Political Science
Catalog pages 397-400
Subject abbreviation: POSC College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences
John Medearis, Ph.D., Chair Department Office, 2206 Watkins Hall
- (951) 827-5312; politicalscience.ucr.edu
Professors
Benjamin Bishin, Ph.D. Shaun Bowler, Ph.D. Distinguished Professor Paul D’Anieri, Ph.D. Kevin M. Esterling, Ph.D. John C. Laursen, Ph.D. John N. Medearis, Ph.D. Jennifer Merolla, Ph.D. David S. Pion-Berlin, Ph.D. S. Karthick Ramakrishnan, Ph.D. Georgia Warnke, Ph.D. Distinguished Professor Professors Emeriti
Francis M. Carney, Ph.D. Max Neiman, Ph.D. Frank Way, Ph.D. (Political Science/Religious
Studies) Associate Professors
John W. Cioffi, Ph.D. Farah Godrej, Ph.D. Indridi Indridason, Ph.D. Bronwyn A. Leebaw, Ph.D. Ronald O. Loveridge, Ph.D. Assistant Professors
Daniel Biggers, Ph.D. Marissa Brookes, Ph.D. Miguel Carreras, Ph.D. Loren Collingwood, Ph.D. Jana Grittersova, Ph.D. Ajay Verghese, Ph.D.
Majors
The Political Science Department offers undergraduate majors leading to B.A. degrees in Political Science, Political Science/ Administrative Studies, Political Science/ International Affairs, Political Science/Law and Society, and Political Science/Public Service. In addition, the department offers minors in Political Science and International Relations.
Counseling Counseling on graduation and departmental requirements and on enrollment is handled in the department office by the student affairs staff.
For more information about the undergraduate programs, call or write the Department of Political Science, (951) 827-5502 or (951)827- 5312. Political Science Major
The study of political science provides undergraduates with career opportunities in law, government service, education, journalism, and business. Because career goals may vary, the department offers two distinct majors. For students planning careers in such areas as law, journalism, or teaching, the traditional major in Political Science is appropriate. For students considering careers in government service, especially for such positions as program and budget analyst, urban planner, and executive or administrative assistant, the appropriate major is the Political Science/Public Service major.
Further information on the study of law or the legal profession may be obtained from the departmental prelaw counselor.
Political Science/Administrative Studies Major
The Political Science/Administrative Studies major combines the disciplinary interests of political science with a particular focus on administrative behavior, tools of decision making, and politics of public policy. The Administrative Studies component provides an interdisciplinary approach to training in administrative analytical skills and, more importantly, to the study of the policies, politics, and theories of public administration. The Business Administration courses provide a variety of perspectives on these objectives. In addition, they should be of particular value to those planning to either enter directly into public administration (federal, state, or local levels) or attend a professional school of administration.
Political Science/International Affairs Major
The Political Science/International Affairs major offers a challenging opportunity to observe and participate in the dynamics of global interaction. As versatile as it is valuable, a degree in international affairs prepares the student for work in many diverse careers in the private sector, government, and academia. From diplomatic missions to the United Nations to intense debate with a private “think tank,” careers in international affairs should appeal to students seeking to understand and influence the world in which we live.
Political Science/Law and Society Major
The Law and Society major is open to undergraduate students with junior standing who have completed LWSO 100 with a grade of “C” or higher. The major combines the breadth of a political science major with a particular focus on the theme of law and law-like relationships. The major provides a multidisciplinary approach to the study of legal and law-like institutions and relationships and focuses on relationships that have formed the core of political science: the emergence and development of law, the relationship between law and values, and the growth of the power of the state, among others. The courses provide a variety of perspectives on this theme, and the range of courses should be of particular benefit to those who plan to attend law school. Political Science/Public Service Major
The Political Science/Public Service major introduces students to knowledge and skills associated with managerial career positions in government, without sacrifice of either a broad knowledge of politics or a liberal arts education.
University Requirements
See Undergraduate Studies section.
College Requirements
See College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, Colleges and Programs section.
Major Requirements
The Political Science Department offers undergraduate majors leading to B.A. degrees in Political Science, Political Science/ Administrative Studies, Political Science/ International Affairs, Political Science/Law and Society, and Political Science/Public Service.
Political Science Major
The major requirements for the B.A. degree in Political Science are as follows:
- 1. Lower-division requirements (four courses [at
least 20 units]): one course from a, b, c, and d.
