Political Science AA-T Degree
Political Science is the scientific study of politics, structure of governments at the national, state and local levels, policy making and policy makers. As such, it encompasses a wide range of interdisciplinary subjects, including economics, history, law, and philosophy. One major concern of political science is educating each generation of how democracy works, what are its benefits relative to other governmental systems. Lacking such knowledge can threaten our very existence since democracy is dependent upon a well-informed and civic-minded citizenry. This degree is an excellent general preparation for careers in conflict resolution, criminal justice, diplomacy, civil service, education, elections, journalism, the practice of law, public administration and public policy, public service, and research. The Associate in Arts in Political Science for Transfer, also called the Political Science AA-T Degree, prepares students to transfer to CSU campuses that offer bachelor’s degrees in Political Science. Students earning the Political Science AA-T Degree will be granted priority for admission as a Political Science major to a CSU, but not to a particular campus. This degree requires students to complete 60 CSU transferable units including completion of Cal-GETC and 18-19 units in the major with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better. Title 5 requires that students earn a grade of “C” (or "P") or better in all courses required for the major or area of emphasis. There are no additional graduation requirements. Students should consult with a counselor when planning to complete the degree for more information on university admission and transfer requirements.
Learning Outcomes
Upon satisfactory completion of this program students will be able to:
- Students will demonstrate the ability to write, speak, and critically analyze complex political processes and government policies.
- Students will analyze and interpret texts, images, and experiences in order to understand political problems.
- Students will develop an original argument in response to a political science puzzle and propose theoretical and/or practical solutions.
- Students will utilize the methods and tools political scientists use to test their hypotheses and substantiate their claims.
Program Requirements
| Course Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses: | Units | |
| POLS C1000 | American Government and Politics | 3 |
| Select two courses from the following (6 units): | ||
| PS 002 | Introduction to Comparative Governments | 3 |
| PS 003 | Introduction to Political Theory | 3 |
| or PHIL 003 | Introduction to Political Theory | |
| PS 004 | Introduction to International Relations | 3 |
| List A- Select 2 courses from the following (6 units): | ||
| Any course not used in required core | ||
| SOC 003 | Fundamentals of Statistics | 3-4 |
| or STAT C1000 | Introduction to Statistics | |
| PS 005 | 3 | |
| PS 006 | Latinx Politics | 3 |
| PS 007 | African American Politics | 3 |
| PS 008 | Women and Politics | 3 |
| PS 009 | 3 | |
| List B- Select 1 course (3 units): | ||
| Any course not used in List A | 3 | |
| ANTH 002 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| ECON 001 | Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 |
| HIST 017 | US History through Reconstruction | 3 |
| Required Subtotal | 18-19 | |
| Cal-GETC 1 | 34 | |
| Transferable Electives (as needed to reach 60 transferable units) 2 | ||
| Degree Total | 60 | |
- 1
Units for the major may be double counted for Cal-GETC, confer with Counselor.
- 2
Elective units to reach 60 unit total must be CSU transferable, confer with Counselor.
