POLS Courses
POLS 1111
California Constitution and Government
(1 unit)
Term Typically Offered: F, SP
Basic aspects of California state government. Satisfies GE Area 4A (GE Area D1 for the 2020-26 catalogs) for students who have passed both AP US Government and US History exams, or transfer students who have received advice in writing from the Office of the Registrar to take
POLS 1111. Course offered in hybrid format with classroom-based and online learning. 1 lecture. Formerly POLS 111.
POLS 1112
U.S. and California Government
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: F, SP
2026-28 or later catalog: GE Area 4A
2020-26 catalogs: GE Area D1
Study of United States and California government institutions, politics, issues and political behavior. Constitutional, historical, social, economic, and cultural perspectives. Relationships to social, economic, and political inequality, and unequal treatment of historically marginalized groups and efforts to address unequal treatment. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Fulfills GE Area 4A (GE Area D1 for students on the 2020-26 catalogs). Formerly POLS 112.
POLS 1180
Political Inquiry
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: F, SP
Introduction to the scope, language, concepts and approaches employed in political science and the social sciences. Includes emphasis on basic methodological and research strategies for assessing political issues, and an overview of the subfields of political science. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 180.
POLS 2225
Introduction to International Relations
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: F
Introduction to the basic concepts, issues, and theories surrounding the study of international politics. Changes in the nature of conflict, power, and national interests in the post-Cold War era. Role of states, non-governmental actors, and international organizations in the global arena. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 225.
POLS 2229
Introduction to Comparative Politics
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: F, SP
Introduction to basic concepts, issues, methodology, and theories in comparative politics. Electoral laws and party systems, parliamentary and presidential institutions, socialization, democratization, corporatism and pluralism, religious and cultural impacts on politics. Concepts explored through politics of countries and regions throughout the world. Course may be offered in classroom-based or online format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 229.
POLS 2230
Basic Concepts of Political Thought
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: F, SP
Introduction to political theory. Focuses on concepts: authority, liberty, equality, law, justice, community, rights, citizenship, property, class conflict, and constitutionalism. Readings from selected major thinkers, such as Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Locke, Rousseau, Marx, Nietzsche, Foucault, Wollstonecraft, Fanon, Mills, de Beauvoir, Arendt. Course may be offered in classroom-based or online format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 230.
POLS 2245
Judicial Process
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: F, SP
The nature of the legal system. Areas of study may include: private and public law, civil and criminal law, trial and appellate courts, criminal procedure, judges, attorneys, and juries. Course may be offered in classroom-based or online format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 245.
POLS 2270
Special Topics
(1-3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBD
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Directed group study of special topics. The Class Schedule will list topic selected. Repeatable up to 6 units. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 1 to 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 270.
POLS 2285
Model United Nations
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: F
Prerequisite: One course in POLS.
Introduction to the United Nations and major issues that confront it. Preparation for participation in collegiate Model United Nations conferences. Rules of procedure and debate, preparation of country position papers, and resolution writing. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 285.
POLS 2295
Foundations of Mock Trial
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: F
Prerequisite: Completion of GE Area 4A (GE Area D1 for the 2020-26 catalogs) and consent of instructor.
Introduction to evidence, trial procedure, objections, and witness examination. Preparation for intercollegiate mock trial competitions. Extensive hands-on experience in researching, preparing, and arguing a legal case. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 295.
POLS 3308
Political Violence and Conflict Resolution
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: SPPrerequisite: One of the following: POLS 225, POLS 2225, POLS 229, or POLS 2229. Dynamics of ethnic conflict or civil war, terrorist movements, paramilitary groups, insurgencies, and narco-trafficking. Processes of conflict resolution in divided societies through military responses, negotiated settlements, democracy, and peacekeeping missions. Emphasis on Western bias in conflict resolution. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 308.
POLS 3310
Politics of Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality in the U.S.
