Political Science—Public Service, 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 |
- 1
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—Public Service Bachelor of Arts is 68.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Preparatory Subject Matter | ||
| POL 001 | American National Government | 4 |
| or POL 001Y | American National Government | |
| POL 051 | Scientific Study of Politics | 4 |
| Choose three: | 12 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | ||
| Core Program | ||
| Choose three: | 12 | |
| Local Government & Politics | ||
| Urban Public Policy | ||
| California State Government & Politics | ||
| The Legislative Process | ||
| The Presidency | ||
| Policy Making in the Public Sector | ||
| Public Policy & the Governmental Process | ||
| American Political Thought | ||
| Quantitative Analysis of Political Data | ||
| Bureaucracy in Modern Society | ||
| Internship | ||
| Choose one: | 6 | |
| Internship in Public Affairs | ||
| Internship in Public Affairs | ||
| Internship in the UC Davis Washington Program | ||
| Research Paper | ||
| WAS 193/POL 193W | Washington Center Research Seminar | 2-4 |
| or POL 193 | Research in Practical Politics | |
| Fields of Concentration | ||
| Select six upper division courses from two or three fields of concentration listed below with at least two courses in each field selected; at least 16 of the units must be in Political Science; No overlap between Core Program courses and Fields of Concentration allowed. | 24 | |
| Depth Subject Matter Subtotal | 44-46 | |
| Total Units | 68-70 | |
Fields of Concentration
Field (1) Policy Process
| 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 108 | Policy Making in the Public Sector | 4 |
| POL 109 | Public Policy & the Governmental Process | 4 |
| POL 140A | Comparative Political Institutions: Electoral Systems | 4 |
| POL 160 | American Political Parties | 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 180 | Bureaucracy in Modern Society | 4 |
| POL 183 | Administrative Behavior | 4 |
| POL 187 | Administrative Theory | 4 |
| POL 195 | Special Studies in American Politics | 4 |
| ECN 130 | Public Microeconomics | 4 |
| or ECN 130Y | Public Microeconomics | |
| ECN 131 | Public Finance | 4 |
| or ECN 131Y | Public Finance | |
Field (2) Policy Interpretation (Public/Pre-Law)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| POL 119 | Contemporary Political Thought | 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 155 | Judicial Process & Behavior | 4 |
Field (3) State & Local Policy
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| POL 100 | Local Government & Politics | 4 |
| POL 102 | Urban Public Policy | 4 |
| POL 104 | California State Government & Politics | 4 |
| ESP 173 | Land Use & Growth Controls | 4 |
| SOC 143A | Urban Society | 4 |
Field (4) Foreign Policy
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| POL 122 | International Law | 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 139 | Special Studies in Foreign Policy | 4 |
Field (5) Environmental Policy
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| POL 107 | Environmental Politics & Administration | 4 |
| ESP 160 | The Policy Process | 4 |
| ESP 161 | Environmental Law | 4 |
| ESP 162 | Environmental Policy | 4 |
| ESP 166 | Ocean & Coastal Policy | 3 |
| ESP 168A | Methods of Environmental Policy Analysis | 5 |
| ESP 168B | Methods of Environmental Policy Evaluation | 4 |
| ESP 169 | Water Policy & Politics | 3 |
| ESP 171 | Urban & Regional Planning | 4 |
| ESP 172 | Public Lands Management | 4 |
| ESP 173 | Land Use & Growth Controls | 4 |
| ESP 179 | Environmental Impact Assessment | 4 |
Field (6) Economic Policy
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ECN 100A | Intermediate Micro Theory: Consumer & Producer Theory | 4 |
| ECN 130 | Public Microeconomics | 4 |
| or ECN 130Y | Public Microeconomics | |
| ECN 131 | Public Finance | 4 |
| or ECN 131Y | Public Finance | |
| ECN 151A | Economics of the Labor Market | 4 |
| ECN 151B | Economics of Human Resources | 4 |
Field (7) Social Policy
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| SOC/IRE 104 | The Political Economy of International Migration | 4 |
| SOC 124 | Education & Inequality in the U.S. | 4 |
| SOC 141 | Industrialization & Social Change | 4 |
| SOC 150 | Criminology | 4 |
| SOC 151 | The Criminal Justice System | 4 |
| SOC 154 | (Discontinued) | 4 |
| SOC 155 | Sociology of Law | 4 |
| SOC 175 | (Discontinued) | 4 |
| SOC 181 | (Discontinued) | 4 |
Field (8) Policy Analysis Tools
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ECN 102 | Analysis of Economic Data | 4 |
| ECN 140 | Econometrics | 4 |
| POL 114 | Quantitative Analysis of Political Data | 4 |
Field (9) Honors Thesis
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| POL 194HA | Special Study for Honors Students | 4 |
| POL 194HB | Special Study for Honors Students | 4 |