# Political Science (POLS) courses

MiraCosta College · 2026-2027 Catalog · 6 courses

Source: https://catalog.miracosta.edu/disciplines/politicalscience/

"Offered" lists sections in this catalog year's class schedules: Fall 2026.

### POLS C1000 — American Government and Politics

- **Units:** 4
- **Hours:** Lecture 4 hours
- **C-ID:** POLS-110
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 11 sections (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/pols.md)
- Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with prior credit in PLSC 102.
- Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer

This course is an introduction to government and politics in the United States and California. Students examine the constitutions, structure, and operation of governing institutions, civil liberties and civil rights, political behaviors, political issues, and public policy using political science theory and methodology. Students study basic concepts in the political and historical traditions of America and California by analyzing national, state, and local political institutions from colonial times to the present. The course examines the evolution of concepts and ideas that are fundamental to our political culture. It emphasizes the concepts citizens should understand in order to vote intelligently and otherwise effectively participate in the political process. This course is designed specifically to satisfy the CSU History, Constitution and American Ideals requirement. (Formerly PLSC 102.) C-ID POLS-110.

### POLS 101 — Introduction to Political Science

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** Lecture 3 hours
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC (with credit limitation)
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/pols.md)
- Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with prior credit in PLSC 101H, PLSC 101, or POLS 101H.
- Course Typically Offered: Fall

This course introduces students to the field of political science and to politics itself. It covers government, the nation-state, and political ideologies that affect modern politics and society. In particular, this course examines the following ideologies from historical, social, and economic perspectives: Conservatism, Liberalism, Anarchism, Democracy, Capitalism, Marxism/Communism, and Fascism. UC CREDIT LIMITATION: Credit for POLS 101 or POLS 101H. C-ID POLS-150. Formerly PLSC 101.

### POLS 101H — Introduction to Political Science (Honors)

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** Lecture 3 hours
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC (with credit limitation)
- **Offered:** not on the Fall 2026 schedule
- Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with prior credit in PLSC 101, PLSC 101H, or POLS 101.
- Course Typically Offered: Spring

This honors course offers students an advanced introduction to the field of political science and to politics itself. It covers government, the nation-state, and political ideologies that affect modern politics and society. In particular, this course examines the following ideologies from historical, social, and economic perspectives: Conservatism, Liberalism, Anarchism, Democracy, Capitalism, Marxism/Communism, and Fascism. As an honors course, it offers expanded analysis of lecture materials, increased dependence upon student participation on a daily basis, and the opportunity for students to conduct research in relevant areas of interest, and thus targets highly motivated students who are looking for a more challenging academic experience. UC CREDIT LIMITATION: Credit for POLS 101 or POLS 101H. C-ID POLS-150. Formerly PLSC 101H.

### POLS 103 — Comparative Government

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** Lecture 3 hours
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/pols.md)
- Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with prior credit in PLSC 103.
- Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

This course provides a comparative survey of selected foreign governments, including their political institutions, theories of government, and economic and social development. Countries surveyed include western and non-western democracies and communist nations or dictatorships. C-ID POLS-130. Formerly PLSC 103.

### POLS 150 — Introduction to International Relations

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** Lecture 3 hours
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/pols.md)
- Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with prior credit in PLSC 150.
- Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

This course introduces students to the major explanations for international conflict, cooperation, and other important dynamics of global affairs. It also examines the relationships between selected countries and the resulting political, economic, and social consequences. The course emphasizes the analytical skills and techniques used by practitioners in this field. C-ID POLS-140. Formerly PLSC 150.

### POLS 292 — Internship Studies

- **Units:** 0.5-14
- **Corequisite:** Complete 54 hours of work per unit, paid or unpaid
- **Transfers to:** CSU
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/pols.md)
- Enrollment Limitation: Instructor, dept chair, and Career Center approval. Fourteen unit maximum in any combination of work experience education and/or internship studies per semester.
- Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer

This course provides students the opportunity to apply the theories and techniques of their discipline in an internship position in a professional setting under the instruction of a faculty-mentor and site supervisor. It introduces students to aspects of the roles and responsibilities of professionals employed in the field of study. Topics include goal-setting, employability skills development, and examination of the world of work as it relates to the student's career plans. Students must develop new learning objectives and/or work/intern at a new site upon each enrollment. Formerly PLSC 292.