America | ||
| Politics & Film | ||
| Political Persuasion | ||
| Politics & Sports | ||
| Climate Change & Politics | ||
| Choose one: | 4 | |
| Data Visualization in the Social Sciences | ||
| Elementary Statistics | ||
or STA 013Y | Elementary Statistics | |
| Gateway to Statistical Data Science | ||
| Preparatory Subject Matter Subtotal | 24 | |
| Depth Subject Matter | ||
| Four courses in one of the fields of concentration listed below. | 16 | |
| Three courses in another field of concentration listed below. | 12 | |
| Two courses in another field of concentration listed below. | 8 | |
| Two other upper division courses in Political Science. 2 | 8-9 | |
| Fields of Concentration | ||
| Depth Subject Matter Subtotal | 44-45 | |
| Total Units | 68-69 | |
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No overlap permitted between sections.
- 2
Only 5 units of POL 192A & POL 192B may be counted toward the depth subject matter; POL 198 & POL 199 may not be counted.
Fields of Concentration
American Politics
Courses with POL 001 or POL 001Y recommended:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| POL 100 | Local Government & Politics | 4 |
| POL 102 | Urban Public Policy | 4 |
| POL 104 | California State Government & Politics | 4 |
| POL 105 | The Legislative Process | 4 |
| POL 106 | The Presidency | 4 |
| POL 107 | Environmental Politics & Administration | 4 |
| POL 108 | Policy Making in the Public Sector | 4 |
| POL 109 | Public Policy & the Governmental Process | 4 |
| POL 150 | Judicial Politics & Constitutional Interpretation | 4 |
| POL 151 | Constitutional Politics of the First Amendment & the Right to Privacy. | 4 |
| POL 152 | The Constitutional Politics of the Equality | 4 |
| POL 153 | The Constitutional Politics of the Justice System | 4 |
| POL 154 | Legal Philosophy | 4 |
| POL 155 | Judicial Process & Behavior | 4 |
| POL 160 | American Political Parties | 4 |
| POL 161 | Ballots, Bucks, & Maps: The Rules of the Electoral Game in American Politics | 4 |
| POL 162 | Elections & Voting Behavior | 4 |
| POL 163 | Group Politics | 4 |
| POL 164 | Public Opinion | 4 |
| POL 165 | Mass Media & Politics | 4 |
| or POL 165V | Mass Media & Politics | |
| POL 166 | Women in Politics | 4 |
| POL 168 | Latino Politics | 4 |
| POL 170 | Political Psychology | 4 |
| POL 171 | The Politics of Energy | 4 |
| POL 172 | American Political Development | 4 |
| POL 174 | Government & the Economy | 4 |
| POL 175 | Science, Technology, & Policy | 4 |
| POL 176 | Racial Politics | 4 |
| POL 180 | Bureaucracy in Modern Society | 4 |
| POL 183 | Administrative Behavior | 4 |
| POL 187 | Administrative Theory | 4 |
| POL 195 | Special Studies in American Politics | 4 |
| POL 196A | Seminar in American Politics | 4 |
Comparative Politics
Courses with POL 002 recommended:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| POL 126 | Ethnic Self-Determination & International Conflict | 4 |
| POL 140A | Comparative Political Institutions: Electoral Systems | 4 |
| POL 140B | Comparative Political Institutions: Parties | 4 |
| POL 140C | Comparative Political Institutions: Legislatures | 4 |
| POL 140D | When Institutions Fail | 4 |
| POL 140E | Policy-Making Processes | 4 |
| POL 142A | Comparative Development: Political Development in Modernizing Societies | 4 |
| POL 142B | Comparative Development: Politics & Inequality | 4 |
| POL 142C | Comparative Political Development: Democracy & Democratization | 4 |
| POL 143A | Latin American Politics | 4 |
| POL 143B | Mexican Politics | 4 |
| POL 144A | Politics of Post-Communist Countries: East European Politics | 4 |
| POL 144B | Politics of Post-Communist Countries: Russia | 4 |
| POL 146A | Politics of Africa: Issues in Contemporary African Politics | 4 |
| POL 146B | Politics of Africa: Development in Africa | 4 |
| POL 147A | West European Politics | 4 |
| POL 147B | West European Politics: British Politics | 4 |
| POL 147C | West European Politics: French Politics | 4 |
| POL 147D | West European Politics: German Politics | 4 |
| POL 148A | Government & Politics of East Asia: China | 4 |
| POL 148B | Government & Politics in East Asia: Japan | 4 |
| POL 148C | Government & Politics in East Asia: Southeast Asia | 4 |
| POL 179 | Special Studies in Comparative Politics | 4 |
| POL 196B | Seminar in Comparative Politics | 4 |
International Relations
Courses with POL 003 recommended:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| POL 120 | Theories of International Politics | 4 |
| POL 121 | Scientific Study of War | 4 |
| POL 122 | International Law | 4 |
| POL 123 | The Politics of Interdependence | 4 |
| POL 124 | The Politics of Global Inequality | 4 |
| POL 126 | Ethnic Self-Determination & International Conflict | 4 |
| POL 129 | Special Studies in International Politics | 4 |
| POL 130 | Recent U.S. Foreign Policy | 4 |
| POL 131 | Analysis of U.S. Foreign Policy | 4 |
| POL 132 | National Security Policy | 4 |
| POL 134 | Africa & U.S. Foreign Policy | 4 |
| POL 135 | International Politics of the Middle East | 4 |
| POL 136 | The Arab-Israeli Conflict | 4 |
| POL 137 | International Relations in Western Europe | 4 |
| POL 139 | Special Studies in Foreign Policy | 4 |
| POL 190 | International Relations | 4 |
| POL 196C | Seminar in International Relations | 4 |
Political Theory
Courses with POL 004 recommended:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| POL 110 | The Strategy of Politics | 4 |
| POL 112 | Contemporary Democratic Theory | 4 |
| POL 113 | American Political Thought | 4 |
| POL 114 | Quantitative Analysis of Political Data | 4 |
| POL 115 | Medieval Political Thought | 4 |
| POL 116 | Foundations of Political Thought | 4 |
| POL 117 | Topics in the History of Political Thought | 4 |
| POL 118A | History of Political Theory: Ancient | 4 |
| POL 118B | History of Political Theory: Early Modern | 4 |
| POL 118C | History of Political Theory: Late Modern | 4 |
| POL 119 | Contemporary Political Thought | 4 |
| POL 187 | Administrative Theory | 4 |
| POL 196D | Seminar in Political Theory | 4 |