Political Science, Minor

The political science program at Sonoma State University offers excellent opportunities for the study of government and politics. In this minor, students will develop an understanding of human behavior as it relates to politics, will learn to discuss and analyze critically current public policy issues facing the United States and the world, and will be introduced to appropriate research techniques for the study of political processes.

The five-course minor allows students to choose from a range of courses and subjects within a general framework. There is a two-course core that includes POLS 200: American Political System and POLS 205: Introduction to Political Theory, plus an additional three upper-division electives that may be taken from any subfield within the discipline (American Government, Comparative Politics, International Relations, and Political Theory), though the department recommends that students choose one course from three of these fields.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students should have begun to:

Develop 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.
Develop 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.

Code Requirements

POLS 200 - American Political System

fulfills state code requirements in U.S. Constitution and California state and local government. Upper-division courses may also be used to satisfy certain of these code requirements upon approval by the department chair.

Minor Requirements

Two-course core plus three upper-division electives (recommended one per subfield). POLS 250 can also count as an elective towards the minor with department approval.

Required Courses:
POLS 200 - American Political System Unit(s): 3
POLS 205 - Introduction to Political Theory Unit(s): 3
Upper-divison electives (choose three of the following):
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 307 - Perspectives on the Holocaust and Genocide Unit(s): 3
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 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 345 - Model United Nations (MUN) Unit(s): 4
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 390 - Special Topics Unit(s): 1-4
POLS 391 - Gender and Politics Unit(s): 4
POLS 406 - Interdisciplinary Seminar Unit(s): 1-4
POLS 415 - Explorations in Political Theory Unit(s): 3-4
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 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 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 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 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 486 - Selected Issues: International Politics Unit(s): 3-4
POLS 487 - Selected Topics in Comparative Politics Unit(s): 4
POLS 488 - Special Topics in American Government and Politics Unit(s): 4
POLS 494 - Selected Topics in Political Science Unit(s): 1-4
POLS 495 - Special Studies in Political Science Unit(s): 1-4

Units

Total units in the minor: 16-18