Political Science POL SCI

POL SCI 11A Introduction to Political Science: Political Analysis

Units

4

(III and VIII.)

Presents various modes of understanding politics. Emphasis on basic approaches to political analysis, their uses in constructing theories, and their application to particular national political systems.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 21A Introduction to American Government

Units

4

(III)

Introduction to American political processes and institutions. Topics include elections, political participation, parties, interest groups, the Presidency, Congress, the bureaucracy, and the judiciary.

Offered: Fall 2026 (13 sections)

POL SCI 31A Introduction to Political Theory

Units

4

(III)

Types of questions: What is politics? What are the theoretical and philosophical bases for different types of political arrangements? How do these perspectives get translated into reality? Among others, the works of Rousseau, Locke, Mill, and Marx are read.

Offered: Fall 2026 (4 sections)

POL SCI 32A Dilemmas of Diversity

Units

4

(VII)

Focuses on racial, ethnic, and gender diversity, multiculturalism, and their impact on our social and political ideals. Traces the sources of ideas about difference, equality, and toleration, and examines tensions that occur when forms of identity conflict with one another.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 41A Introduction to International Relations

Units

4

Restrictions: Political Science majors and International Studies majors have the first consideration for enrollment

(III and VIII.)

Analysis of political relations between and among nations with emphasis on explanations of conflict and cooperation. The role of ideologies and their relation to international problems are also examined.

Offered: Fall 2026 (7 sections)

POL SCI 51A Introduction to Politics Around the World

Units

4

(III and VIII)

Introduces comparative politics. Compares political systems in a variety of countries. Includes elections, parties, parliaments, presidents, protest movements, and other aspects of national politics. Addresses how to make meaningful comparisons across countries.

Offered: Fall 2026 (10 sections)

POL SCI 61A Introduction to Race and Ethnicity in Political Science

Units

4

Same as CHC/LAT 64

(III and VII.)

Examines major theories that attempt to explain the roles of race and ethnicity in U.S. politics.

Offered: Fall 2026 (7 sections)

POL SCI 71A Introduction to Law

Units

4

(III)

An introduction to the study of judicial politics. Questions include: what is law?; what is a court?; who are the judges? Analysis of a wide range of judicial decisions illustrates the political importance of courts in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Offered: Fall 2026 (10 sections)

POL SCI 111 Public Policy and Evaluation

Units

4

Prerequisite

EDUC 15 or SOCECOL 13 or STATS 7 or ANTHRO 10B or COGS 10B or SOC SCI 10B or SOCIOL 10B

Same as EDUC 157

Restrictions: Education Sciences majors and Political Science majors have the first consideration for enrollment

Covers qualitative and quantitative research methods relevant for the evaluation of educational programs. Students have the opportunity to plan, execute, and write-up a small evaluation project.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 120 Public Opinion

Units

4

Restrictions: Political Science majors have the first consideration for enrollment

Theories concerning sources of public opinion, processes by which it is altered, organization of citizens’ belief systems, and role of public opinion in government policy. Students analyze survey data as a research project.

Offered: Fall 2026 (1 section)

POL SCI 121A The American Presidency

Units

4

Restrictions: Political Science majors have the first consideration for enrollment

Presents a comprehensive survey of the American presidency and considers the question of political power.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 121C U.S. Elections and Voting Behavior

Units

4

Restrictions: Political Science majors have the first consideration for enrollment

Examines how voters evaluate political parties, candidates, and issues in electoral campaigns to reach their decisions. Numerous controversies concerning the degree of issue voting, sophistication of candidate evaluations, and the decline of political parties are discussed.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 121D Gender and Politics

Units

4

Examines the role of gender in American politics. We begin by considering women and men as citizens and voters. How do women and men differ in their political opinions and behavior?

