The Department of Political Science offers undergraduate students a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. Students have the option of completing the requirements for the Standard Political Science major or selecting an emphasis in Public Service or International Relations. Information for all three of these majors is listed below.

Major Sheet Downloads in PDF
Pre-Political Science Major
Political Science Major, B.A.
International Relations Emphasis
Public Service Emphasis

Bachelor of Arts--Political Science

Preparation for the major. Admission into the pre-political science major is contingent upon successful completion of the requirements stipulated below. Students may declare a pre-political science major after they have completed at least two political science courses from the pre-major with a 2.6 grade-point average or above. Once the preparation for the major is completed with the required grade-point average, students must then petition for admission into full major status and at that time may declare an optional emphasis. Admission to the pre-major does not guarantee admission to full major status. To qualify for admission into the political science major, students must complete Political Science 1, 6, 7, and 12 with a grade-point average of 2.6 or above. In addition, students must complete Economics 1 and 2 (or 109) and History 2A-B-C or 4A-B-C. Transfer and upper-division students should consult the undergraduate advisor about substitutions. Students planning on majoring in political science should take Political Science 1, 6, 7, and 12 during their freshman or sophomore year.

Upper-division major. Forty-one upper-division units are required, which must include at least one course from each of Areas A through D: Course Descriptions

A.    Political Science 105, 121, 147
B.    Political Science 110, 114, 187, 188, 189
C.    Political Science 115, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 157, 158, 180, 185
D.    Political Science 104
E.    The remaining 24 units may include courses from the above options other than those used for areas A-C, as well as other upper-division political science courses (excluding 100). No more than a combined total of 8 units of courses numbered 190 and above, nor more than 4 units each in Political Science 190, 192, 193, 194, or 199, may apply toward major requirements. Up to 4 units of Political Science 192, which is available only passed/not passed, may be taken for major credit; all other courses must be taken for letter grades.

Bachelor of Arts--International Relations Emphasis

Preparation for the major. Admission into the pre-political science major is contingent upon successful completion of the requirements stipulated below. Students may declare a pre-political science major after they have completed at least two political science courses from the pre-major with a 2.6 grade-point average or above. Once the preparation for the major is completed with the required grade-point average, students must then petition for admission into full major status and at that time may declare an optional emphasis. Admission to the pre-major does not guarantee admission to full major status. To qualify for admission into the political science major, students must complete Political Science 1, 6, 7, and 12 with a grade-point average of 2.6 or above. In addition, students must complete Economics 1 and 2 (or 109) and History 2A-B-C or 4A-B-C. Transfer and upper-division students should consult the undergraduate advisor about substitutions. Students planning to major in political science should take Political Science 1, 6, 7, and 12 during their freshman or sophomore year.

Required work in relevant disciplines: Two additional courses must be taken from the following list: Anthropology 115; Economics 112A-B, 114, 180, 181; Geography 5; Psychology 138; Sociology 130, 130A, 130GR, 130LA, 138, 138G (or Global Studies 124); History 171A-B or another upper-division history course in Asian, Latin American, European, or African history.

Language requirement: completion of the fifth quarter or its equivalent.

Upper-division major. Forty-five upper-division units in political science, to be distributed as follows: Course Descriptions

A.    Political Science 105, 121, and 127
B.    Two courses from Political Science 109, 119, 124, 126, 128, 129, 186
C.    Two courses from Political Science 101, 134, 135, 136, 138, 140, 142 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148A-B,         150A-B, 177;
D.    Three courses from the following, but no more than two courses from any one category:
            Political Science 175, 180, 185;
            Political Science 152, 153, 155, 157, 158;
            Political Science 110, 114, 187, 188, 189;
E.    Political Science 104.

Note: With departmental approval, 4 units of Political Science 192 (or Interdisciplinary 192DC) may be substituted for one course in Area D.

Up to 4 units of Political Science 192, which is available only passed/not passed, may be taken for major credit; all other courses must be taken for letter grades.

Bachelor of Arts--Public Service Emphasis

The coursework in the public service emphasis focuses on the fields of politics and public administration and includes work in sociology and economics. Students in this emphasis are required to serve a one-quarter, full-time internship in a governmental or political office during their senior year. Internships are open to all political science majors, whether or not they choose the public service emphasis. To qualify for the internship, students are expected to have a 3.0 grade-point average and junior or senior standing; they must also have completed courses relating to the work they plan to perform as an intern. Departmental approval is required and interested students should see the undergraduate advisor for further details.

Preparation for the major. Admission into the pre-political science major is contingent upon successful completion of the requirements stipulated below. Students may declare a pre-political science major after they have completed at least two political science courses from the pre-major with a 2.6 grade-point average or above. Once the preparation for the major is completed with the required grade-point average, students must then petition for admission into full major status and at that time may declare an optional emphasis. Admission to the pre-major does not guarantee admission to full major status. To qualify for admission into the political science major, students must complete Political Science 1, 6, 7, and 12 with a grade-point average of 2.6 or above. In addition, students must complete Economics 1 and 2 (or 109) and History 2A-B-C or 4A-B-C.. Transfer and upper-division students should consult the undergraduate advisor about substitutions. Students planning to major in political science should take Political Science 1, 6, 7, and 12 during the freshman or sophomore year.

Required work in relevant disciplines:

Economics 3A and 3B;
Writing 109SS.

Upper-division major. Forty-five upper-division units in political science are required, to be distributed as follows: Course Descriptions

A.    Two courses from Political Science 170, 180, 185;
B.    One course from Political Science 151, 152, 153, 154, 174, 175, 176;
C.    One course from Political Science 153, 155, 157, 158;
        Note: Political Science 153 may be used in Area B or C of major but not in both.
D.    One course from Political Science 161, 162, 163;
E.    One course from Political Science 115, 165, 166, 167, 168;
F.    One course from Political Science 105, 110, 114, 119, 121, 127, 147, 189;
G.    Political Science 104.
H.    A total of 12 units of Political Science 192 and 199, Interdisciplinary 192DC and 199DC, or Int 192SA and 199SA to be taken during one quarter of internship while registered at UCSB.

Up to 8 units of Political Science 192, which is available only passed/not passed, may be taken for major credit; all other courses must be taken for letter grades.