BA in Political Science

Units required for Major: 42
Total units required for BA: 120

Program Description

The Political Science major complements a student's liberal arts education with an emphasis on understanding the theoretical and practical aspects of government and politics. The department offers a BA in Political Science, a BA in Political Science-Journalism, and the minor in Political Science. The Political Science major is structured to provide students with a comprehensive background in the basic fields of political science, as well as to permit them a range of choice in completing the program. The Political Science Department offers several courses integral to interdisciplinary programs such as California Studies, Environmental Studies, Ethnic Studies, Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies, and Women’s Studies.

The department emphasizes its expectation that students seek faculty advice when planning their program. Students may ask any faculty member's assistance initially. As specific interests are developed, students may wish to seek the advice of faculty sharing their interests.

Note: Although it is not a requirement of the major, the department strongly recommends that students take an introductory statistics course as part of their undergraduate work. A course in statistics may be used to satisfy the GE requirement in mathematics.

Minimum GPA Requirement

Students are required to maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA in the Major.

Program Requirements

Required Lower Division Courses (3 Units)
POLS 1Essentials Of Government 1,23
Required Upper Division Courses (18 Units) 3
POLS 100Introduction to Research Methods in Political Science3
POLS 110Political Thought I3
or POLS 111 Political Thought II
or POLS 112 Current Political Thought
POLS 120AConstitutional Law3
or POLS 120B Constitutional Rights and Liberties
POLS 130International Politics3
POLS 140Comparative Politics3
POLS 170Public Policy Development 43
Electives (21 Units)
Select 21 units 521
Total Units42

General Education Requirements1

Area A: Basic Subjects (9 Units)
A1 - Oral Communication3
A2 - Written Communication3
A3 - Critical Thinking3
Area B: Physical Universe and Its Life Forms (10 Units)
B1 - Physical Science3
B2 - Life Forms3
B3 - Lab (Note: Lab experience to be taken with one of the following: B1, B2 or B5)1
B4 - Math Concepts3
B5 - Additional Course (Any B to reach 12 units) - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements. 20
Area C: Arts and Humanities (12 Units)
C1 - Arts3
C2 - Humanities3
C1/C2 - Area C Course3
C1/C2 - Area C Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements.3
Area D: The Individual and Society (6 Units)
Area D Course3
Area D Course3
Area D Course - Take upper-division course to complete Area & upper division requirements.0
Area E: Understanding Personal Development (3 Units)
Area E Course3
Area F: Ethnic Studies
Area F Course
Total Units40

Graduation Requirements1

Graduation Requirements (required by CSU) (6 Units)
American Institutions: U.S. History3
American Institutions: U.S. Constitution & CA Government 20
Writing Intensive (WI)3
Graduation Requirements (required by Sacramento State) (12 Units)
English Composition II3
Race and Ethnicity in American Society (RE)3
Foreign Language Proficiency Requirement 36