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 121F Presidents Since World War II

Units

4

Prerequisite

POL SCI 21A

Restrictions: Political Science majors have the first consideration for enrollment

Reviews the actions and character of presidents from Harry Truman through Bill Clinton. Each week a different president is examined from a variety of perspectives. Students are expected to write a substantial original research paper.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 121G American Public Policy

Units

4

Same as PUBHLTH 132, SOC SCI 152C, UPPP 129

Focuses on the development and implementation of public policy in the United States. Lectures cover theoretical models of the policy process as well as significant problems facing contemporary American decision-makers.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 121HW Writing for the President of the United States

Units

4

Prerequisite

POL SCI 21A. Satisfactory completion of the Lower-Division Writing requirement

(Ib)

Imagines how White House staffers can help presidents with clear, focused, and effective writing. Through a variety of formats, students study, hone, and practice writing skills that will prove useful in and out of the White House.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 121J John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson

Units

4

Restrictions: Political Science majors have the first consideration for enrollment

Investigates the politics of the 60s through the lens of the presidents who defined them: John F. Kennedy (JFK) and Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ). Studies each president’s campaign and election, options and actions, successes and failures.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 124A The Politics of Protest

Units

4

Same as ASIANAM 144

(VII)

Examines the Civil Rights, Black Power, and women’s movements in relationship to the Asian American movement. Uses social movement theories to illuminate the cases, and the cases to critique and revise the theories.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 124B Latinos in U.S. Politics

Units

4

Same as CHC/LAT 151

(VII)

Comparing the political issues facing Latino groups by examining their migration histories, voting behavior, nonelectoral participation, and policy issues. Latino issues are examined on the national, state, and local levels, including formal representation, immigration, affirmative action, and language policy.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 124D Black Political Thought

Units

4

Due to Black people’s existence on margins of Western society, Black political thought necessarily opens up new possibilities beyond the political present and towards a free future. Surveys texts that re-imagine the state beyond its current formation.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 124E African American Politics

Units

4

Same as AFAM 152

Examines politics of African Americans in order to gain a broader perspective of the American political process. Major developments in African American politics (including the civil rights movement, Black presidential bids), continuing problem of racism, responsiveness of key governing institutions.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 125A The United States Congress

Units

4

Restrictions: Political Science majors have the first consideration for enrollment

Does the Congress do a good job of representing the American citizenry? Is it the most appropriate mechanism for the creation, resolution, and implementation of public policy?

Offered: Fall 2026 (1 section)

POL SCI 126C U.S. Immigration Policy

Units

4

Same as CHC/LAT 163

(VII)

Examines selected immigration policy debates since the nineteenth century, rationale and consequences of immigration law since 1965, problems of administration, implementation and enforcement, impact of immigration policy on foreign relations, and contemporary debate regarding the future of U.S. policy.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 126F Politics of Animal Rights

Units

4

Same as ASIANAM 168

Restrictions: Political Science majors and Asian American Studies majors have the first consideration for enrollment

Examines animal rights/welfare movement’s efforts to transform moral, practical, and legal standing of nonhuman animals in contemporary U.S. Explores intersection of racism, sexism, and speciesism informed by theories of race and ethnicity, including Asian American Studies.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 126G Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll: The Politics of Prohibition

Units

4

Why and how does the U.S. government prohibit, regulate, or try to control sex, drugs, and rock and roll? Reveals the motivations and politically strategic decisions that underpin these governmental efforts.

Offered: Fall 2026 (1 section)

POL SCI 127A Mass Media and Politics

Units

4

Examines the ways in which news and popular media constitute a major American institution by influencing public attitudes and government outcomes. Discusses the main functions of media, and how they are shaped by the particular medium.

Offered: Fall 2026 (1 section)

POL SCI 128BW Political Ideologies: The Way We View Our World

Units

4

Prerequisite

Satisfactory completion of the Lower-Division Writing requirement

(Ib)

Politics has become divisive and ideological. But ideologies are poorly understood and have become mere labels for identifying friends and enemies. Course analyzes the nature of ideology, focusing on liberalism, conservatism, fascism, socialism, and contemporary "liberation" ideologies.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 128C Political Psychology

Units

4

Same as COGS 176A

Examination of how psychological theory and research may be used to better understand political thought and behavior. Drawing on theories of learning, cognition, and personality, discusses such topics as the formation of political attitudes, and the process of political decision-making.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 129 Special Topics in American Politics and Society

Units

4

Repeatability: May be taken unlimited times as topics vary

Restrictions: Political Science majors have the first consideration for enrollment

Studies in selected areas of American politics and society. Topics addressed vary each quarter.

