COURSE CURRICULUM

The Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at San José State University is a 120-unit program designed to provide students with a broad and structured understanding of political systems, political theory, international relations, and public policy, while also developing strong skills in critical analysis, research, and communication. The program includes 22 units of Core Lower Division General Education, with up to 9 units potentially satisfied through major coursework in areas such as political science and social science foundations, along with 6 units of American Institutions requirements. Students also complete 9 units of Upper Division General Education, 2 units of Physical Education, and fulfill the Written Communication requirement (GWAR/WID), which may be satisfied by POLS 100W.The major requirements range from 46 to 50 units and are organized into lower-division and upper-division coursework. Lower-division core courses (12 units) introduce students to key areas of the discipline, including comparative politics, political thought, international relations, and U.S. and California government. Upper-division core requirements include POLS 100M (Political Inquiry) and POLS 100W (Writing Workshop), which develop advanced research and writing skills essential for political science analysis.Students then complete upper-division coursework across four major subfields: U.S. government and politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political thought. Each student must take at least one course in each area, selecting from topics such as Congress, public policy, constitutional law, African politics, globalization, international security, and classical or modern political theory. This structure ensures both breadth and depth in political science study while allowing students to tailor their coursework to their interests.In addition, students complete a capstone experience (POLS 181C or POLS 190), which must be passed with a grade of C- or better and serves as a culminating academic requirement. They also take additional upper-division electives, bringing the total major coursework to 46–50 units. The remaining 31–35 units are university electives, which may be used to further specialize in political science or explore complementary disciplines. Overall, the program provides a flexible yet rigorous education that prepares students for careers in law, government, public service, education, business, and graduate study.