Politics Major

Home Undergraduate Program Politics Major

Major Requirements

Politics offers a combined major with Latin American and Latino Studies. The process to declare the combined LALS & Politics major is identical to that of a double major. For details on program requirements, contact the Latin American and Latino Studies Department (located at 32 Merrill College) or phone (831) 459-4284.

Course Requirements for Politics Major

Two lower-division politics courses. All students are required to complete and pass with a grade of "C" or better two courses from those numbered 1 through 79, prior to declaring the major in Politics. (These have an IS general education code.) These courses are normally taken during the first year.

Four upper-division politics core courses. The following four groups of courses constitute the core of the politics major. Four courses are required: two courses from one group, one course from a second group, and one course from a third group. In general, upper-division courses are not recommended for freshmen.

• Theory
• 105A Ancient Political Thought
• 105B Early Modern Political Thought
• 105C Modern Political Thought
• U.S. Politics
• 120A Congress, President, and the Court in American Politics
• 120B Society and Democracy in American Political Development
• 120C State and Capitalism in American Political Development
• Comparative
• 140A Politics of Advanced Industrialized Societies
• 140B Comparative Post-Communist Politics
• 140C Latin American Politics
• 140D Politics of East Asia
• 140E Postcolonial States and Societies
• International
• 160A International Politics
• 160B Global Organization
• 160C Security, Conflict, Violence, War

Course 160A, normally offered fall quarter, is very strongly recommended prior to taking the other international core courses.

Five upper-division politics electives. Five additional politics courses are to be selected from courses numbered 101-199.

COMPREHENSIVE REQUIREMENT

The comprehensive senior exit requirement in the Politics Department can be satisfied by one of the following:

SENIOR SEMINAR - Successful completion of a Politics senior seminar (190 series) that includes the writing of an extensive paper (no less than 15 pages) with a substantial research content.

GRADUATE COURSE - Successful completion of a Politics graduate core seminar (enrollment in which is contingent on the written recommendation of two Politics faculty) that includes the writing of an extensive paper (no less than 15 pages) with a substantial research content.

12TH COURSE OPTION - Successful completion of two additional Politics upper-division courses. In conjunction with this course, the student must receive faculty approval for and enroll in a two credit independent study, Politics 199 F, which requires completion of a substantial writing component (e.g. a term paper of no less than 15 pages in length.)

SENIOR THESIS - Successful completion of a senior thesis (approximately 50 pages) with a substantial research content supervised by a Politics faculty member with a second reader.

• Politics Major | Major Checklist (pdf file) undergraduate
• Politics Minor | Minor Checklist (pdf file)
• Combined Major w/ Latin American & Latino Studies

Politics / Latin American & Latino Studies Combined Major Requirements

Politics offers a combined major with Latin American and Latino Studies. The process to declare the combined POLI/LALS major is identical to that of a double major. For details on program requirements, contact the Latin American and Latino Studies Department at 32 Merrill College or phone 831.459.4284.

Double Major Requirements

A double major meets the full requirements of the Politics major as well as the full requirements of the other major discipline. Courses used to satisfy one major may not be used to satisfy requirements for another major.

Students electing to do a double major can obtain a Petition for Declaration or Change of Major at their College Office where the general education requirements section should be completed and reviewed. They then take the petition to both Department Advisors and faculty advisors will work with the student to complete the plan of study sections for the majors.