Political Science
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Description and Goals
The primary objectives of the Political Science program are to meet general education
requirements for American Institutions and Social Sciences for the associate degree
and to complete general education requirements for baccalaureate degrees. Political
science is the study of human behavior as it relates to political situations. It involves
the examination of institutions, processes, people, ideas and policies. The study
of political science develops cultural literacy, critical thinking and other useful
skills.
San Diego City College offers four courses in Political Science: Political Science
101, 102, 103 and 140. Completion of Political Science 101, 102 and 103 provides the
student with lower division preparation for a baccalaureate degree in Political Science
at San Diego State University.
The Associate in Arts in Political Science for Transfer Degree is intended for students
who plan to complete a bachelor’s degree in Political Science or a related major in
the California State University (CSU) system. It is accepted by some but not all CSU
campuses. Students who complete this degree and transfer to a participating CSU campus
will be required to complete no more than 60 units after transfer to earn a bachelor’s
degree. It may not be appropriate preparation for students transferring to a CSU campus
that does not accept the degree. Students who plan to complete this degree should
consult a counselor for additional information about participating CSU campuses as
well as university admission, degree, and transfer requirements.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion the student will be able to:
- Critically analyze the study of human behavior as it relates to political situations in college-level essays, written assignments, and research papers.
- Identify and describe main concepts in the study of political science including, but not limited to, political power, sovereignty, nation-state; legitimacy; authority, political culture, political socialization, political ideology; social contract; separation of powers; federalism; unitary system; rule of law and globalization.
Career Options
Most careers in political science require education beyond the associate degree and
some require a graduate degree. This is not a comprehensive list but some of the most
common career options with political science preparation include: public administrator,
budget analyst, city planner, diplomatic corps member, elected official, legislative
aide, journalist, lawyer, lobbyist, political scientist, public opinion surveyor,
teacher and writer.
Course Catalog
Click here for course description from Catalog
- Certificate of Achievement - Public Administration
- Associate of Arts Degree - Political Science
- Associate in Arts in Law, Public Policy, and Society for Transfer Degree
- Associate in Arts in Political Science for Transfer Degree
General Education: In addition to the courses listed above, students must complete one of the following general education options:
- The IGETC pattern is accepted by all CSU campuses and most UC campuses and majors. It is also accepted by some private/ independent or out of state universities.
- The CSU GE pattern is accepted by all CSU campuses and some private/independent or out of state universities. It is not accepted by the UC system.
- It is strongly recommended that students consult with a counselor to determine which general education option is most appropriate for their individual educational goals.
The following is required for all AA-T or AS-T degrees:
- Completion of 60 CSU-transferable semester units. No more than 60 units are required.
- Minimum grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in all CSU-transferable coursework. While a minimum of 2.0 is required for admission, some CSU campuses and majors may require a higher GPA. Please see a counselor for more information.
- Completion of a minimum of 18 semester units in an "AA-T" or "AS-T" major (see Course Catalog Description below). All courses in the major must be completed with a grade of "C" or "P" or better.
- Certified completion of the California State University General Education-Breadth pattern (CSU GE); OR the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum pattern (IGETC). Electives as needed to meet maximum of 60 CSU-transferable units required for the degree.
Course Catalog
Click here for course description from Catalog
POLI 31: Social and Behavioral Sciences Statistics Support
1 hour lecture, 1 unit Pass/No Pass
Co-requisite: Political Science 201.
Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to students with previous credit for Psychology 31. This course provides additional hands-on experience in basic mathematical and statistical concepts. Students review key terms and definitions and practice foundational skills. This course is intended for students who require additional support to succeed in transfer-level Social and Behavioral Science statistics course. (FT) Not applicable to the Associate Degree.
POLI 101: Introduction to Political Science
3 hours lecture, 3 units Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass Option
Advisory: English 101 with a grade of “C” or better, or equivalent.
This course is an introduction to the field of political science. Emphasis is placed on the concepts and methodologies used in the study of political institutions, political participation, public opinion, and the international political system. Other topics include a survey of political theory and the history of American political ideology and culture. This course is intended for students majoring in Political Science and those interested in the field of political science. (FT) AA/AS; CSU; UC; C-ID POLS 150.
POLI 102: Introduction to American Government
3 hours lecture, 3 units Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass Option
Advisory: English 101 with a grade of “C” or better, or equivalent.
This comprehensive survey course provides an in-depth study of American Government, including both the Federal government and the California government. The Federal and California governments are studied from the perspective of constitutional frameworks and political institutions, processes, issues, and policies. Other topics include political participation; political parties and interest groups; social movements and minorities; civil liberties; and the role of political ideology, culture, and the mass media in shaping public opinion and policymaking. This course is intended for transfer students, political science majors, or students interested in American government. (FT) AA/AS; CSU; UC; C-ID POLS 110.
POLI 103: Comparative Politics
3 hours lecture, 3 units Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass Option
Advisory: English 101 with a grade of “C” or better, or equivalent.