Offered: Fall 2026 (1 section)

POL SCI 130A Game Theory and Politics I

Units

4

Same as SOCIOL 134, SOC SCI 103A

Restrictions: Social Policy and Public Service majors, Political Science majors, International Studies majors, and Sociology majors have the first consideration for enrollment

Introduction to game theory and a survey of its political applications. Examples of topics covered include voting in small committees, legislatures, and mass elections; interest group activities and environmental issues; institutional design, and the evolution of cooperative behavior.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 131C Modern Political Theory

Units

4

Restrictions: Political Science majors have the first consideration for enrollment

Examines major thinkers and intellectual movements in the political thought of the 17th and 18th centuries.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 131F Modern Political Theory

Units

4

Prerequisite

POL SCI 31A

Examines major thinkers and intellectual movements in the political thought of the 20th century.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 134F Social and Political Theory

Units

4

Restrictions: Political Science majors have the first consideration for enrollment

Focus is on recent major work in social and political theory. An in-depth analysis of a relatively small body of writing. Authors discussed include Jurgen Habermas, Anthony Giddens, and Richard Rorty.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 135B Just War Revisited

Units

4

Examines the evolution of the doctrine of the just war across the history of Western political thought, the importance of changes in the doctrine and whether it applies today; examines international relations case studies to determine today's relevancy.

Offered: Fall 2026 (1 section)

POL SCI 136BW Cannibals and Conquistadores: The Philosophy of the Other

Units

4

Prerequisite

Satisfactory completion of the Lower-Division Writing requirement

Overlaps with POL SCI 136B

(Ib)

Examines critically the notion of the "other" by looking at the philosophical challenges difference poses in the context of the European discovery of the New World. Seeks to understand the naissance of the concept of human rights and tolerance.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 138AW Moral of the Story: Introduction to Ethics

Units

4

Prerequisite

Satisfactory completion of the Lower-Division Writing requirement

(Ib)

Focuses on how we learn about ethics from stories, in the form of fables, bedtime stories, religious stories, soap operas, television, and movies as adults. Students bring in stories that informed their own ethical development.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 138CW Ethics of Difference

Units

4

Prerequisite

Satisfactory completion of the Lower-Division Writing requirement

Restrictions: Political Science majors have the first consideration for enrollment

(Ib)

Examines differences traditionally judged politically salient—race, ethnicity, religion, gender. Personal interviews with an elderly person encourage students to understand the social construction of difference and to reexamine their own attitudes by putting themselves in the place of another.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 138DW The Moral Life During War

Units

4

Prerequisite

Satisfactory completion of the Lower-Division Writing requirement

Restrictions: Political Science majors have the first consideration for enrollment

(Ib)

Can people keep their humanity during war? What does the term humanity signify when simply surviving requires faith, courage, and desperation? When facing wartime brutality, must we abrogate morality? What does it mean to compose a moral life during war?

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 139 Special Topics in Political Theory and Methods

Units

4

Repeatability: May be taken unlimited times as topics vary

Restrictions: Political Science majors have the first consideration for enrollment

Studies in selected areas of political theory and methods. Topics addressed vary each quarter.

Offered: Fall 2026 (3 sections)

POL SCI 141 International Security

Units

4

Introduces students to debates in the subfields of security studies, peace and conflict studies within the field of International Relations. Topics explored range from causes of war, civil wars, nuclear deterrence, human security, peacekeeping, peace processes to peace-building.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 141B International Political Economy

Units

4

(VIII)

Examination of problems in global political-economic relations through competing conceptual lenses or grand theories: mercantilism, liberalism, and Marxism. Surveys North-North and North-South issues relating power and wealth.