Students in the major must complete two of the four lower-division Political Science courses with a grade of “C” or better in order to take upper-division Political Science courses.
or POSC 007
Upper-division requirements (nine courses [at least 40 units])
- a) One course from each of the following
areas:
POSC 108, POSC 143, POSC 144 or POSC 144S, POSC 145, POSC 146, POSC 148 or POSC 148H or POSC 148S, POSC 149, POSC 166, POSC 167, POSC 168, POSC 170, POSC 171, POSC 172/URST 172, POSC 173 or POSC 173S, POSC 180 or POSC 180S, POSC 181, POSC 182, POSC 183, POSC 184 or POSC 184S, POSC 186
- (2) Comparative Government and Politics:
POSC 120, POSC 131, POSC 133, POSC 151, POSC 152, POSC 153, POSC 154, POSC 155 or POSC 155S, POSC 156, POSC 157, POSC 158/ LNST 148, POSC 159 or POSC 159S, POSC 160 or POSC 160S, POSC 161/ LNST 188, POSC 162/LNST 142 or POSC 162S/LNST 142S, POSC 163 or POSC 163S, POSC 164 or POSC 164S, POSC 165 or POSC 165S, POSC 178 or POSC 178S, POSC 188 or POSC 188S
- (3) International Relations and Foreign
Policy: POSC 123, POSC 124 or POSC 124S, POSC 125, POSC 126 or POSC 126S, POSC 127 or POSC 127S, POSC 128, POSC 129, POSC 130, POSC 132 or POSC 132S, POSC 134 or POSC 134S, POSC 135, POSC 137 or POSC 137S, POSC 138 or POSC 138S, POSC 139 or POSC 139S, POSC 147 or POSC 147S, POSC 150 or POSC 150S, POSC 169, POSC 189
POSC 111 or POSC 111S, POSC 112 or POSC 112S, POSC 113, POSC 115 or POSC 115S, POSC 116, POSC 117, POSC 119, POSC 121/CLA 121/ CPAC 121/ or POSC 121S /CLA 121S/ CPAC 121S/, POSC 122 or POSC 122S
- b) Five additional courses in Political Science
course work (Not more than 2 courses from the 190 series and POSC 142L and POSC 142M are allowed toward the nine- course upper-division requirement.)
A course in statistics is strongly recommended.
Political Science/Administrative Studies Major
The major requirements for the B.A. degree in Political Science/Administrative Studies are as follows. Note that the prerequisite for POSC 198-I is a GPA of 2.70 or better.
Political Science requirements (48 units)
- 1. Lower-division requirements
Three courses from POSC 005 or POSC 005H or POSC 005W or POSC 007; POSC 010 or POSC 010H or POSC 010W; POSC 015 or POSC 015H or POSC 017; POSC 020 or POSC 020H
Students in the major must complete two of the three lower-division Political Science courses with a grade of “C” or better in order to take upper- division political science courses.
- 2. Upper-division requirements
- b) At least one course from each of the
following:
- (1) U.S. Government and Politics:
POSC 100, POSC 101, POSC 104 or POSC 104S, POSC 108, POSC 143, POSC 144 or POSC 144S, POSC 145, POSC 146, POSC 148 or POSC 148H or POSC 148S, POSC 149, POSC 166, POSC 167, POSC 168, POSC 170, POSC 171, POSC 172/URST 172, POSC 173 or POSC 173S, POSC 180 or POSC 180S, POSC 181, POSC 182, POSC 183, POSC 184 or POSC 184S, POSC 186
- (2) Comparative Government and Politics:
POSC 120, POSC 131, POSC 133, POSC 151, POSC 152, POSC 153, POSC 154, POSC 155 or POSC 155S, POSC 156, POSC 157, POSC 158/ LNST 148, POSC 159 or POSC 159S, POSC 160 or POSC 160S, POSC 161/ LNST 188, POSC 162/LNST 142 or POSC 162S/LNST 142S, POSC 163 or POSC 163S, POSC 164 or POSC 164S, POSC 165 or POSC 165S, POSC 178 or POSC 178S, POSC 188 or POSC 188S
- (3) International Relations and Foreign
Policy: POSC 123, POSC 124 or POSC 124S, POSC 125, POSC 126 or POSC 126S, POSC 127 or POSC 127S, POSC 128, POSC 129, POSC 130, POSC 132 or POSC 132S, POSC 134 or POSC 134S, POSC 135, POSC 137 or POSC 137S, POSC 138 or POSC 138S, POSC 139 or POSC 139S, POSC 147 or POSC 147S, POSC 150 or POSC 150S, POSC 153, POSC 169, POSC 189
POSC 111 or POSC 111S, POSC 112 or POSC 112S, POSC 113, POSC 115 or POSC 115S, POSC 116, POSC 117, POSC 119, CLA 121/CPAC 121/ POSC 121 or CLA 121S/CPAC 121S/ POSC 121S, POSC 122 or POSC 122S
- d) Additional four (4) units in any upper-
division Political Science course
Administrative Studies requirements (37 units)
- 1. Lower-division courses (17 units)
- b) STAT 048 or equivalent (may be used to
satisfy breadth requirements)
- c) CS 008 (may be used to satisfy breadth
requirements)
- 2. Upper-division requirements (20 units)
- a) Two courses (8 units) from the list below:
These two courses must be outside the discipline of Political Science and cannot be courses included as part of the three course Business Administration track or their cross-listed equivalents.
