Political Science

Political scientists study the origin, development, and operation of political systems and public policy. Some study the actions of foreign governments, political parties, or revolutionary movements. Others analyze topics such as public opinion, decision making, or the uses of ideology and public policy. They may conduct surveys, analyze election results, review Supreme Court decisions, or actions of legislative bodies, or analyze the content of media articles. Some do academic research, write, or teach. Others work on applied problems for federal agencies, legislative committees, or individual office holders/seekers. Some career possibilities include lawyer, politician, and director of polling and survey projects.

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Programs Offered

Degrees

Related Program

Associate Degree in Political Science for Transfer to the CSU

The Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T) is designed to facilitate transfer admission to a CSU in a similar major. If you are considering transfer to a UC, private, or out-of-state school, consult a counselor regarding the transfer requirements of that institution.

Associate Degree for Transfer Requirements:

completion of at least 60 CSU-transferable semester including:
- completion of the Area of Emphasis with a grade of C or higher in each course or with a P if the course was taken on a Pass/No Pass basis, and the P is equal to a C or higher (Title 5 §55063)
- completion of either CSU GE or IGETC; students transferring to CSU using IGETC must complete Area 1C (see smc.edu/articulation or visit the General Counseling and Transfer Service Center)
- a minimum of 12 degree applicable semester units completed at SMC
- a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 in all CSU-transferable units

Note: while a minimum GPA of 2.0 is required for admission to a CSU, some majors/campuses may require a higher GPA. Please consult with a counselor for details.

Catalog Rights

Transfer Preparation

Many colleges/universities offer baccalaureate degrees in this field. Students planning to transfer to a four-year college or university should complete the lower-division major requirements and the general education pattern for the specific transfer institution. SMC has articulation agreements with the many UC and CSU campuses, as well as several private and out-of-state institutions.

Exact major requirements for UC and CSU campuses can be found online at assist.org.

A listing of private, nonprofit California colleges and universities can be found online at aiccu.edu. For articulation agreements between SMC and some of these institutions see smc.edu/articulation.

The University of California system has a transfer pathway for any UC campus that offers Political Science. For more information, visit pathwaysguide.universityofcalifornia.edu

SMC offers the Political Science Associate Degree for Transfer. Students completing this degree are eligible for priority transfer admission consideration in the majors at the California State University campuses listed below. In addition, you will be required to complete no more than 60 semester/90 quarter CSU units of coursework after transfer to complete your baccalaureate degree.

NOTE: If you are considering transfer to a UC, private, or out-of-state school, please consult a counselor before applying to transfer, as the transfer requirements may be different from those required for the Political Science AA-T.

For the most current list of CSU campuses accepting this Transfer degree visit calstate.edu/transfer/adtsearch/search.shtml

Online Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT)

Santa Monica College offers the courses highlighted below fully online. Students may complete the degree requirements fully online. For math and lab science GE requirements, only Math 54 (or ACCTG/BUS 45 for CSU bound students) and Astronomy 3 are offered online.

Political Science, Associate Degree for Transfer

The Associate in Arts in Political Science for Transfer (AA-T) introduces students to the major fields of study in political science. The program includes the study of American politics (principles, institutions, and policies). Depending upon the student’s chosen course of study, the program may also include comparative politics (institutional structures, processes, and political cultures), International Relations (structure and operation of the international system), and/or political philosophy (ideas about human nature, power, justice, and the state).

Upon completion of the Associate in Arts in Political Science for Transfer (AA-T), students will have a strong academic foundation in the field and be prepared for upper-division baccalaureate study. Completion of the degree indicates that the student will have satisfied the lower-division requirements for transfer into political science or similar majors for many campuses in the California State University system.

Program Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of the program, students will demonstrate, through written and oral academic work, an understanding of the principles, structure, and processes of the American political system, as well as, depending on the student’s area of focus, an understanding of the institutional structures and processes of other countries, the structure and operation of international relations, and philosophic ideas about human nature, power, justice, and the state.

Area of Emphasis: (18 units)

Required Core Course: (3 units)

POL SC 1,American and California Politics(3)

LIST A: Select 3 courses from the following: (9 units)

MATH 54,Elementary Statistics(4)

PHILOS 51,Political Philosophy (same as POL SC 51)(3)

POL SC 2,Comparative Government and Politics(3)

POL SC 7,International Politics(3)

POL SC 51,Political Philosophy (same as PHILOS 51)(3)

LIST B: Select 2 courses from the following: (6 units)

Any course from List A not used above:

ECON 1,Principles of Microeconomics(3)

ECON 2,Principles of Macroeconomics(3)

ECON 5,International Political Economy: Introduction to Global Studies (3)

ENGL 2,Critical Analysis and Intermediate Composition(3)

ENVRN 14,U.S. Environmental History (same as HIST 14)(3)

ENVRN 20,Environmental Ethics (same as PHILOS 20)(3)

ENVRN 22,Environmental Politics and Policies (same as POL SC 22)(3)

GEOG 2,Introduction to Human Geography(3)

GEOG 8,Introduction to Urban Studies (same as URBAN 8)(3)

GEOG 11,World Geography: Introduction to Global Studies (same as GLOBAL 11)(3)

GLOBAL 5,International Political Economy: Introduction to Global Studies (3)

GLOBAL 11,World Geography: Introduction to Global Studies (same as GEOG 11)(3)

HIST 1,History of Western Civilization I(3)

HIST 2,History of Western Civilization II(3)

HIST 10,Ethnicity and American Culture(3)

HIST 11,The United States Through Reconstruction(3)

HIST 12,The United States Since Reconstruction(3)

HIST 13,The United States Since 1945(3)

HIST 14,U.S. Environmental History (same as ENVRN 14)(3)

PHILOS 1,Knowledge and Reality(3)

PHILOS 3,Early Philosophers(3)

PHILOS 4,Modern Philosophers(3)

PHILOS 7,Logic and Critical Thinking(3)

PHILOS 20,Environmental Ethics (same as ENVRN 20)(3)

PHILOS 48,Nonviolent Resistance(3)

PHILOS 52,Contemporary Political Thought(3)

POL SC 3,Introduction to Politics: Justice, Power and Agency(3)

POL SC 5,International Political Economy: Introduction to Global Studies (3)

POL SC 8,The Modern Far East(3)

POL SC 10,Government Internships(3)

POL SC 11,World Affairs and the United States(3)

POL SC 14,Middle East Government and Politics(3)

POL SC 21,Race, Ethnicity, and the Politics of Difference(3)

POL SC 22,Environmental Politics and Policies (same as ENVRN 22)(3)

POL SC 23,Sex, Gender, and Power(3)

POL SC 31,Introduction to Public Policy(3)

POL SC 47,International Politics Seminar(3)

POL SC 52,Contemporary Political Thought (same as PHILOS 52)(3)

SOCIOL 1,Introduction to Sociology(3)

SOCIOL 1s,Introduction to Sociology – Service Learning(3)

SOCIOL 2,Social Problems(3)

SOCIOL 2s,Social Problems – Service Learning(3)

SOCIOL 30,African Americans in Contemporary Society(3)

SOCIOL 31,Latinas/os in Contemporary Society(3)

SOCIOL 32,Asian Americans in Contemporary Society(3)

SOCIOL 33,Sociology of Sex and Gender(3)

SOCIOL 34,Racial and Ethnic Relations in American Society(3)

URBAN 8,Introduction to Urban Studies (same as GEOG 8)(3)

or any course articulated as fulfilling CSU GE Area D