Political Science majors should check the Political Science Department’s webpage for current and future class schedules, course syllabi, department updates and news, important deadlines, and internship/career opportunities at CSUB. You can also find The Political Science Department on Facebook: PLSI at CSUB and on Instagram: csubpoliscidept.

Program Mission

The Department of Political Science endeavors to develop in its graduates an understanding of how political systems operate as well as with what consequences, and with what alternatives these systems contend. The primary focus is on inculcating analytical and critical habits of thinking - habits that will be beneficial to society irrespective of professional choices. The Department is oriented toward assisting students who are preparing to go to graduate school, law school or for careers in the public sector and non-profit service. In the process, we hope to create a body of students and citizens who are informed, who have the intellectual skills, and who are also cognizant of humanistic values. The Department, in line with the values of the social sciences, seeks to engender a student body that is aware of the social and political structure within which we live – thus fulfilling the University’s mission and goals for the general education of our undergraduate students.

For more information on our Mission Statement and our Student Learning Outcomes, please visit our Department’s Homepage.

All majors must satisfactorily complete at least twelve courses in Political Science, of which at least nine must be at the upper division level. Required lower and upper division courses for majors must be completed with a grade of “C-” or better. Students who fail to achieve a “C-” or above may repeat the course. The Department encourages students to develop their degree plans in close consultation with their faculty advisor.

Course List

Code	Title	Units
General Education Requirements 8
First-Year Seminar (FYS)		2
Lower Division Area A: Foundational Skills		9-12
Lower Division Area B: Natural Sciences		6
Lower Division Area C: Arts and Humanities		6
Lower Division Area D: Social and Behavioral Sciences		3
Lower Division Area E: Student Enrichment and Lifelong Learning (SELF)		3
Lower Division Area F: Ethnic Studies		3
American Institutions: Government and History 9		3-6
Junior Year Diversity & Reflection (JYDR)		3
Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR)		3
Upper Division Thematic Area B and C		6
General Education Capstone 9		0
General Education Subtotal 9		47-53
General Core Requirements
Lower Division Required Courses
PLSI 1018	American Government and Politics	3
Select one of the following: 1		3-6
MATH 1009	Modern Math and Applications
MATH 1040	Precalculus I and II Combined
MATH 1050	Precalculus I
MATH 1209	Statistics in the Modern World
PSYC 2018	Introduction to Statistical Methods in Psychological Research
Upper Division Required Courses
PLSI 3020	Theories of Power	3
PLSI 3030	Political Philosophy & Thought	3
PLSI 3040	International Relations	3
PLSI 3428	California Politics	3
PLSI 4908	Senior Seminar and Capstone 2	3
Methods
PLSI 3010	Political Inquiry	3
Program Emphases
Select two of the following:		24
Pre-Law 3
Select four of the following:
PLSI 3140	Judicial Power and the Constitution
PLSI 3150	American Political Theory
PLSI 3170	Legal Reasoning
PLSI 3228	Politics & Religion in the United States
PLSI 3450	Civil Rights & Civil Liberties
PLSI 3470	Environmental Politics
PLSI 3510	International Organizations
PLSI 4410	U.S. Immigration Law and Policy
Power and Justice 4
Select four of the following:
PLSI 3210	Congress
PLSI 3220	The Presidency
PLSI 3230	Latinos and Blacks in U.S. Politics
PLSI 3248	Women in Politics
PLSI 3250	Electoral Behavior and Political Parties
PLSI 3260	Small Group Dynamics
PLSI 3270	Community Politics
PLSI 3290	Political Sociology
PLSI 3450	Civil Rights & Civil Liberties
PLSI 3470	Environmental Politics
PLSI 3610	American Foreign Policy
PLSI 3620	Media, Propaganda, and Public Opinion
PLSI 3630	Political Psychology
PLSI 3648	Food Politics and Policy
PLSI 4410	U.S. Immigration Law and Policy
PLSI 4640	International Political Economy
PLSI 4650	Myth of the Free Market
Global Politics 5
Select four of the following:
PLSI 3320	Government and Politics of China
PLSI 3330	Global Security Issues
PLSI 3340	Government and Politics of Latin America
PLSI 3350	Government and Politics of the Middle East
PLSI 3360	Politics of Mexico
PLSI 3370	Political Geography
PLSI 3380	Politics of International Terrorism
PLSI 3510	International Organizations
PLSI 3610	American Foreign Policy
PLSI 3620	Media, Propaganda, and Public Opinion
PLSI 3630	Political Psychology
PLSI 4640	International Political Economy
PLSI 4650	Myth of the Free Market
American Politics 6
Select four of the following:
PLSI 3140	Judicial Power and the Constitution
PLSI 3150	American Political Theory
PLSI 3210	Congress
PLSI 3220	The Presidency
PLSI 3228	Politics & Religion in the United States
PLSI 3230	Latinos and Blacks in U.S. Politics
PLSI 3250	Electoral Behavior and Political Parties
PLSI 3270	Community Politics
PLSI 3418	Philosophy of Democracy
PLSI 3610	American Foreign Policy
PLSI 3620	Media, Propaganda, and Public Opinion
PLSI 3648	Food Politics and Policy
Political Science Elective Courses 7		6
Major Subtotal		54-57
Additional Units Needed Towards Graduation		13-22
Total Units		114-132