- b) A three-course track (12 units) in
Business Administration courses from one of the following:
- (1) Organizations (General): BUS 100,
BUS 107, 176/SOC 176, BUS 158/ ANTH 105, SOC 150, SOC 151
- (2) Human Resources Management/
Labor Relations: BUS 100, BUS 107, BUS 152/ECON 152, BUS 153/ECON 153, BUS 155, BUS 157, PSYC 142
POSC 186 Political Science 399 / Programs and Courses 399 / Programs and Courses
- (4) Marketing: BUS 103, and two from
BUS 112, BUS 113, BUS 114, BUS 117
from BUS 134, BUS 136, BUS 137, BUS 138, BUS 139
- (8) Management Information Systems:
- (9) Production Management: BUS 104/
STAT 104, and two from BUS 105, BUS 122, BUS 127/ STAT 127
Note in filling the dual requirements of the selected major, students may not count more than two courses toward both parts of their total requirements (Political Science requirements and Administrative Studies requirements).
Political Science/International Affairs Major
The major requirements for the B.A. degree in Political Science/International Affairs are as follows:
- 1. Lower-division requirements (two courses [at
least 10 units]): One course from a and one course from b:
Students in the major must complete two lower- division Political Science courses with a grade of “C” or better in order to take upper-division political science courses.
Upper-division requirements (16 courses [at least 64 units]):
- a) International Relations (four courses)
POSC 123, POSC 124 or POSC 124S, POSC 125, POSC 126 or POSC 126S, POSC 127 or POSC 127S, POSC 128, POSC 129, POSC 130, POSC 132 or POSC 132S, POSC 134 or POSC 134S, POSC 135, POSC 137 or POSC 137S, POSC 138 or POSC 138S, POSC 139 or POSC 139S, POSC 147 or POSC 147S, POSC 150 or POSC 150S, POSC 169, POSC 189
POSC 152, POSC 153, POSC 154, POSC 155 or POSC 155S, POSC 156, POSC 157, POSC 158/LNST 148, POSC 159 or POSC 159S, POSC 160 or POSC 160S, POSC 161/LNST 188, POSC 162/ LNST 142 or POSC 162S/LNST 142S, POSC 163 or POSC 163S, POSC 164 or POSC 164S, POSC 165 or POSC 165S, POSC 178 or POSC 178S, POSC 188 or POSC 188S
- c) General Political Science (four other
political science courses in any subfield).
- d) In addition, students must take four
courses from the following: ANTH 109/GSST 109, ANTH 122, ANTH 127, ANTH 136/SEAS 136, ANTH 139, ANTH 161/LNST 161, ANTH 163, ANTH 164/LNST 164/GSST 164, ANTH 168/ ETST 148/LNST 168, ANTH 169/GBST 169, ANTH 182, ANTH 186/LNST 166, ANTH 188/GSST 151
ECON 171, ECON 175, ECON 178/ BUS 178, ECON 181, ECON 182, ECON 185/LNST 185
HISA 117A, HISA 117B, HISA 140, HISA 161, HISA 162, HISA 163B, HISA 164A, HISA 164B, HISA 165, HISA 166, HISE 141, HISE 142, HISE 145 or HISE 145S, HISE 146 or HISE 146S, HISE 147, HISE 152, HISE 162, HISE 174, HIST 124, HIST 125, HIST 127, HIST 182, HIST 184, HIST 186
SOC 135, SOC 136, SOC 137, SOC 161, SOC 181, SOC 185
Students may petition for permission to count a specific course not on this list.
