Political Science

Effective: Fall 2024
Associate in Arts for Transfer Program Map
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This program map from the 2024-2025 catalog year represents one possible pathway to complete this program. Your pathway may vary depending on your transfer plans and also previous college credit, including AP Test scores, concurrent enrollment courses and high school articulated courses.

I'm ready to get started. What do I do next?

  1. Review this program map to get an overview of the required courses
  2. Meet with a counselor to develop your customized student education plan www.chabotcollege.edu/counseling
  3. Use DegreeWorks, an online student education planning tool, to track your progress toward graduation www.chabotcollege.edu / admissions / degreeworks
Program Description

Students will gain deeper knowledge and understanding of one of the most powerful forces operating on people, communities, and corporations today: government and politics in the USA and around the world. Students will learn how political power impacts individuals and societies and gain the tools needed to create change in their communities, in the nation, and in the world as well as a sophisticated understanding of politics is essential in law, business, government, and beyond.


What can I do with this major?

Government actions impact business, finance, law, education, the environment, social services, health care, public safety, international affairs, human rights, and countless other areas of society. For this reason, the Political Science degree is highly versatile and allows majors to work in a broad array of fields including (but not limited to):

  1. Law (all areas of law: Political Science is the most common undergraduate major for law school students);
  2.  Government (i.e. working at City Hall, the State Capitol, the Congress, running for office, staff member in a politician’s office)
  3. Business (i.e. corporate government relations, corporate public relations, corporate law)
  4. Public Policy (i.e. working in State or Federal agencies designing governmental programs in education, health care, environmental protection, immigration, and numerous other areas)
  5. Non-Profit Advocacy and Research (i.e. working for a non-profit organization that advocates for and conducts research on issues such as children, education, immigrants, veterans, consumer protections, internet privacy, health care; conducting research and designing policy at a think tank
  6.  International Affairs (i.e. working at US Embassies abroad, the United Nations, Greenpeace, Human Rights Campaign)
  7. Journalism (i.e. covering local, state, national and international politics for newspapers, magazines, podcasts, blogs)
  8. Campaign Work (i.e. developing campaign strategy, doing polling research, managing a campaign’s messaging, designing campaign literature and internet presence, raising funds for campaigns, managing campaigns, being a campaign spokesperson)
  9. Activism (i.e. working for an organization that mobilizes individuals and community groups to push local, state, and national government to implement changes in government programs and policies
  10. 10) Teaching (i.e. Social Studies teachers in K-12, Community College professors of Political Science, University professors of Political Science, Public Administration, and Public Policy).

*Fun fact: Political Science majors enjoy the highest average mid-career salary of all majors that are not STEM-related.


Learning and Career Pathway
  • Social Sciences, Humanities & Education

Icon Key

= Critical Course = Prerequisite for Other Courses = Prerequisite Required = Required for Major GE = General Education

Semester 1

14 units

Required Core Course #1 (POSC 1 recommended)

3 units
Select one course from Required Core Course list below
See the full list: (Click here)

Math: Choose PSY 5 or MTH 43 or BUS 19

4 units
Counts as a List A requirement

PSY 5
Introductory Statistics for the Behavioral and Social Sciences

4 units
Statistics as applied to the behavioral and social sciences. Applications using data from disciplines including psychology, social sciences, business, life science, health science, and education. The use of probability techniques, hypothesis testing, and predictive techniques to facilitate decision-making. Topics include: descriptive and inferential statistics; probability and sampling distributions; correlation and linear regression; analysis of variance (ANOVA), chi-square and t-tests; and application of technology for statistical analysis including the interpretation of the relevance of the statistical findings.
Course Details:
  1. Strongly Recommended: ENGL 1A
  2. Prerequisite: MTH 53
    3. or
  3. Prerequisite: MTH 53B
    4. or
  4. Prerequisite: MTH 54
    5. or
  5. Prerequisite: MTH 54L
    6. or
  6. Prerequisite: MTH 55
    7. or
  7. Prerequisite: MTH 55B
    8. or
  8. Prerequisite: MTH 55L
  • Transfers to CSU
    • or

    BUS 19
    Business Statistics

    4 units
    Introduction to concepts, methods and models employed in reasoning with numbers and in presenting cogent statistical arguments or solutions in the business field. Key topics include estimating confidence intervals, hypotheses testing, development of projections for inferential purposes in the business field, probability distributions (poisson, binomial, normal, student-t, chi-sq, F-distribution), Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), estimating simple and multiple regressions.
    Course Details:
    1. Prerequisite: MTH 53
      2. or
    2. Prerequisite: MTH 53B
      3. or
    3. Prerequisite: MTH 54
      4. or
    4. Prerequisite: MTH 54L
      5. or
    5. Prerequisite: MTH 55
      6. or
    6. Prerequisite: MTH 55B
      7. or
    7. Prerequisite: MTH 55L
      8. or
  • Transfers to CSU
    • or

    MTH 43
    Introduction to Probability and Statistics

    4 units
    Descriptive statistics, including measures of central tendency and dispersion; elements of probability; tests of statistical hypotheses (one and two populations); correlation and regression; ANOVA; applications in various fields. Introduction to the use of computer software package to complete both descriptive and inferential statistics problems. May not receive credit if Mathematics 35 has been completed.