¹

With a C or better

²

Before taking PLSI 4908 Senior Seminar and Capstone you must have completed PLSI 1018 American Government and Politics, PLSI 3010 Political Inquiry, PLSI 3020 Theories of Power, PLSI 3030 Political Philosophy & Thought, PLSI 3040 International Relations, PLSI 3428 California Politics and have senior standing

³

This course of study is designed to facilitate learning the basic concepts, theories, and methods of research that are important to attorneys and to others whose work requires understanding of common and statutory law.

⁴

This course of study is designed to facilitate learning the basic concepts, theories, and methods of study of relations between individuals, groups, and systems that determine the social and economic opportunities and outcomes for individuals. This includes focusing on the roles played in these relations by U.S. national, regional, State, and local institutions.

⁵

This course of study is designed to facilitate learning the basic concepts, theories, and methods of study of complex relations between domestic politics in the U.S. and other nations and the interactions beyond national borders. Although the nation-state remains a primary actor in these relationships, students will also study many non-state actors, including “interest groups” such as business and industry sectors, non-governmental organizations advocating for change, and para-military terrorist and anti-state actors.

⁶

This course of study is designed to facilitate learning the basic concepts, theories, and methods of institutions and behaviors of American government and to train students in research, analytical, and communication skills that focus on the uses of American Government and policy.

⁷

Any upper division Political Science courses, whether taken at CSUB or transferred in, will count toward this requirement, except for lower division activity courses.

⁸

Range depends on double counting.

⁹

May be satisfied in major or other university requirement.

Special Minor in Pre-Law for Political Science Majors and Special Minor in Pre Law for Economics and Philosophy Majors

Four courses selected from the following. Two courses must be taken from Economics and two from Philosophy. Courses that qualify are those approved by the Department chairs of Economics or Philosophy respectively. Courses that satisfy the Special Minor in Pre-Law for Economics and Philosophy majors are

Course List

Code	Title	Units
PLSI 3140	Judicial Power and the Constitution	3
PLSI 3150	American Political Theory	3
PLSI 3170	Legal Reasoning	3
PLSI 3428	California Politics	3
PLSI 3450	Civil Rights & Civil Liberties	3
PLSI 3470	Environmental Politics	3
PLSI 3510	International Organizations	3
PLSI 4410	U.S. Immigration Law and Policy	3

American Institutions Requirement

Satisfaction of the American Institutions requirement shall be met by no less than one course in United States History and one other course in United States and California government or by examinations administered respectively by the History and Political Science Departments. For courses in the Political Science Department which satisfy the United States and California Government portions of the American Institutions Requirement, see University degree requirements.