Offered: Fall 2026 (1 section)

POL SCI 141C International Political Economy of East Asia

Units

4

(VIII)

Integration of theoretical perspectives in international political economy with the study of economic development in East Asia, with special emphasis on regional integration.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 141E US Foreign Policy Toward Asia

Units

4

U.S. policy toward the countries of East Asia: bilateral and regional security relationships, U.S. economic relations with the major Asian countries, the development of regional institutions, and human rights.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 142B The International Relations of East Asia

Units

4

Restrictions: Political Science majors and International Studies majors have the first consideration for enrollment

Surveys various aspects of relations between the nations of East Asia. Topics include the historical development of the region; current political and security relations, including the impact of the American military presence.

Offered: Fall 2026 (1 section)

POL SCI 142D U.S. Foreign Policy I: Globalism and Cold War

Units

4

Restrictions: Political Science majors and International Studies majors have the first consideration for enrollment

Looks at changing international perspectives, policy responses, and military strategies of presidential administrations from Truman to Reagan. In assessing the motives and objectives of U.S. foreign policy leaders during the “Cold War” era, the concept of “national interest” is examined.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 142J U.S. Intervention in Latin America

Units

4

Same as HISTORY 166, INTL ST 177D, CHC/LAT 150

Explores political, economic, social, and cultural ties that bind Latin America to the United States. Focuses on U.S. intervention and Latin American response from early nineteenth century to present day. Case studies include Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba, Chile, and Central America.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 143D East Asian Security

Units

4

Provides an overview of issues in East Asian security including U.S.-China relations, economic interdependence, global supply chains, South China Sea, environmental cooperation, COVID-19, and others. Includes Oxford-style debates.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 143G Homeland Security

Units

4.0

Same as INTL ST 141B

Examines the 9/11 origins of the concept of homeland security; assess the evolution, structure, and operations of the Department of Homeland Security; critically examines the evolution of threat assessment to the U.S. and the utilization of risk management methodologies.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 147CW International Humanitarianism

Units

4

Prerequisite

Satisfactory completion of the Lower-Division Writing requirement

Same as SOC SCI 147CW

(Ib)

Examines, analyzes, and evaluates the humanitarian phenomenon, the actors involved in it (including states, international organizations (IOs), and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)), the rise of a body of international humanitarian law, and the problems and debates associated with international humanitarianism today.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 147D International Organizations

Units

4

Active learning course that examines origins, decision-making processes, activities, and evolution of leading international organizations (e.g. U.N., NATO, EU, AU, WTO, World Bank, IMF). Activities include drafting reforms, applying theory, assessing dysfunctions, and participating in U.N. negotiation simulations.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 147E Critical Investigations into Humanitarianism in Africa

Units

4

Same as SPPS 102

Repeatability: May be taken for credit 1 time

(VIII)

Explores the complex phenomenon of aid to Africa (emergency and development aid), and the representational, cultural, historical, and other reasons why some participants and many observers critique it. Students occasionally engage with peers and faculty in African institutions.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 148B War, Peace, and Gender

Units

4

Focuses on the diverse ways that gender affects human security, civil wars, peacekeeping, peace processes, and post-conflict peacebuilding, among other topics in the field of peace and conflict.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 149 Special Topics in International Relations

Units

4

Repeatability: May be taken unlimited times as topics vary

Restrictions: Political Science majors have the first consideration for enrollment

Studies in selected areas of international relations. Topics addressed vary each quarter.

Offered: Fall 2026 (3 sections)

POL SCI 151B Political Power in Contemporary China

Units

4

Same as INTL ST 176C

Restrictions: Political Science majors and International Studies majors have the first consideration for enrollment

Analyzes the sources of political power in contemporary China, including historical legitimacy, political institutions, and Chinese Communist Party power. Identifies challenges to the CCP’s rule and rising socio-political issues such as mass protest, censorship, and the environment.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 151H Voting and Political Manipulation

Units

4

Same as ECON 154, SOC SCI 121T

Restrictions: Business Economics majors, Political Science majors, International Studies majors, and Social Science majors have the first consideration for enrollment