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBDUSCPPrerequisite: Completion of GE Area 4A (GE Area D1 for the 2020-26 catalogs). Recommended: POLS 112 or POLS 1112. Social construction of gender, race, class and sexuality as analytical concepts and social locations. Examination of institutional and and systemic power, privilege, and discrimination in U.S. politics. 3 lectures. Fulfills USCP. Formerly POLS 310.
POLS 3315
The U.S. Presidency
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: FPrerequisite: Completion of Area 4A (GE Area D1 for the 2020-26 catalogs). Recommended: POLS 112 or POLS 1112. Nature and problems of contemporary presidential leadership emphasizing the impact of Congress, bureaucracy, public opinion, the courts, non-governmental factors, and the party system upon presidential power. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 315.
POLS 3316
Political Participation
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: F
Prerequisite: Completion of Area 4A (GE Area D1 for the 2020-26 catalogs).
Role of political participation as manifested through social, psychological, and institutional constraints. Analysis of consensus and conflict in present day political participation as reflected in electoral, protest, and related behavior. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 316.
POLS 3317
Campaigns and Elections
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: SPPrerequisite: Completion of Area 4A (GE Area D1 for the 2020-26 catalogs). Recommended: POLS 112 or POLS 1112. Contemporary political campaigns and elections in the United States Campaign management, message development and delivery. Impact of political ideology, mass media, technology, pressure groups on electoral outcomes. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 317.
POLS 3319
U.S. Congress
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBDPrerequisite: Completion of Area 4A (GE Area D1 for the 2020-26 catalogs). Recommended: POLS 112 or POLS 1112. Congressional elections and their effects on congressional actions, including the organization, procedures and consequences of the legislative process in Congress. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 319.
POLS 3321
Comparative Political Culture
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: SPPrerequisite: POLS 229 or POLS 2229. Survey of concepts and theories of political culture. Cultural influences of Christianity, Confucianism, Islam, and contemporary democratic, civic culture on modernization and democratization. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 321.
POLS 3324
International Relations Theory
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBDPrerequisite: One of the following: POLS 225, POLS 2225, POLS 229, or POLS 2229. Theoretical approaches to the study of international political processes and issues, including foreign policies, global political issues, cooperation and conflict. Analyses of selected problems to elucidate differences between realist, liberal, socialist, constructivist, and other theories. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures.
POLS 3325
Global Political Issues
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: F
2026-28 or later: Upper-Div GE Area 4
2020-26 catalogs: Upper-Div GE Area D
Prerequisite: Junior standing; completion of GE Area 1 with grades of C- or better (GE Area A for the 2020-26 catalogs); completion of GE Area 2 with a grade of C- or better (GE Area B4 for the 2020-26 catalogs); and completion of one lower-division course in GE Area 4 (GE Areas D1 or D2 for the 2020-26 catalogs).
Concepts and theories in international relations and contemporary global issues. Application of principles of international relations to political issues and subjects which affect contemporary life. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Fulfills GE Upper-Division 4 (GE Area Upper-Division D for students on the 2020-26 catalogs). Formerly POLS 325.
POLS 3328
Politics of Developing Areas
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBDPrerequisite: One of the following: POLS 225, POLS 2225, POLS 229, or POLS 2229. A detailed survey of the domestic politics of developing countries from a comparative perspective. Assessment of theories of development with appropriate examples taken from particular areas and countries. The Class Schedule will list subtitle selected. Repeatable up to 6 units. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 328.
POLS 3329
Ancient to Modern Political Thought
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBDPrerequisite: POLS 230 or POLS 2230. Political theory from ancient Greece, ancient Rome, the Medieval period through the early modern era. Readings from major authors, such as Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, and others. Course may be offered in classroom-based or online format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 329.
POLS 3330
Modern to Contemporary Political Thought
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBDPrerequisite: POLS 230 or POLS 2230. Theories of political participation and the relationship between the individual and the state as developed in the works of influential thinkers such as Rousseau, Kant, Mill, Marx, Schmitt, Foucault, Rawls and others. Course may be offered in classroom-based or online format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 330.
