Political Science, BA

The political science program at Sonoma State University offers excellent opportunities for the study of government and politics. Students develop an understanding of human behavior as this relates to politics, they learn to discuss and analyze critically the many current public policy issues facing the United States and the world, they are taught how to analyze and understand world affairs and comparative politics, and they are trained in the appropriate research techniques for the study of political processes.

The 40-unit political science major allows students to choose from a wide range of courses and subjects within a general framework. A 22-unit common core of courses studies foundational political theories and thinkers (POLS 205); the American political system (POLS 200); research design and methods of political science research (POLS 302); comparative political approaches and systems (POLS 303); theories and analysis of international relations (POLS 304); and a senior research seminar (POLS 498). Beyond this common core, as part of the additional 18 units required for the major, each student must complete at least one upper-division course in each of the four major fields of political science: American Government, Comparative Politics, Political Theory, and International Relations. The department also recommends that students take a political science related internship to address any outstanding units after the upper-division electives are completed.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students should:

Have developed critical thinking skills necessary for the evaluation of social scientific concepts, including the ability to distinguish between, and use, techniques of deductive and inductive reasoning.
Have developed persuasive analytical thinking and writing skills (e.g., the ability to articulate, support, and defend an argument).
Understand the research process in the social sciences (e.g., differences between normative and empirical perspectives; the differences between probabilistic and deterministic reasoning; and the differences between the major analytical approaches used in applied research).
Have a comprehensive understanding of the concept of power and how it is manifested in various ways in political interactions, including through the processes of democracy itself.
Acquire the requisite skills for sophisticated information competency and civic literacy.
Comprehend the obligations and expectations of citizenship at all levels.
Understand the dynamics between citizens and political institutions for shaping political outcomes.
Comprehend the multiple motivations and constraints underlying political behavior.
Be able to identify the multi-causal nature that characterizes the political world.
Be able to present a reasoned argument in support of a policy position of relevance to Social and Political Science topics.
Have designed, implemented, written up, and presented to their capstone seminar an original research project.

Degree Requirements

See the “Degree Requirements ” in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements.

General Education Requirements (43 units)

See the “General Education ” requirements in the University Catalog for information on General Education requirements. Some major requirements may double count for GE requirements.

Major Core Requirements

Passage of all major core requirements requires a grade of ‘C’ or better. POLS 302 is a prerequisite for POLS 498 .

POLS 200 - American Political System Unit(s): 3
POLS 205 - Introduction to Political Theory Unit(s): 3
POLS 302 - Social Science Research Methods Unit(s): 4
POLS 303 - Comparative Political Analysis Unit(s): 4
POLS 304 - Theory and Analysis of International Relations Unit(s): 4
POLS 498WIC - Senior Seminar Unit(s): 4

Major Electives

One course must be taken from each of the following areas: Political Theory, International Relations, Comparative Politics, and American Government and Politics.

Political Theory

Choose one of the following seven courses:

POLS 310 - Classical Political Thought Unit(s): 2-4
POLS 311 - Modern Political Thought: Machiavelli to Present Unit(s): 4
POLS 312 - American Political Thought Unit(s): 4
POLS 313 - Critical Theory: Race and Gender Unit(s): 4
POLS 314 - Environmental Political Theory Unit(s): 4
POLS 315 - Modern Political Ideologies Unit(s): 3
POLS 415 - Explorations in Political Theory Unit(s): 3-4

International Relations

Choose one of the following eight courses:

POLS 345 - Model United Nations (MUN) Unit(s): 4
POLS 444 - United States Foreign Policy Unit(s): 4
POLS 445 - International Organizations Unit(s): 4
POLS 446 - International Relations of the Middle East: Israel, the Palestinians, and the United States Unit(s): 4
POLS 447 - Nonviolent Strategies in International Relations Unit(s): 4
POLS 448 - Political Violence, Terrorism, and Law Unit(s): 4
POLS 449 - Gender and Geopolitics in Science Fiction and Fantasy Unit(s): 4
POLS 486 - Selected Issues: International Politics Unit(s): 3-4

Comparative Politics

Choose one of the following nine courses:

POLS 307 - Perspectives on the Holocaust and Genocide Unit(s): 3
POLS 350 - European Parliamentary Democracies Unit(s): 4
POLS 351 - Politics of Russia Unit(s): 4
POLS 352 - Politics of Eastern Europe Unit(s): 4
POLS 360 - Politics of Modern Ireland Unit(s): 4
POLS 450 - Politics of Asia Unit(s): 4
POLS 452 - Politics of the Developing World Unit(s): 4
POLS 453 - Politics of Latin America Unit(s): 4
POLS 455 - Comparative Reproductive Rights Unit(s): 4
POLS 483 - Politics of Wealth and Poverty Unit(s): 4
POLS 487 - Selected Topics in Comparative Politics Unit(s): 4

American Government And Politics

Choose one of the following nineteen courses:

POLS 320 - State, City, and County Government Unit(s): 4
POLS 325 - Technology, Politics, and Society Unit(s): 4
POLS 330 - Race, Ethnicity, and Politics Unit(s): 4
POLS 391 - Gender and Politics Unit(s): 4
POLS 420 - American Political Development Unit(s): 4
POLS 421 - Federal and Intergovernmental Relations Unit(s): 3-4
POLS 424 - The Bill of Rights, Civil Liberties, and the Constitution Unit(s): 4
POLS 425 - The American Party System Unit(s): 4
POLS 426 - The Legislative Process Unit(s): 4
POLS 427 - The American Presidency Unit(s): 4
POLS 428 - Seminar in California Politics and Government Unit(s): 4
POLS 429 - Interest Groups Unit(s): 4
POLS 430 - Introduction to Public Administration Unit(s): 4
POLS 431 - Politics and the Media Unit(s): 4
POLS 439 - Political Science Internship Unit(s): 1-6
POLS 466 - Political Psychology Unit(s): 4
POLS 475 - Urban Politics and Policy Unit(s): 4
POLS 483 - Politics of Wealth and Poverty Unit(s): 4
POLS 484 - Elections and Voter Behavior Unit(s): 4
POLS 488 - Special Topics in American Government and Politics Unit(s): 4

Units

Total GE units: 43

Total units in major core: 22

Total units in major elective units: 18

University Elective units: 40

Total units required to graduate: 120

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