Political Science
OFFICE: Social Science Building
polisci.ucsd.edu
Professors
Courses
The Major Program
Political science addresses some of the fundamental problems facing
human society. Questions concerning world peace, government policies
aimed at achieving economic stability and growth, the management of
environmental quality, control over political competition, the possibility
of using law to affect social and political change, and the gap between
the rich and poor in the U.S. and abroad are all on the research agenda
of contemporary political scientists. The general purpose of the major
is to address these and other issues systematically, and, simultaneously,
to raise the broad theoretical questions which can help students relate
todays political debates to those debates about politics which
have kepta theoretical tradition alive for over 2,000 years.
Students may major in political science as a general program of study,
or they may concentrate in one of six areas: (1) American politics,
(2) comparative politics, (3) international relations, (4) political
theory, (5) public law, and (6) public policy. All majors in political
science must satisfy the following sixteen courses: PS 30 (Political
Inquiry), three of the following four lower-division courses (Political
Science 10, 11, 12 and 13) and twelve upper-division courses. Moreover,
as stated below, students concentrating in one of the fields must satisfy
that fields particular lower- and upper-division requirements.
Requirements for Major in Political Science without an Area of Concentration
- Three of the four lower-division courses
- Political Science 30
- Any twelve upper-division political science courses
Requirements for Major in Political Science with an Area of Concentration
Major in Political Science/American Politics
- Lower-division required: PS 10 (in addition to two other lower-division
courses)
- Political Science 30
- Five upper-division American courses:
- at least two of which must be from the 100 sequence: 100A-B-C,
100DA, 100E-F-G-H-I
- the additional courses for the American concentration must be
chosen from:
102B-C, 102E-F-G, 102J, 102L, 103A, 103B, 104A-B-C, 104F, 104I,
104L-M, 106A, 107A, 108
Major in Political Science/Comparative Politics
- Lower-division required: PS 11 (in addition to two other lower-division
courses)
- Political Science 30
- Five upper-division courses including:
- at least one from the following thematic courses: 120K, 122A,
123A-B, 124A-B, 125, 125A, 126AA, 126AC, 136A-B, 137A, 139A, 150A-B
- and at least one each from two of the following three regional
areas:
Asia: 121, 121B, 130B, 130H, 131C, 132B-C, 133A, 133D-F
Europe: 120A-B-C-D-E, 120H, 120I, 126AB, 130AA, 130AC
Latin America: 134AA, 134B-C-D, 134G, 134I, 134N, 134P-Q-R
Major in Political Science/International Relations
- Lower-division required: PS 12 (in addition to two other lower-division
courses)
- Political Science 30
- Five upper-division IR courses with at least one each from three
of the following four groups:
- Foreign Policy: 142A, 142B, 142M, 145A, 146A, 147A, 150A-B,
152
- National and International Security: 142I-J-K-L-M, 146E
- Political Economy: 126AB, 140A, 142B, 144AA, 144AB, 144D-E-F,
146A
- Theory of International Relations: 141, 142L, 145B-C, 152
Major in Political Science/Political Theory
- Three of four lower-division courses
- Political Science 30
- 110A-B-C
- And at least two additional courses from: 110DA, 110EA, 110EB,
110H, 110J, 110N,110T, 112A-B-C, 113B, 114B, 115A, 116A-B, 117, 118A-B,
119A
Major in Political Science/Public Law
- Lower-division required: PS 10 (in addition to two other lower-division
courses)
- Political Science 30
- Five of the following: 100A-B, 102L, 104A-B-C, 104F, 104I, 104L-M,
124B
Major in Political Science/Public Policy
- Lower-division required: PS 10 (in addition to two other lower-division
courses)
- Political Science 30
- 160AA
- One of 160AB, 167A-B, 168, 170A
- Two of 100A-B-C, 100E-F-G, 100I-J
- One of 102B-C, 102E, 102L, 103A, 103B, 106A, 123A, 126AC, 142A,
142J, 150A-B, 161, 162, 165, 166F
Two upper-division courses in a field may be substituted for that fields
lower-division course. However, these courses cannot also be used to
satisfy the upper-division course requirements for a concentration of
that field.
