POLSC-BA - Political Science (BA)

25 units in a primary Track and 15 units in a secondary Track. Each major must select two Paths from the list below on which to focus their studies.

*Tracks are listed in Depth in Discipline

Additional Political Science coursework, which may include any PoliSci courses regardless of track, pre-approved courses. This may include no more than 5 units of directed reading.

Pre-Approved Non PoliSci Courses: These courses are pre-approved for the Political Science major, but do not fall into any one of the 5 tracks. They can count towards the completion of the major, but cannot count towards the Primary or Secondary Track.

Students must take at least one 5-unit, 200-level or 300-level undergraduate seminar in Political Science. This course may count toward the units taken to satisfy the Primary Track, Secondary Track, or Additional Coursework requirements.

If this is your primary pathway, complete a minimum of 25 units from the lists below.

If this is your secondary pathway, complete a minimum of 15 units.

The bulk of your 25 or 15 units will come from the first list of POLISCI courses. Up to one course for the primary Path and up to one course for the secondary Path may be from the second list of Pre-Approved Non-POLISCI courses, or a petitioned course.

If this is your primary pathway, complete a minimum of 25 units from the lists below.

If this is your secondary pathway, complete a minimum of 15 units.

The bulk of your 25 or 15 units will come from the first list of POLISCI courses. Up to one course for the primary Path and up to one course for the secondary Path may be from the second list of Pre-Approved Non-POLISCI courses, or a petitioned course.

If this is your primary pathway, complete a minimum of 25 units from the lists below.

If this is your secondary pathway, complete a minimum of 15 units.

The bulk of your 25 or 15 units will come from the first list of POLISCI courses. Up to one course for the primary Path and up to one course for the secondary Path may be from the second list of Pre-Approved Non-POLISCI courses, or a petitioned course.

If this is your primary pathway, complete a minimum of 25 units from the lists below.

If this is your secondary pathway, complete a minimum of 15 units.

The bulk of your 25 or 15 units will come from the first list of POLISCI courses. Up to one course for the primary Path and up to one course for the secondary Path may be from the second list of Pre-Approved Non-POLISCI courses, or a petitioned course.

If this is your primary pathway, complete a minimum of 25 units from the lists below.

If this is your secondary pathway, complete a minimum of 15 units.

The bulk of your 25 or 15 units will come from the first list of POLISCI courses. Up to one course for the primary Path and up to one course for the secondary Path may be from the second list of Pre-Approved Non-POLISCI courses, or a petitioned course.

Honors Eligibility

• GPA of 3.5 or higher

• course The Science of Politics

• course Data Science for Politics; students may substitute course Programming Methodology, course Introduction to Statistical Methods (Postcalculus) for Social Scientists, course Data Science 101, or course Introduction to Statistical Methods: Precalculus.

• Research experience

Application Process

To participate in the Research Honors Program in Political Science, students must apply and be accepted to the program during winter quarter of their junior year. A complete application includes:

• The Political Science Research Honors Program application form, signed by their chosen honors advisor. The advisor must be a Political Science faculty member or a courtesy faculty member (non-lecturer).

• An essay outlining the student’s research interest.

• A letter of recommendation from a Political Science faculty member or a teaching assistant in a Political Science course. Letters of recommendation can be sent directly by email to the Undergraduate Student Services Officer.

• A copy of the unofficial transcript.

Students are expected to have research experience before applying to the honors program. The Political Science Summer Research College (SRC) program is one way to acquire this experience. SRC is a ten-week program in which students are paid to work with faculty on their ongoing research projects. The SRC application typically opens in winter quarter. Students may also pursue research with faculty during the academic year.

Research Honors Program Requirements

To graduate with honors in Political Science, students must:

• Secure an honors advisor at the time of application to the research honors program. The honors advisor must be a Political Science faculty member or a courtesy faculty member (non-lecturer).

• Earn a grade of B or higher in POLISCI299A Research Design and POLISCI299B Honors Thesis Seminar. Students unable to meet these requirements may be removed from the program.

• Submit a completed thesis, approved by the advisor, in the spring quarter of the senior year. The thesis must receive a grade of ‘B+’ or higher. The thesis grade also serves as the grade for POLISCI299C Honors Thesis and POLISCI299D Honors Thesis.

Up to 20 units of honors coursework may be applied toward the additional related coursework requirement for the major.