    English 1- Critical Reading and Composition

    4 units
    GE

    General Education Course- see a counselor to choose the appropriate general education pattern and general ed course option for this term.

    3 units
    GE

    Semester 2

    16 units

    Required Core Course #2

    3 units
    Select one course from Required Core Course list below
    See the full list: (Click here)

    List B course: POSC 12 is strongly recommended.

    3 units
    Choose one course from list below.
    See the full list: (Click here)
    Terms Offered: Fall, Spring

    General Education Course- see a counselor to choose the appropriate general education pattern and general ed course option for this term.

    4 units
    GE

    General Education Course- see a counselor to choose the appropriate general education pattern and general ed course option for this term.

    3 units
    GE

    General Education Course- see a counselor to choose the appropriate general education pattern and general ed course option for this term.

    3 units
    GE

    Semester 3

    15 units

    List A Course: POSC 35 is strongly recommended.

    3 units
    Select one course from List B below.
    See the full list: (Click here)
    Terms Offered: Spring, Fall

    General Education Course- see a counselor to choose the appropriate general education pattern and general ed course option for this term.

    3 units
    GE

    General Education Course- see a counselor to choose the appropriate general education pattern and general ed course option for this term.

    3 units
    GE

    General Education Course- see a counselor to choose the appropriate general education pattern and general ed course option for this term.

    3 units
    GE

    Elective Course: Please see a counselor to choose the appropriate course.

    3 units

    Semester 4

    15 units

    Required Core Course #3

    3 units
    Select one course from Required Core Course list below
    See the full list: (Click here)

    General Education Course- see a counselor to choose the appropriate general education pattern and general ed course option for this term.

    3 units
    GE
    Choose one course from List B below
    See the full list: (Click here)

    General Education Course- see a counselor to choose the appropriate general education pattern and general ed course option for this term.

    3 units
    GE

    General Education Course- see a counselor to choose the appropriate general education pattern and general ed course option for this term.

    3 units
    GE

    Elective- see a counselor to choose a course that counts for elective units (can be any credit course).

    3 units

    Required Core

    Select three of the courses from the list of Required Core Courses below:

    POSC 1
    Introduction to American Government

    Introduction to the historical development and current structure of American political ideals and institutions, including the Federal and California Constitutions, civil liberties and civil rights, political parties, campaigns and elections, and citizenship duties.
    Course Details:
    1. Strongly Recommended: ENGL 1
    Terms Offered: Spring, Fall, Summer

    POSC 20
    Comparative Politics

    Introduces the diverse domestic politics of countries around the world. The politics and problems in democratic, semi-democratic, and authoritarian states will be covered through an investigation of institutions, identity (race, gender, class, nationalism, religion, culture), social movements, political economy, political violence, and globalization. Students will be introduced to the diverse decision-making regimes that exist throughout the globe, such as parliamentary, semi-presidential, presidential, unitary, federal, and confederal systems.
    Course Details:
    1. Strongly Recommended: POSC 1
      2. and
    2. Strongly Recommended: ENGL 1
    Terms Offered: Summer, Spring

    POSC 25
    Introduction to Political Theory

    An introduction to the study of political theory. Course introduces the fundamental questions of ethics and politics by analyzing works of political philosophy from antiquity to the present. Emphasizes core themes of political theory, such as justice, power, rights, liberty, and citizenship, and differing conceptions of the state. Students will learn how to interpret, analyze, and critically evaluate political theory texts in order to apply political theory to historical and current political realities.
    Course Details:
    1. Strongly Recommended: ENGL 1
  • Transfers to CSU
    • Terms Offered: Spring, Summer

    POSC 30
    International Relations

    Introduction to the basic concepts, theories, and principles of international relations. Course will examine contemporary world affairs including the importance of nationalism, imperialism, ideology, alliance systems, development, and the nature of international organizations.
    Course Details:
  • Transfers to UC
    • Terms Offered: Spring, Fall

    List A

    Select two courses  from the list below:

    Any Required Core course not already selected

    POSC 35
    Politics of Race and Gender: History, Governance, and Public Policy

    3 units
    An overview of the historical and contemporary political issues and concerns affecting the status and power of groups that have traditionally been politically and socially disadvantaged in the United States. These groups include, but are not limited to, African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Native Americans, Latinx, LGBT, and Women. The political histories of each group from their arrival in the territory today known as the United States through modern times will be discussed. Students will analyze how group identity impacts the processes of democratic governance. Public policy issues (i.e. education, health, criminal justice) will be considered in light of their impact upon marginalized groups.
    Course Details:
    1. Strongly Recommended: POSC 1
      2. or
    2. Strongly Recommended: ES 1

