Roadmap Transfer - 2 year: Political Science, B.A.

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Year 1 - 31 units

Fall Junior - 15 units

POLS 300 - Political Science Research Methods Units: 3
Take POLS 300 before taking POLS 310 and POLS 499
Student’s Choice of Major Elective course . Units: 3
Student’s Choice of HIST - US History course. Units: 3
Choose one: HIST 270, 271, 272, 275, or CHS 350. Take this course if still needed. Otherwise, take a Free Elective.
Student’s Choice of Free Elective course. Units: 3
Needed for 120 Unit Requirement - Can be any class, any major, any level 100-499 that you have not earned previous credit for.
Complete one from the following:
POLS 320 - Public Administration: Writing as Public Service Units: 3
Starting Fall ‘24, this course will be offered in Spring only.
GLST 300 - Writing in Global Studies: Communicating Global Challenges and Change Units: 3
Starting Fall ‘24, this course will be offered in Fall only.
Recommendations/Notes
- This two-year roadmap assumes that all GE’s and Lower Division Major Requirements have been completed.
- Schedule an appointment with an Academic Advisor in the Academic Advising Center
- Attend Major Fair (First Week of October)
- Review faculty biographies and publications. Connect with at least one faculty member working in area of interest to the student.
- Attend at least one research presentation or panel on campus (or off).
- Make appointment to meet with chair or faculty advisor to discuss research interests
- Create or update LinkedIn Profile. Be certain to connect with faculty and other professionals working in areas of interest.

Spring Junior - 16 units

POLS 310 - Statistical Applications in Political Science Units: 4
Take POLS 300 before POLS 310
Student’s Choice of Major Elective course . Units: 3
UDGE C - Student’s Choice of UDGE-C: Arts and Humanities course - 3 unit Units: 3
Student’s Choice of Free Elective course. Units: 3
Needed for 120 Unit Requirement - Can be any class, any major, any level 100-499 that you have not earned previous credit for.
Complete one from the following:
POLS 301 - Political Theory Units: 3
POLS 307 - Contemporary Political Theory Units: 3
POLS 308 - Modern Political Theory Units: 3
Recommendations/Notes
- This two-year roadmap assumes that all GE’s and Lower Division Major Requirements have been completed.
- Meet with Graduate Studies Center
- Meet with Career Development & Alumni Engagement
- Join a disciplinary association such as: the American Political Science Association; the Western Political Science Association; the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management; or other organization recommended by a faculty member working in an area of interest.
- Meet with the Career Development Services and the Graduate Studies personnel to discuss long term plans
- Register and create a profile with CalCareers (www.calcareers.ca.gov) and USAJOBS (www.usajobs.gov)
- Investigate and consider participating in campus undergraduate research programs such as Summer SURF.
- Consider enrolling in elective research credits (POLS 494) during senior year. Contact faculty about parameters for participation
- Explore possible graduate degrees and select target programs (MPA, law school, etc.)

Year 2 - 29 units

Fall Senior - 15 units

POLS 306 - The Politics of Race and Ethnicity Units: 3
Can fulfill UDGE-D, only if the lower division GE:D requirement is fulfilled by two different disciplines. Cannot fulfill GE:D & UDGE-D with all POLS classes Meets Multicultural Perspectives.
Student’s Choice of Major Elective. Units: 3
Student’s Choice of Major Elective. Units: 3
UDGE B - Student’s Choice of UDGE-B: Scientific Inquiry and Quantitative Reasoning course - 3 units Units: 3
UDGE D - Student’s Choice of UDGE-D: Social Sciences course - 3 unit Units: 3
Recommendations/Notes
- Apply for Graduation (Priority deadline - October 1st)
- Meet with Academic Advisor for Grad Check
- Meet with Graduate Studies Center or Career Development Services
- Update CV and resume. Meet with Career Counselor for feedback.
- Make preparations for and complete any standardized examinations relevant to long term plans (e.g. GRE or LSAT)
- Meet with faculty mentor to discuss plans and letters of recommendations
- Apply for graduate school (if applicable)
- Update LinkedIn Profile. Be certain to connect with faculty and other professionals working in areas of interest.

Spring Senior - 14 units

POLS 499 - Capstone Units: 3
Take POLS 300 and 310 before POLS 499
Student’s Choice of Major Elective. Units: 3
Student’s Choice of Free Elective course. Units: 3
Needed for 120 Unit Requirement - Can be any class, any major, any level 100-499 that you have not earned previous credit for.
Student’s Choice of Free Elective course. Units: 3
Needed for 120 Unit Requirement - Can be any class, any major, any level 100-499 that you have not earned previous credit for.
GE C2 - Student’s Choice of C2 Humanities: Languages Other than English course - 3 units Units: 3
If completed prior to transfer, take free elective. Also, double-counts with C2. Take this course if still needed. Otherwise, take a Free Elective.
Recommendations/Notes
- Attend Grad Fest
- Complete graduation check with Advising and Faculty advisor
- Complete Capstone
- Complete an Internship
- Finalize graduate school applications or begin applying for positions
- Apply to present at SAGE or other student research conference
- Update information on CalCareers (www.calcareers.ca.gov) and USAJOBS (www.usajobs.gov)