Limitation on Enrollment: This course is not open to students with previous credit for Political Science 130. This course is an introduction to comparative politics. Emphasis is placed on analyses of various political systems using the fundamental concepts and methodologies of comparative politics. This course is designed for political science majors and anyone interested in comparative and/or international politics. (FT) AA/AS; CSU; UC; C-ID POLS 130.
POLI 121: American Political Development
3 hours lecture, 3 units Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass Option
Advisory: English 101 with a grade of “C” or better, or equivalent.
This course provides an overview of American political development. Students engage in a historical analysis of the evolution of governmental institutions in the United States, and study how political ideas, political practices, and political actors (including ethnic groups, women, political parties, interest groups, and social movements) shape and are shaped by these institutional factors. This course is intended for transfer students, political science majors, or students interested in the American political system. AA/AS; CSU; UC.
POLI 124: Power and Justice: An Introduction to Political Theory
3 hours lecture, 3 units Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass Option
Advisory: English 101 with a grade of “C” or better, or equivalent.
This course is an exploration of the relationship between power and justice in modern society. Topics include various accounts of the meaning of power and justice, how political institutions harness power, and the ways in which political power can both impede and advance justice. Materials include classic and contemporary texts, films, and literature. This course is intended for political science majors, transfer students, and students interested in these topics. AA/AS; CSU; UC; C-ID POLS 120.
POLI 140: Contemporary International Politics
3 hours lecture, 3 units Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass Option
Advisory: English 101 with a grade of “C” or better, or equivalent.
This course is a study of world politics including the various approaches to international relations and international political economy. Emphasis is placed on the roles of nationalism, nation-states, transnationalism and international organizations in the making of contemporary world politics as well as on issues of national security, power and diplomacy, economic competition, international law and the environment. This course is intended for students majoring in political science or anyone with an interest in world politics. (FT) AA/AS; CSU; UC; C-ID POLS 140.
POLI 201: Elementary Statistics for Political Science
3 hours lecture, 3 units Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass Option
Prerequisite: Mathematics 92, or Mathematics 96, or Mathematics 109, each with a grade of “C” or better or equivalent; or Milestone M40 or M50; or Co-requisite: Students with Milestone M30 or above may enroll in LCOM 201X (which pairs Political Science 201 with support course Political Science 31). Advisory: English 101 with a grade of “C” or better, or equivalent.
This is an introductory course on statistical methods for political and social sciences. Emphasis is placed on basic data analysis techniques as well as elementary statistical and probability concepts. Topics include descriptive statistics; probability and sampling distributions; statistical inference; correlation and linear regression; analysis of variance, chi-square and t-tests; and application of technology for statistical analysis based on data from disciplines including business, social and behavioral sciences, life science, health science, and education. This course is designed for Political Science majors, other Social Sciences majors, and anyone interested in statistics. (FT) AA/AS; CSU; UC, for UC Transfer Limitations see a Counselor or reference ASSIST.org; C-ID SOCI 125.
POLI 290: Independent Study
3–9 hours other, 1-3 units Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass Option
Limitation on Enrollment: Obtain Permission Number from Instructor.
This course if for students who wish to study special topics in political science. It is not intended to replace an existing course in the discipline. In this course students have a written contract with their instructor for activities such as: preparing problem analyses, engaging in primary research, preparing reports and meeting with the instructor at specific intervals. (FT) AA/AS; CSU.
Full-time
Nicholas Boushee, Ph.D. (American politics & Mass Political Behavior).
Masahiro Omae, Ph.D. (International Relations & Comparative Politics).
Adjunct
Mark Linsky mlinsky@sdccd.edu
John Mercurio jmercuri@sdccd.edu
Michael Mousseau mmoussea@sdccd.edu
SD City College Political Science Alum: Transfer Success
By offering an inclusive community with qualified teachers, San Diego City College has provided me with an environment where I have been able to exceed past my own academic expectations. During my time at SDCC, I noticed that I've become a more logical person, with more developed critical thinking skills. Taking political science classes in particular have provided me with the most amount of personal growth. My classes with Masahiro Omae and Nick Boushee have vastly altered the way that I make decisions, consume information, and construct an argument. In addition, my teachers at San Diego City College were able to provide me with the valuable skills and resources needed to thrive at a four-year university after obtaining my Associate's Degree.
-Cole Reed
I graduated from San Diego City College in May 2017. I was admitted to every UC campus that I applied to, including UC Berkeley and UCLA. I decided to attend UCLA and my major is Political Science with a concentration in International Relations. I really enjoyed my time with the Political Science Department at City College because of the opportunities the department offered outside of lecture such as guest speakers and viewing parties for the presidential debates. Professors Omae and Boushee, really prepare their students to succeed after transfer in their approach to teaching their intellectually robust and rigorous courses. I believe that they're both are uniquely qualified to teach the material, given that both have their PhD's and their instructional background from the University of California. Additionally, both professors are very approachable and knowledgeable about undergraduate and graduate educational paths. I never felt like I struggled in silence and the faculty in the political science department would be the first faculty members that I would go to for advice.
-Trevor Sepulvida