Political Science/International Affairs majors are strongly encouraged to learn a language other than English. The university offers language instruction in Chinese, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Political Science/Law and Society Major
The major requirements for the B.A. degree in Political Science/Law and Society are as follows:
- 1. Political Science requirements (60 units)
All major requirements for the B.A. in Political Science
- 2. Law and Society requirements (36 units)
- b) LWSO 100 (with a grade of “C” or better)
- c) One course chosen from ECON 111,
POSC 114, PSYC 012, SOC 004 (or equivalent course in research methods)
- d) Three courses chosen from ANTH 127,
ECON 119, HISE 153, PHIL 165, POSC 167, PSYC 175, SOC 159
- e) Two courses chosen from ENSC 174,
HISA 120A, HISA 120B, HISE 123, LWSO 175 (E-Z), PHIL 164, POSC 111, POSC 166, POSC 168, POSC 186, SOC 147, SOC 149, SOC 180
- f) LWSO 193, Senior Seminar
Note For sections 2.d) and 2.e) combined, not more than two courses may be taken from the same department in filling the dual requirements of the major, students may not count more than two courses toward both parts of their total requirements (Political Science requirements and Law and Society requirements).
Political Science/Public Service Major
The major requirements for the B.A. degree in Political Science/Public Service are as follows. Note that the prerequisite for POSC 198-I is a GPA of 2.70 or better.
- 1. Lower-division requirements (five courses [at
least 20 units])
- b) One course from POSC 005 or POSC 005H or POSC 005W, POSC 007, POSC 015 or POSC 015H or POSC 017, POSC 020 or POSC 020H
- c) ECON 003
- d) SOC 004
Students in the major must complete two of the lower-division Political Science courses with a grade of “C” or better in order to take upper- division political science courses.
- 2. Upper-division requirements (11 courses [at
least 44 units])
- a) Political Science distribution: choose one
course from each group
- (1) Comparative Government and Politics
Group: POSC 120, POSC 131, POSC 133 POSC 151, POSC 152, POSC 153, POSC 154, POSC 155 or POSC 155S, POSC 156, POSC 157, POSC 158/ LNST 148, POSC 159 or POSC 159S, POSC 160 or POSC 160S, POSC 161/ LNST 188, POSC 162/LNST 142 or POSC 162S/LNST 142S, POSC 163 or POSC 163S, POSC 164 or POSC 164S, POSC 165 or POSC 165S, POSC 178 or POSC 178S, POSC 188 or POSC 188S
- (2) International Relations and Foreign
Policy Group: POSC 123,POSC 124 or POSC 124S, POSC 125, POSC 126 or POSC 126S, POSC 127 or POSC 127S, POSC 128, POSC 129, POSC 130, POSC 132 or POSC 132S, POSC 134 or POSC 134S, POSC 135, POSC 137 or POSC 137S, POSC 138 or POSC 138S, POSC 139 or POSC 139S, POSC 147 or POSC 147S, POSC 150 or POSC 150S, POSC 169, POSC 189
- (3) Political Theory Group: POSC 106 or
POSC 106S, POSC 110 or POSC 110S, POSC 111 or POSC 111S, POSC 112 or POSC 112S, POSC 113, POSC 115 or POSC 115S, POSC 116, POSC 117, POSC 119, POSC 121/CLA 121/CPAC 121 or POSC 121S/CLA 121S/CPAC 121S, POSC 122 or POSC 122S
- b) Public Service requirement
- (2) Eight (8) units from POSC 198G
and POSC 198-I (prerequisite: GPA of 2.70 or better)
- (3) An additional four courses from
POSC 118, POSC 170, POSC 171, POSC 172/URST 172, POSC 182, POSC 186
Minor
The Political Science Department offers a minor in Political Science.