Introduction to social choice and cooperative games. Topics include majority rule, types of voting methods, apportionment and proportional representation, agenda manipulation, coalition formation, voting power, political consequences of electoral laws.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 152B Gender and Power

Units

4

Examines the intersection of gender and development, focusing on gender influences and shapes experiences within political, economic, and social institutions. Explores why gender disparities persist in various sectors and investigates the role of gender in development outcomes.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 152C Politics of Decolonization

Units

4

The politics of colonization and decolonization are explored with examples from around the world. We begin looking at global political history as well as specific histories of colonial subjects in the Americas, including the United States; Africa; Asia; Europe; Mideast.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 152D Politics of Global Development

Units

4

Examines how politics shapes global development. Evaluates how social, political, and economic institutions influence development prospects. The guiding question is: What political factors help explain patterns of development – pertaining to health, education, prosperity, and security?

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 152F Politics of Genetics

Units

4

The politics of identity, especially the politics of genetic identity are explored. Begins with a discussion of the politics of identity including especially racial and ethnic identity. How do these identities matter for politics, if at all?

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 152JW Political Economy of Development

Units

4

(Ib)

Why are some countries rich and some countries poor? In Political Economy of Development, students assess and evaluate competing hypotheses on what drives social, economic, and political development around the world.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 152K Immigration Politics

Units

4

Examines immigration politics in advanced democracies, analyzing trends and policy from the postwar period through to today. Topics include citizenship, immigrant integration, asylum, the far-right, and a rotating focus on contemporary issues, e.g., terrorism, birthright citizenship.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 153G Cuban Society and Revolution

Units

4

Same as INTL ST 177E, HISTORY 166C, CHC/LAT 157

Explores the causes, development, and legacy of the 1959 Revolution. Themes include economic dependency, democracy, race, gender, culture, and the always volatile relations between Cuba and the United States.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 154F Peoples and Cultures of Post-Soviet Eurasia

Units

4

Same as INTL ST 162B, ANTHRO 164P

(VIII)

Examines the cultures and political conflicts of the more than 130 indigenous ethnic groups in the European and Asian territories of the former U.S.S.R. Emphasis is on the theoretical issues of ethnicity, nationalism, and conflict management.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 154G Conflict Resolution in Cross-Cultural Perspective

Units

4

Same as ANTHRO 136D, SOC SCI 183E, INTL ST 183E

(VIII)

Examines theories of conflict management. Analyzes how conflict is mitigated in diverse cultures: at the interpersonal level, between groups, and on the international scale. Students discuss readings, hear from conflict management practitioners, and simulate negotiations.

Offered: Fall 2026 (1 section)

POL SCI 154H Arab Uprisings

Units

4

Same as SOC SCI 188B

Restrictions: Formerly offered under SOC SCI 189/INTL ST 179/POL SCI 149

Examines political mobilization against authoritarian rule in individual Arab countries, explaining specific outcome in each. Addresses the movement’s second wind nearly a decade later, which affected a new subset of Arab countries.

Offered: Fall 2026 (1 section)

POL SCI 154J Jews and Power

Units

4

Same as HISTORY 130F, REL STD 130F

Examines the relationship between the Jewish people and political power over a 3500 year period. How have Jews preserved their communal interests and personal safety? How have they defined the proper relationship of the people to political authority?

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 154K Antisemitism

Units

4

(III and (VII or VIII))

Covers the key concepts, sources, and dynamics of historical and contemporary antisemitism. Topics covered include the politics of anti-Jewish hatred, conspiracy theories, and the Holocaust.

