Political Science, B.A.: 120 units

Offered by: College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences, Political Science Department

Major Required
Major Electives

Unrestricted Electives
General Education Requirements

The curriculum matrix for the degree program may be found here. The curriculum matrix is the alignment of courses (curriculum) with the desired goals and student learning outcomes of the program. It shows what is taught and how these outcomes are achieved through the completion of the degree program.

Major Required: 33 units

Major Electives: 24 units

American Government and Public Administration Electives: 6 units

Choose two courses from American Government and Public Administration.

American Government

Public Administration

International Relations and Comparative Politics Electives: 6 units

Choose two courses from International Relations and Comparative Politics.

Public Law and Political Theory Electives: 6 units

Choose two courses from Public Law and Political Theory.

Public Law

Political Theory

Additional Political Science Electives: 6 units

Choose any two upper-division Political Science courses from any subfield including Internship and activity courses; that is, any two PLS 3XXX or 4XXX courses.

Note(s):

Internships and activity courses may be taken to fulfill the Additional Political Science Electives.

Unrestricted Electives: 15-30 units

Select a sufficient number of courses so that the total from “Major Required”, “Major Electives”, “GE”, and “Unrestricted Electives” is at least 120 units.

General Education Requirements: 48 units

Students should view their Degree Progress Report (DPR) for information regarding their General Education requirements. Unless specific GE courses are required for their major, please refer to the list of approved courses in the General Education Program in the University Catalog, https://catalog.cpp.edu. When viewing the catalog, students should select the catalog year associated with the GE requirements listed in their Degree Progress Report.

Area A. English Language Communication and Critical Thinking (9 units)

At least 3 units from each sub-area
1. Oral Communication
2. Written Communication
3. Critical Thinking

Area B. Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning (12 units)

At least 3 units from each sub-area
1. Physical Sciences
2. Life Sciences
3. Laboratory Activity
4. Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning
5. Science and Technology Synthesis

Area C. Arts and Humanities (12 units)

At least 3 units from each sub-area and 3 additional units from sub-areas 1 and/or 2
1. Visual and Performing Arts
2. Literature, Modern Languages, Philosophy and Civilization
3. Arts and Humanities Synthesis

Area D. Social Sciences (9 units)

At least 3 units from each sub-area
1. U.S. History and American Ideals
2. U.S. Constitution and California Government
4. Social Science Synthesis

Area E. Lifelong Learning and Self-Development (3 units)

Area F. Ethnic Studies (3 units)

American Institutions: 6 units

Courses that satisfy this requirement may also satisfy GE Areas D1 and D2.

Graduation Writing Test

The Graduation Writing Test (GWT) is suspended until Fall 2023. Students entering Cal Poly Pomona before Fall 2023 are not required to take the Graduation Writing Test.