Political Science is the academic discipline that investigates the institutions and processes by which human societies are ruled. Political scientists use the techniques of empirical research and historical analysis, along with normative consideration of the ends of political action, to explore the outcomes of various governmental arrangements and alternatives. The study of political science will prepare students for careers in law, politics, governmental service, social science teaching, and journalism, as well as for active participation in the political system of the United States.
The Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) or the Associate in Science for Transfer (AS-T) is intended for students who plan to complete a bachelor's degree in a similar major at a CSU campus. Students completing these degrees (AA-T or AS-T) are guaranteed admission to the CSU system, but not to a particular campus or major.
To earn a Political Science AA-T degree, students must meet the following requirements:
- completion of the following major requirements with a minimum grade of “C” (or “P”);
- completion of a minimum of 60 CSU transferable semester units with a grade point average of at least 2.0; and
- certified completion of the CSU General Education-Breadth (CSUGE) or Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) for CSU, which requires a minimum of 37-39 units.
It is highly recommended that students complete courses that satisfy the U.S. History, Constitution, and American Ideals requirement as part of CSUGE or IGETC before transferring to a CSU.
Students planning to transfer to a four-year institution and major in political science should consult with a counselor regarding the transfer process and lower division requirements.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses: | ||
| POLIT 100 | American Politics | 3 |
| or POLIT 100H | American Politics - Honors | |
| POLIT 110 | Introduction to Political Theory | 3 |
| or POLIT 110H | Introduction to Political Theory - Honors | |
| POLIT 140 | Introduction to Comparative Politics | 3 |
| POLIT 141 | Introduction to World Politics | 3 |
| or POLIT 141H | Introduction to World Politics - Honors | |
| List A - Two courses from the following: | ||
| POLIT 170 | Introduction to the Politics of Race and Gender | 3 |
| POLIT 173 | California Government | 3 |
| POLIT 138 | Service Learning: Student Leadership | 3 |
| or POLIT 138H | Service Learning: Student Leadership - Honors | |
| POLIT 139 | Service Learning: Community Leadership | 3 |
| or POLIT 139H | Service Learning: Community Leadership - Honors | |
| ECON 208 | Business and Economic Statistics | 4 |
| or MATH 108 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics | |
| or MATH 108H | Introduction to Probability and Statistics - Honors | |
| or PSYCH 105 | Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences | |
| List B - One course from the following: | ||
| ANTHRO 102 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| or ANTHRO 102H | Cultural Anthropology - Honors | |
| COMMST 135 | Mass Media and Society | 3 |
| ECON 100 | Introduction to Economics | 3 |
| ECON 200 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| or ECON 200H | Principles of Macroeconomics - Honors | |
| ECON 201 | Principles of Microeconomics | 3 |
| or ECON 201H | Principles of Microeconomics - Honors | |
| HIST 100 | United States History to 1877 | 3 |
| or HIST 100H | United States History to 1877 - Honors | |
| HIST 101 | United States History: 1865 to Present | 3 |
| or HIST 101H | United States History: 1865 to Present - Honors | |
| HIST 137 | Experiences of Racial and Ethnic Groups in U.S. History | 3 |
| HIST 150 | Introduction to Latin American History | 3 |
| HIST 170 | World History to 1500 | 3 |
| HIST 171 | World History Since 1500 | 3 |
| POLIT 138 | Service Learning: Student Leadership | 3 |
| or POLIT 138H | Service Learning: Student Leadership - Honors | |
| POLIT 139 | Service Learning: Community Leadership | 3 |
| or POLIT 139H | Service Learning: Community Leadership - Honors | |
| POLIT 150 | Introduction to Public Policy | 3 |
| PSYCH 100 | General Psychology | 3 |
| or PSYCH 100H | General Psychology - Honors | |
| RELIG 135 | Religion in America | 3 |
| SOC 100 | Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| or SOC 100H | Introduction to Sociology - Honors | |
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Major Total | 18-19 | |
| Total Units That May Be Double Counted | 12 | |
| General Education (CSU-GE or IGETC) Units | 37-39 | |
| Elective (CSU Transferable) Units | 14-17 | |
| Total Units | 60 | |
See Section on Degree, Certificate, and Transfer Information for additional information on the Associate Degrees for Transfer.
To earn an SBVC Associate Degree for Transfer (AA-T or AS-T) students must complete one of the following general education patterns:
Program Learning Outcomes
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the domestic governmental institutions and political practices of the United States – at the national, state, and local levels – including their Constitutional bases; the special functions of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches and their associated bureaucratic and regulatory agencies; and the activities of leading participants in the political process including organized special interest groups, political parties, and grass-roots activists.
- Demonstrate a keen awareness of the world beyond our national borders and know the principal players in world politics--state actors (countries) and non-state actors such as international governmental organizations (IGOs) and international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), and their respective role in creating world order; employ the principle of levels of analysis to explain a major development in world politics such as the outbreak of war or a complex foreign policy decision; understand the principal parameters around which to compare different political systems; have an understanding of how different historical and cultural forces end up creating different regimes--authoritarian regimes or democratic regimes; and have a general knowledge of the fundamental components of political economy—public goods, taxation, regulations, trade policies, employment, and money supply.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the practical skills needed for employment, or other participation, in governmental and political contexts.