UCSB Department of Political Science

Contact Information

Department of Political Science
Mailcode #9420
University of California
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9420

Phone: (805) 893-3432
Advising: (805) 893-4192
Fax: (805) 893-3309

Undergraduate Program

Are democracies with only two political parties more representative than those with many parties? How can governments respect diverse ethnic, racial, and religious identities, and still promote bonds of common citizenship? What should be the role of the United States in an increasingly interdependent global economy? What empirical regularities exist in human behavior associated with power and governance? These are the types of questions that political scientists explore, but they also represent issues that require ordinary citizens to make informed judgments.

The Department of Political Science offers a balanced program, emphasizing the integration of theory and practice rather than any single approach or methodology. In addition to its standard program, the department also offers a public service emphasis and an international relations emphasis for undergraduate majors and an undergraduate honors thesis program is available to selected students. Students with a bachelor's degree in political science who are interested in pursuing a California Teaching Credential should contact the credential advisor in the Graduate School of Education as soon as possible.

We hope that the information contained in the following pages will be helpful to you in learning more about our program and as you pursue your political science degree.

Advising is available to undergraduate students through our Department's Undergraduate Advisor and Academic Peer Advisors. The Undergraduate Advising Office is located in 3838 Ellison Hall and we may be reached by telephone at 805-893-4192. Office hours are Monday- Friday 9:00 - 12:00 and 1:00 - 4:00 with no appointment necessary to speak with a Peer Advisor.