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Political Thought

For students aiming at graduate school in political theory, or desiring an especially strong liberal education that emphasizes critical reading and critical thinking, clarity of written and spoken argument, and other skills essential for most professions, including law, politics, and business.

Advisors: Peter, Quill

Lower Division: (12 units)

  • PS 001
  • PS 002
  • PS 003
  • PS 004

Key Courses for the focus: (15 units)

Any five courses selected from:

  • 160A Classical Political Thought
  • 160B Modern Political Thought
  • 160C Recent Political Thought
  • 163 American Political Thought
  • 120 Law and Society
  • 121A The Supreme Court: Constitutional Law
  • 121B Civil Liberties: Constitutional Law

Methods, Capstone: (12 units)

  • Soc 15 or Stat 95 (GE, prep for major)
  • PS 100W (GE, prep for major) (3 units)
  • PS 195A (3 units) or tested proficiency in a foreign language. If the language substitution is elected then any one additional upper division Political Science course satisfies this requirement
  • PS 190 or 190H (3 units)

Upper Division: (12 Units)

  • Any course in U.S. Politics 102, 103, 105, 106, 114, 122, 130 (3 units)
  • Any course in Comparative Politics (140 series) (3 units)
  • War and Peace (150) (3 units)

Total: 42 units

(plus 6 units supporting from GE)

In addition, students will be encouraged to select electives from other departments that support the focus on political thought: PHIL 108, 109, 121, 122, 126, HIST 141A-B, 167, 173A-B, HUM 114, 119A-B, 120A-B, 128, AFAM 119, 134, 142, SOCI 189, ECON 190A-B, and others.