Sep 06, 2024  
2024-2025 Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Catalog

Political Science, B.A. Four-Year Course Plan


The four-year plans presented in this sample plan demonstrate the recommended sequencing and timing  of the required and elective components within each major, the assumption each course listed is worth 4 semester units (unless otherwise noted), and that lower and upper division common course GE requirements are maximized in sharing with your major, concentration, and Intellectual Experiences. In many cases, a student’s academic background will require variations in the timing of the coursework listed in the plan. All students are expected to work with their academic advisor to find their best pathway through the degree requirements of their chosen program. 

All General Education course options can be found here.  

First Year

Fall Spring
POLI 001: Introduction to American Politics   Lower Division POLI
WRI 010: College Reading and Composition   POLI 010: Understanding Political Controversies  
SPRK 001: Spark Seminar  or  SPRK 010: Spark Seminar   General Education: Quantitative Reasoning
General Education: AREA A General Education: Language

Second Year

Fall Spring
Lower Division POLI Upper Division American Politics
Upper Division American Politics Upper Division POLI
General Education: AREA A General Education: AREA B
General Education: AREA B Lower or Upper Division Elective

Third Year

Fall Spring
Upper Division American Politics Upper Division American Politics
Upper Division POLI Breadth Upper Division POLI Breadth
Lower or Upper Division Elective General Education: Crossroads
Lower or Upper Division Elective Lower or Upper Division Elective

Fourth Year

Fall Spring
Upper Division POLI Upper Division POLI
General Education: Writing in the Discipline General Education: Culminating Experience
Lower or Upper Division Elective Lower or Upper Division Elective

Department Notes:

  • Note 1: Academic advisors should encourage students to take POLI 3 or POLI 5 in their first Spring or second Fall semester if they are likely to select Comparative Politics or International Relations for Breadth courses. 
  • Note 2: POLI 10 is not always offered in the Spring, so students should take it at their earliest opportunity. 
  • Note 3: POLI 175 and the Honor’s Seminar can be the two upper division POLI courses in the fourth year.