- 1. One lower-division course (at least 5 units)
in political science, selected from POSC 005 or POSC 005H or POSC 005W or POSC 007; POSC 010 or POSC 010H or POSC 010W; POSC 015 or POSC 015H or POSC 017; POSC 020 or POSC 020H
- 2. Five upper-division courses (at least 20 units)
to be selected as follows:
- a) One course in each of the following areas
(4 courses):
- (1) American Politics: POSC 100, POSC 101, POSC 104 or POSC 104S, POSC 108, POSC 143, POSC 144 or POSC 144S, POSC 145, POSC 146, POSC 148 or POSC 148H or POSC 148S,
POSC 149, POSC 166, POSC 167, POSC 168, POSC 170, POSC 171, POSC 172/URST 172, POSC 173 or POSC 173S, POSC 180 or POSC 180S, POSC 181, POSC 182, POSC 183, POSC 184 or POSC 184S,POSC 186
- (2) Comparative Politics: POSC 120, POSC 131, POSC 133, POSC 151, POSC 152, POSC 153, POSC 154, POSC 155
or POSC 155S, POSC 156, POSC 157, POSC 158/LNST 148, POSC 159 or POSC 159S, POSC 160 or POSC 160S, POSC 161/LNST 188, POSC 162/LNST 142 or POSC 162S/LNST 142S, POSC 163 or POSC 163S, POSC 164 or POSC 164S, POSC 165 or POSC 165S, POSC 178 or POSC 178S, POSC 188 or POSC 188S
- (3) International Relations: POSC 123,
POSC 124 or POSC 124S, POSC 125, POSC 126 or POSC 126S, POSC 127 or POSC 127S, POSC 128, POSC 129, POSC 130, POSC 132 or POSC 132S, POSC 134 or POSC 134S, POSC 135, POSC 137 or POSC 137S, POSC 138 or POSC 138S, POSC 139 or POSC 139S, POSC 147 or POSC 147S, POSC 150 or POSC 150S, POSC 169, POSC 189
- (4) Political Theory: POSC 106 or POSC 106S, POSC 110 or POSC 110S, POSC 111 or POSC 111S, POSC 112 or
POSC 112S, POSC 113, POSC 115 or POSC 115S, POSC 116, POSC 117, POSC 119, POSC 121/CLA 121/CPAC 121 or POSC 121S/CLA 121S/CPAC 121S, POSC 122
- b) One additional course selected by the
student from among those listed in (1) through (4) above.
The Political Science Department also offers a minor in International Relations (listed elsewhere in this catalog). Also, see Minors under the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences in the Colleges and Programs section of this catalog for additional information on minors.
Honors Program
The Political Science undergraduate Honors Program is designed to provide qualified upper-division Political Science majors with opportunities to engage in upper-division course work in the field in an intensive seminar format and to obtain the necessary training to engage in independent research in the field. Upon successful completion of the program, students are awarded and have posted on their transcripts, the designation Honors, Department of Political Science Undergraduate Honors Program.
Complete details and an application are available from the Political Science Student Affairs Officer.
Prerequisites for the Honors Program
- 1. Submission of an application during the last
quarter of the sophomore or junior year
- 2. Junior standing (completion of a minimum of
86 units)
- 3. Minimum GPA requirements or consent
of director
- a) Cumulative GPA of 3.50
- b) A GPA of 3.50 in upper-division major
courses
- 4. Statistics or methods course required. One
course chosen from ECON 111, POSC 114 or POSC 114S, PSYC 012, SOC 004 (or an equivalent course in research methods)
Requirements for the Honors Program
Twelve (12) units/three courses from the following:
POSC 175H (Introduction to the Honors Thesis)
POSC 176H (Seminar on Writing the Honors Thesis)
POSC 177H (Honors Thesis)
POSC 199 (Senior Research[Thesis Optional])
Model United Nations (MUN)
The Model United Nations (MUN) program is a campuswide activity that combines academic and social aspects. The academic preparation takes place within the Political Science Department, with one course, POSC 142L. The simulation preparation takes place within the UCRMUN organization, for participation in external conferences. Each year, the UCRMUN organization hosts a two-day MUN conference, which attracts over a thousand high school students. In recent years, the UCRMUN High School MUN has been the third largest in the nation. Planning and running this conference is entirely in the hands of UCR students participating in the UCRMUN program. The program provides training in administration and diplomacy. In the spring, a UCRMUN delegation attends either a local conference or the National Model United Nations Conference in New York City.
Education Abroad Program
The EAP is an excellent opportunity to travel and learn more about another country and its culture while taking courses to earn units toward graduation. Students should plan study abroad well in advance to ensure that the courses taken fit with their overall program at UCR. Consult the departmental student affairs officer for assistance. For further details, visit Study Abroad Programs at studyabroad.ucr.edu or call (951) 827-2508. See Education Abroad Program in the Educational Opportunities section of this catalog. A list of participating countries is found under Education Abroad Program in the Programs and Courses section. Search for programs by specific areas at uc.eap.ucop.edu.