Offered: Fall 2026 (1 section)

POL SCI 154KW US Government in Comparative Perspective

Units

4

Prerequisite

Satisfactory completion of the Lower-Division Writing requirement

Restrictions: Political Science majors have the first consideration for enrollment

(Ib)

Introduction to the United States in comparative perspective, covering general features of the United States and other countries, such as institutional design and policy choices. Addresses the debates about American exceptionalism and American decline.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 155A Failed States

Units

4

What is a “failed” state? How is it measured? Covers the theories, processes, and outcomes of state fragility and failure from both comparative politics and international relations perspective.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 155B Making Government Work

Units

4

Government, whether democratic or not, is expected to provide public goods and services to its citizens. With a limited budget but potentially unlimited needs and wants from its citizens, how best should government decide which goods and services to provide.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 155C Organizations

Units

4

Same as SOCIOL 141

Restrictions: Political Science majors and Sociology majors have the first consideration for enrollment

How bureaucracies, formal organizations, and voluntary associations work, how/why they grow, and where they are going. History and structure of organizational rationality; dynamics of organized groups; behavior in organizations; limits of bureaucratization and attempts to overcome these limits through decentralization.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 156B Political Violence

Units

4

Designed to provide the student with advanced knowledge of main theoretical issues surrounding violence in politics. Although violence is virtually everywhere in political life, focuses especially on the causes and consequences of genocide and war.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 156D Protests, Movements, and Revolutions

Units

4

Prerequisite

SOCIOL 1 or POL SCI 11A or ECON 1

Same as SOCIOL 174

Restrictions: Political Science majors and Sociology majors have the first consideration for enrollment

A survey of models of collective action drawn from sociology, economics, psychology, and political science. Focus on areas such as social movements, strikes, crowd psychology, cults, fads, fashions, public opinion, and symbolic and mythical elements in collective culture.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 157B International Divided Cities

Units

4

Same as UPPP 178, SOCIOL 176

Investigates urban divisions in international cities where deep-seated nationalistic ethnic differences create pressures for intergroup conflicts, autonomy, or territorial separation, and can incite violence. Urban political polarization as it is manifest in the urban setting.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 158D Introduction to Contemporary Middle East Politics

Units

4

Same as INTL ST 165, SOC SCI 188A

An overview of basic issues that shape the politics of the Middle East and North Africa. Themes include implication of the colonization era, nation-state formation, inter-Arab relations, nationalism, Arab-Israel conflict, Islamic resurgence, and more.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 159 Special Topics in Comparative Politics

Units

4

Repeatability: May be taken unlimited times

Restrictions: Political Science majors have the first consideration for enrollment

Studies in selected areas of comparative politics. Topics addressed vary each quarter.

Offered: Fall 2026 (6 sections)

POL SCI 171AW Law and Society

Units

4

Prerequisite

POL SCI 71A. Satisfactory completion of the Lower-Division Writing requirement

Restrictions: Political Science majors have the first consideration for enrollment

(Ib)

Law and its various roles in society. The nature and meaning of law; legality and power in the American system; law as a mechanism for social change; the role of law in dispute processing, social control, compliance with judicial decisions.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 172A International Law

Units

4

Prerequisite

POL SCI 71A

Same as INTL ST 145A

(VIII)

Examination of the origin, changing structure, application of international law, and the role of legal norms in regulating the behavior of states and maintaining international order.

Offered: Fall 2026 (1 section)

POL SCI 173A Law and Race

Units

4

American political culture is principled upon the self-evident truth that all people are created equal, held equal before the law, and that human rights are inalienable and inviolable. Surveying American legal history and addresses whether it is actually practiced.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 174A Civil Liberties

Units

4

Prerequisite

POL SCI 71A

Overlaps with CRM/LAW C122

Restrictions: Political Science majors have the first consideration for enrollment

Political analysis of selected Supreme Court cases involving claims under the Bill of Rights and the Fourteenth Amendment. Topics include: race, sex, and other forms of discrimination; criminal justice; privacy; freedom of speech and related claims.

Offered: Fall 2026 (1 section)

POL SCI 174B Justice

Units

4

Explores questions related to the endlessly complex concept of justice. Studies various theories of justice (utilitarian, libertarian, Kantian, egalitarian), elements of justice (rights, freedom, equality, virtue, fairness), institutions of justice (state) and frameworks of justice.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 174C U.S. Supreme Court

Units

4

Restrictions: Political Science majors have the first consideration for enrollment

Overview and analysis of the role played by the U.S. Supreme Court in the American political system. Judicial review, appointment of justices, judicial activism and judicial restraint, process of case selection, court deliberation, land decision-making, impact of Supreme Court decisions.