    Statistics Course (Choose one)

    4 units

    MTH 43
    Introduction to Probability and Statistics

    4 units
    Descriptive statistics, including measures of central tendency and dispersion; elements of probability; tests of statistical hypotheses (one and two populations); correlation and regression; ANOVA; applications in various fields. Introduction to the use of computer software package to complete both descriptive and inferential statistics problems. May not receive credit if Mathematics 35 has been completed.
    or

    PSY 5
    Introductory Statistics for the Behavioral and Social Sciences

    4 units
    Statistics as applied to the behavioral and social sciences. Applications using data from disciplines including psychology, social sciences, business, life science, health science, and education. The use of probability techniques, hypothesis testing, and predictive techniques to facilitate decision-making. Topics include: descriptive and inferential statistics; probability and sampling distributions; correlation and linear regression; analysis of variance (ANOVA), chi-square and t-tests; and application of technology for statistical analysis including the interpretation of the relevance of the statistical findings.
    Course Details:
    1. Strongly Recommended: ENGL 1A
    2. Prerequisite: MTH 53
      3. or
    3. Prerequisite: MTH 53B
      4. or
    4. Prerequisite: MTH 54
      5. or
    5. Prerequisite: MTH 54L
      6. or
    6. Prerequisite: MTH 55
      7. or
    7. Prerequisite: MTH 55B
      8. or
    8. Prerequisite: MTH 55L
  • Transfers to CSU
    • or

    BUS 19
    Business Statistics

    4 units
    Introduction to concepts, methods and models employed in reasoning with numbers and in presenting cogent statistical arguments or solutions in the business field. Key topics include estimating confidence intervals, hypotheses testing, development of projections for inferential purposes in the business field, probability distributions (poisson, binomial, normal, student-t, chi-sq, F-distribution), Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), estimating simple and multiple regressions.
    Course Details:
    1. Prerequisite: MTH 53
      2. or
    2. Prerequisite: MTH 53B
      3. or
    3. Prerequisite: MTH 54
      4. or
    4. Prerequisite: MTH 54L
      5. or
    5. Prerequisite: MTH 55
      6. or
    6. Prerequisite: MTH 55B
      7. or
    7. Prerequisite: MTH 55L
      8. or
  • Transfers to CSU

    • List B

    Any Required Core or List A course not already selected

    POSC 12
    Introduction to California State and Local Government

    3 units
    Introduction to the politics of California, both on the state and local levels. Students will learn how politics works locally and in Sacramento, and how to effectively enact change in politics and public policy. Emphasis on current issues and the influences of historical, geographical, political, economic and social factors on the political realities in California today.
    Course Details:
    1. Strongly Recommended: POSC 1
      2. and
    2. Strongly Recommended: ENGL 1

    ECN 1
    Principles of Microeconomics

    3 units
    Economic analysis of market systems, price theory, including supply and demand analysis, marginal utility, elasticity, cost and revenue concepts, perfect and imperfect competition, international trade theory, pricing of the factors of production, poverty and income inequalities.
    Course Details:
    1. Strongly Recommended: ENGL C1000
    2. Prerequisite: MTH 53
    3. Prerequisite: MTH 53B
  • Transfers to CSU

    • ECN 2
    Principles of Macroeconomics

    3 units
    Economic analysis of the theory of income determination, including national income analysis, business cycles, the consumption function, the multiplier, fiscal policy, monetary policy, money and banking, the public debt, economic growth and development, comparative economic systems and international trade.
    Course Details:
    1. Strongly Recommended: ENGL C1000
    2. Prerequisite: MTH 53
      3. or
    3. Prerequisite: MTH 53B
      4. or
  • Transfers to CSU

    • ES 1
    Introduction to Ethnic Studies

    3 units
    An introduction to Ethnic Studies: an interdisciplinary and comparative study of race and ethnicity with a special focus on four historically defined racialized core groups: Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Latina/o/x/e Americans. The course will review core concepts and frameworks from Ethnic Studies disciplines, such as racism, white supremacy, settler colonialism, imperialism, self-determination, liberation, decolonization, intersectionality, abolition, anti-racism, and more. Students will apply theories and knowledge produced by communities of color and typically studied in: African American/Black Studies, American Indian/Native American Studies, Asian American and Pacific Islander Studies, and Chicana/o/x/e and Latina/o/x/e Studies. The course will also examine examples of struggle, solidarity and resistance while engaging in current justice and equity movements focused on dismantling white supremacy, colonialism, imperialism, and other forms of oppression targeting communities of color.
    Course Details:
  • Transfers to CSU

    • Any CSU Transferrable Political Science course

    Total Units: 60 units
    This program map is not a guarantee of course availability or financial aid applicability.