Since course offerings may change from year to year, students are strongly
advised to consult the department for the latest listing of courses
before preregistration.
Agreements signed between UCSD and several community colleges allow
students to apply some community college courses toward lower-division
course requirements for the major. Transfer students must, however,
take at least one of the lower-division courses (10, 11, 12, 13) in
residence at UCSD. Courses taken elsewhere may be credited toward the
major. Please check with the undergraduate student affairs adviser for
more information on credit for courses taken elsewhere.
Students who pass the Advanced Placement (AP) Tests in American or
Comparative Politics may petition to be exempted from taking PS 10 or
11 (respectively).
At least nine courses in political science must be taken in residence
at UCSD. A total maximum of six courses may be taken elsewhere and applied
toward the major. This applies to transfer students, students who pass
the AP exam(s), as well as students who study abroad on the Education
Abroad Program (EAP) or the Opportunities Abroad Program (OAP). Students
planning to transfer course work completed elsewhere are urged to consult
the undergraduate student affairs adviser.
Double majors who include political science as one of their two majors
must fulfill the requirements of both programs. Please consult the undergraduate
student affairs adviser for more information.
Students must maintain an overall 2.0 GPA in the major. To be counted
toward satisfying the requirements for the major, upper- and lower-division
courses must be completed with a C or better grade. Courses taken
to satisfy requirements for the major may not be taken Pass/No Pass
with the exception of a maximum of two independent study courses (PS
199).
Honors candidates for departmental honors are required to take
PS 191A and B in which they write a senior thesis. (A 3.5 GPA in the
major, senior standing, a significant writing project, a recommendation
from a political science faculty member, and a political science faculty
adviser are currently prerequisites for honors.) These courses may be
counted toward the upper-division requirement.
Effective fall 2004, to be admitted to the Honors Seminar a student
must be of senior standing in the first quarter of the seminar, have
a minimum GPA of 3.6 in political science, have completed all lower-division
requirements including Political Science 30 and five upper-division
courses. Also, students must have an adviser prior to enrolling in the
Honors Seminar.
Career Guidance
The premise of our educational philosophy is that the best professional
preparation for productive careers which we can provide is one which
is broad, theoretical, and only indirectly related to the current job
market. Our majors graduate into a wide range of career options.
Many political science majors at UCSD will seek admission to a law
school. Although law schools make no recommendation concerning
the usefulness of any undergraduate major, a B.A. in political science
should be seen as a useful complement to a law degree. Students who
take courses in American government, policy analysis, and law and politics
find that they develop a keen understanding of the role of law in the
general political process. This helps students understand the limits
and possibilities of the legal process in fostering change or in preserving
the status quo. This same curriculum provides a solid foundation for
a career in journalism. Students with any specific questions
regarding law are advised to consult with career services.
Increasingly, political science majors are preparing for careers in
business or as policy analysts in both the public and
private sectors. Many of these students pursue advanced degrees in public
policy or study for a masters in business administration. Students
interested in this option should look into public policy, American,
or comparative politics as an area of concentration. Students interested
in public policy might wish to consider the public policy minor, which
is described separately in the catalog. Some political science majors
are interested in careers in international organization or diplomacy.
These students should look into international relations as an area of
concentration. In addition, a broad array of courses in comparative
politics is essential for anyone interested in a career of international
service.
A political science major offers excellent preparation for teaching
in the elementary schools. If you are interested in earning a California
teaching credential from UCSD, contact the Teacher Education Program
for information about the prerequisite and professional preparation
requirements. It is recommended that you contact TEP as early as possible
in your academic career.
Students interested in majoring or minoring in political science should
stop by the Department of Political Science Office, SSB301, or visit
our Web site: www.polisci.ucsd.edu.
Study Abroad
Political science majors are encouraged to participate in the Education
Abroad Program (EAP) and to investigate other options for foreign study
through the Opportunities Abroad Program (OAP). By petition, credits
earned through them can fulfill UCSD degree and major requirements.