Offered: Fall 2026 (4 sections)

POL SCI 174CW U.S. Supreme Court

Units

4

Prerequisite

Satisfactory completion of the Lower-Division Writing requirement

Restrictions: Political Science majors have the first consideration for enrollment

(Ib)

Overview and analysis of the role played by the U.S. Supreme Court in the American political system. Judicial review, appointment of justices, judicial activism and judicial restraint, process of case selection, court deliberation, land decision-making, impact of Supreme Court decisions.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 175A Art of Trial Law

Units

4

A hands-on introduction to trial advocacy and the Rules of Evidence, modeled after traditional law school evidence courses but focused on practical application. Using a fictional case, students break down the components of a trial.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 179 Special Topics in Public Law

Units

4

Repeatability: May be taken unlimited times as topics vary

Restrictions: Political Science majors have the first consideration for enrollment

Studies in selected areas of public law. Topics addressed vary each quarter.

Offered: Fall 2026 (2 sections)

POL SCI H180D Honors Seminar in Political Science

Units

2-4

Prerequisite

Only open to students in the Political Science Honors Program

Repeatability: May be taken unlimited times

Course for students enrolled in the Honors Program in Political Science.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI H182A Honors Thesis Workshop

Units

4

Restrictions: Open only to students in the Political Science Senior Thesis program

A weekly seminar/workshop to facilitate the exchange of ideas and research strategies among students and to review their progress in writing the thesis.

Offered: Fall 2026 (2 sections)

POL SCI 190 Senior Thesis

Units

4

Repeatability: May be taken for credit 3 times

Thesis research with Political Science faculty.

Offered: Fall 2026 (28 sections)

POL SCI 190W Senior Thesis

Units

4

Prerequisite

Satisfactory completion of the Lower-Division Writing requirement

Repeatability: May be taken for credit 3 times

(Ib)

Thesis research with Political Science faculty.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 198 Directed Group Study

Units

1-4

Repeatability: May be taken unlimited times

Directed group study with Political Science faculty.

Offered: Fall 2026 (6 sections)

POL SCI 199 Independent Study

Units

1-4

Repeatability: May be taken unlimited times

Independent study or research with a Political Science faculty member.

Offered: Fall 2026 (29 sections)

POL SCI 200 Research Design

Units

4

Introduces the fundamentals of research design. The central goal is to train students to conduct and evaluate research design for qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method work. Topics range from case selection to disciplinary standards of replication and transparency.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 210 Colloquium

Units

1

Grading Option: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only

Doctoral training requires more than learning substantive debates and research methods; it also requires students learn professional practices, routines, and expectations. This workshop offers students a mix of professional development, outside speakers, and discussions regarding research with departmental faculty.

Offered: Fall 2026 (1 section)

POL SCI 211A Introduction to Statistics for Political Science I

Units

4

Serves as the foundational introduction to quantitative methods for political science research. Prioritizes developing a deep understanding of statistical concepts, enabling students to intuitively grasp what statistical output means and how to apply it.

Offered: Fall 2026 (1 section)

POL SCI 211B Introduction to Statistics for Political Science II

Units

4

Prerequisite

POL SCI 211A with a minimum grade of B

Provides an overview of fundamental notions and recent advancements in quantitative social science, with focus on how data- driven approaches can be used to better understand the political world and test theories of politics and political behavior.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 211C Introduction to Statistics for Political Science III

Units

4

Prerequisite

POL SCI 211B with a minimum grade of B

Builds on POL SCI 211B, focusing on more advanced statistical techniques essential for research in political science. It aims to deepen understanding of theoretical underpinnings of statistical models and equip students with practical skills to apply methods.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 212 Advanced Qualitative Methods: Analyzing Qualitative Data

Units

4

Same as UPPP 213, MGMTPHD 297K

Introduction to the theory and practice of analyzing qualitative data. Students must have already learned about data collection and research design for qualitative research and must have qualitative data they can analyze.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 212B Ethics Workshop

Units

4

Students find an important question in ethics, search literature to assess topic's importance, post question to be researched, propose method of analysis and type of data, analyze data, and note how their works contribute to knowledge in the field.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 219 Special Topics in Politics and Society

Units

4

Repeatability: May be taken unlimited times as topics vary

Current research in politics and society.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 220 American Politics Field Seminar

Units

4

Restrictions: Political Science majors only

Introduces students to some of the major works, questions, and debates that have defined the subfield in American political behavior and political institutions.

