Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences
Political Science
Option Representative: R. Michael Alvarez.
The political science option provides students with training in the substance and methods of modern political science, including the analysis of representative democracy, electoral institutions, the allocation of public goods, and regulatory behavior. The option emphasizes formal tools like game theory, social choice theory, and formal political theory along with quantitative methodologies to test those theories. In addition, the option encourages original research. The design of the political science option insures that students will be well suited to pursue careers in government or the private sector, as well as to pursue graduate work in political science.
Option Requirements
- PS 12, PS 132, Ec 122.
- Four political science courses from the list: PS 120, 123 126, 130, 135, PS/SS 139, PS 141, Law/PS/H 148 ab, PS/Ec 172.
- PS 99 ab.
- 36 additional units in advanced political science, economics, law, social science, psychology, or history.
- 36 additional units in advanced social science, science, engineering, or mathematics.
Typical Course Schedule
| Units per term | ||||
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | ||
| Second Year | ||||
| Ec 11 | Introduction to Economics (3-0-6) | 9 | - | - |
| PS 12 | Introduction to Political Science (3-0-6) | - | - | 9 |
| Ma 2 ab | Sophomore Mathematics (4-0-5) | 9 | 9 | - |
| Ph 2 ab | Sophomore Physics (4-0-5) | 9 | 9 | - |
| Menu Course | - | - | 9 | |
| Electives | 18 | 27 | 27 | |
| 45 | 45 | 45 | ||
| Third Year | ||||
| Ma 112 a | Statistics (3-0-6) | 9 | - | - |
| Ec/SS 20 | Oral Presentation (2-0-1) | - | 3 | - |
| Ec 121 a | Theory of Value (3-0-6) | - | 9 | - |
| Ec 122 | Econometrics (3-0-6) | - | 9 | - |
| PS/Ec 172 | Noncooperative Games in Social Science (3-0-6) | - | 9 | - |
| An 101 or | Selected Topics in Anthropology (3-0-6) | - | - | - |
| An 22 or | Introduction to the Anthropology of Development (3-0-6) | - | - | - |
| Psy 15 | Social Psychology (3-0-6) | - | 9 | - |
| Electives1 | 36 | 9 | 45 | |
| 45 | 48 | 45 | ||
| Fourth Year | ||||
| Electives1 | 45 | 45 | 45 | |
| 1Students may conentrate on research by taking 54 units of supervised research in their senior year. | ||||