Minor in Political Science
For students entering UCSD winter 1998 or later the following guidelines
for a political science minor will apply: seven political science courses,
with a minimum of five upper-division. Continuing students may follow
the guidelines for a minor of a total of six political science courses,
with a minimum of three upper-division. All courses taken for a political
science minor must be taken for a letter grade.
Interdisciplinary Minors
The Department of Political Science takes part in two interdisciplinary
minors offered at UCSD. The law and society minor offers students the
opportunity to examine the role of the legal system in society. Students
should note that Law and Society 101 (Contemporary Legal Issues) may
be used in fulfilling the twelve upper-division course requirement for
the political science major. The minor in health caresocial issues
offers students a variety of perspectives that will enhance their ability
to deal with complex social and ethical issues in modern health care.
Additional information on these programs is available through the Warren
Interdisciplinary Programs Office.
Research
The Department of Political Science is closely affiliated with several
research centers/institutes/projects currently on campus. Faculty members
directly involved include: Steven Erie, director, Urban Studies Program;
J. Lawrence Broz and Kristian Gleditsch, coordinators, Project in International
Affairs; Germaine Hoston, director, Center for TransPacific Studies
in Values, Culture, and Politics; Mathew McCubbins, director, Public
Policy Research Project; Samuel Kernell, coordinator, American Political
Institutions Project; Peter Cowhey, director, Institute on Global Conflict
and Cooperation; Wayne Cornelius, director, Center for U.S.-Mexican
Studies; Peter Irons, director, Earl Warren Bill of Rights Project;
Wayne Cornelius, director, Center for Comparative Immigration Studies.
For further information please refer to the General Catalog section
on Research at UCSD.
The Ph.D. Program
The Department of Political Science at the University of California,
San Diego offers a program of graduate studies leading to the Ph.D.
degree. Instruction is provided in the major fields of the discipline.
For purposes of comprehensive examinations, the discipline is broken
into four fields: American politics, comparative politics, international
relations, and political theory. The department also offers a variety
of courses that are of a methodological or epistemological nature, spanning
the various fields.
Students take two years of course work in preparation for their comprehensive
exams. Students also attend regularly scheduled colloquia which feature
presentations by faculty, outside speakers, and dissertation students.
A student must complete one seminar paper in one of his or her examination
fields. This paper may be written as part of the requirements for a
regularly scheduled seminar course or in an independent research course.
The paper will involve original research or other creative effort.
By the end of the second year, a student must stand for the General
Examination, which consists of written examinations in each of two fields
and in a focus-area, and an oral examination.
The comprehensive exams are both written and oral. They test more than
just mastery of course work and hence there is no single set of courses
required for any field exam. To pass the exams a student is expected
not only to master the relevant literature, but also to be able to synthesize
and analyze the major issues in the field.
Each comprehensive exam tests both knowledge of the major theoretical
approaches in the field and the ability to apply those theories to important
questions in the field. For one of the two exam fields, the student
also designates a specific area of interest (a focus area).
The written focus area exam tests the students in-depth knowledge
and understanding. The focus area exam is taken the same week as the
general field exam, and there is one oral covering both exams. Each
field publishes a list of focus areas; students may, with approval,
craft their own focus area. Each field, in addition, publishes a list
of suggested ways to prepare for its exams; each field also determines
the research tools required for scholars in that field.
Students are expected to complete their comprehensive exams no later
than the end of their second year.
After passing both exams, students are expected to write a dissertation
prospectus. This prospectus must be defended before a committee of five
faculty, including two members outside the department. This committee
also administers the final oral defense of the dissertation.
It is expected that students will complete their dissertations within
six years of starting the program.
Students interested in the program should consult the department Web
site for more detailed information.
Departmental Ph.D. Time Limit Policies
Students must be advanced to candidacy by the end of four years. Total
university support cannot exceed seven years. Total registered time
at UCSD cannot exceed eight years.
Political Science
|