Offered: Fall 2026 (1 section)

POL SCI 221A Public Policy

Units

4

Same as UPPP 221, CRM/LAW C255

Explores different approaches to public policy analysis, the diverse conceptions of the goals and objectives that should be served by policy, and the appropriate role of the policy analyst. Policy consequences are traced to indirect and subtle incentives and disincentives.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 229 Special Topics in American Politics

Units

4

Repeatability: May be taken unlimited times as topics vary

Current research in American Politics. Topics addressed vary each quarter.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 230A Theory Field Seminar: Political Epistemology

Units

4

Focuses on fundamental issues of knowledge in the study of politics, especially interconnections and tensions between politics and knowledge. Counts as the Field Seminar in Political Theory.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 230B Theory Field Seminar: Theories of Textual Interpretation

Units

4

Examination of different theories of textual interpretation, including Straussian, hermeneutical, poststructuralist, feminist, postcolonial, and critical race theories. Key questions include: How does one go about the task of interpreting texts? What makes one interpretation better or more insightful than another?

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 239 Special Topics in Political Theory

Units

4

Repeatability: May be taken unlimited times as topics vary

Current research in political theory. Topics addressed vary each quarter.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 240 International Relations Field Seminar

Units

4

Overview of the major theories guiding research and scholarship in international relations. Focus on major conceptual approaches (realism, neoliberalism, marxism) and levels of analysis (systemic, state, and subnational), as well as on methodological/epistemological debates engulfing the field.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 241E Research Design in International Relations

Units

4

Surveys research design primarily through substantive readings in international relations. The purpose is to familiarize students with choices/dilemmas relevant to IR-specific research. Students at various stages in the graduate program and with different methodological orientations are welcome.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 242 International Political Economy

Units

4

Politics of cross-border flows of money, goods, and services, with an emphasis on how ideas, institutions, interests, and structures shape the global distribution of resources in ways that can variously challenge or reinforce power dynamics and inequality.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 249 Special Topics in International Relations

Units

4

Repeatability: May be taken unlimited times as topics vary

Current research in international relations. Topics addressed vary each quarter.

Offered: Fall 2026 (1 section)

POL SCI 250 Comparative Politics Field Seminar

Units

4

Introduces students to the political science subfield of comparative politics. Readings draw from leading theoretical approaches, including structural, institutional, rational choice, and cultural perspectives, and covers a range of substantive topics, like the state, regimes, identity, and representation.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 252 Introduction to Voting Theory

Units

4

Introduction to voting models. Substantive topics include majority rule, voting methods and their properties, apportionment and proportional representation, agenda manipulation, coalition formation, voting power, political consequences of electoral laws.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 254A Introduction to Game Theory

Units

4

Introduction to non-cooperative games. The prisoner's dilemma, Nash equilibrium, sequential games, subgame perfection. Applications include collective action, agenda-setter models, spatial competition of political parties, models of revolution and arms race.

Not on the Fall 2026 schedule.

POL SCI 259 Special Topics in Comparative Politics

Units

4

Repeatability: May be taken unlimited times as topics vary

Current research in comparative politics. Topics addressed vary each quarter.

Offered: Fall 2026 (1 section)

POL SCI 290 Dissertation Research

Units

1-12

Repeatability: May be taken unlimited times

Dissertation research with Political Science faculty.

Offered: Fall 2026 (26 sections)

POL SCI 299 Independent Study

Units

1-12

Repeatability: May be taken unlimited times

Independent research with Political Science faculty.

Offered: Fall 2026 (26 sections)