POLS 3332
World Food Systems
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: SP
2026-28 or later: Upper-Div GE Area 4
2020-26 catalogs: Upper-Div GE Area D
Prerequisite: Junior standing; completion of GE Area 1 with grades of C- or better (GE Area A for the 2020-26 catalogs); completion of GE Area 2 with a grade of C- or better (GE Area B4 for the 2020-26 catalogs); and completion of one lower-division course in GE Area 4 (GE Areas D1 or D2 for the 2020-26 catalogs).
Integrated, interdisciplinary study of the technologies of global food production alongside the political, economic, and social issues related to the application of those technologies. Examination of geopolitical dynamics surrounding global food production and distribution and the environmental and ethical dimensions of agricultural production and organic alternatives discussed. Emphasis on the politics of change. Course may be offered in classroom-based or online format. 3 lectures. Fulfills GE Upper-Division 4 (GE Area Upper-Division D for students on the 2020-26 catalogs).
POLS 3334
Jurisprudence
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBDPrerequisite: Completion of GE Area 4A (GE Area D1 for the 2020-26 catalogs). Recommended: POLS 112 or POLS 1112. Normative and analytical problems in law including nature of law and legal systems, law and morality, feminist and critical race perspectives, crime and punishment, economic analysis of the law, and additional related issues. Course may be offered in classroom-based or online format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 334.
POLS 3337
U.S. and China in the Contemporary World
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBD
2026-28 or later: Upper-Div GE Area 4
2020-26 catalogs: Upper-Div GE Area D
Prerequisite: Junior standing; completion of GE Area 1 with grades of C- or better (GE Area A for the 2020-26 catalogs); completion of GE Area 2 with a grade of C- or better (GE Area B4 for the 2020-26 catalogs); and completion of one lower-division course in GE Area 4 (GE Areas D1 or D2 for the 2020-26 catalogs).
Investigation of China's political history with close attention to past and present United States-China relations. The conflict over Taiwan, territorial disputes in the South China Sea, and ongoing economic cooperation and competition, concerning trade and debt. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Fulfills GE Upper-Division 4 (GE Area Upper-Division D for students on the 2020-26 catalogs). Formerly POLS 337.
POLS 3338
Critical Issues in U.S. Politics
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: SP
2026-28 or later: Upper-Div GE Area 4
2020-26 catalogs: Upper-Div GE Area D
Prerequisite: Junior standing; completion of GE Area 1 with grades of C- or better (GE Area A for the 2020-26 catalogs); completion of GE Area 2 with a grade of C- or better (GE Area B4 for the 2020-26 catalogs); and completion of GE Area 4A (GE Area D1 for the 2020-26 catalogs).
Examination of significant social, legal, economic and political issues in the United States and how the basic institutions of government respond to them. Assessment of policies to address these problems. 3 lectures. Crosslisted as HNRS/
POLS 3338. Fulfills GE Upper-Division 4 (GE Area Upper-Division D for students on the 2020-26 catalogs). Formerly HNRS/POLS 338.
POLS 3339
Authoritarian and Democratic Rule
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBDPrerequisite: One of the following: POLS 225, POLS 2225, POLS 229, or POLS 2229. Comparative examination of governing institutions used throughout the world. Emphasis on the diversity of governmental designs found within authoritarian and democratic regimes, hybrid regimes, and analysis of transitions among these regimes. 3 lectures.
POLS 3340
U.S. Judicial Politics
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBD
Prerequisite: Completion of GE Area 4A (GE Area D1 for the 2020-26 catalogs).
Empirical aspects of the decision making of federal and state courts, with an emphasis on understanding how interactions between the courts and other political factors shape judicial behavior. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 340.
POLS 3341
U.S. Constitutional Law
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: F, SPPrerequisite: Completion of GE Area 4A (GE Area D1 for the 2020-26 catalogs). Recommended: POLS 112 or POLS 1112. United States Supreme Court decisions in the areas of separation of powers, judicial review, commerce clause, federalism, due process. Course may be offered in classroom-based or online format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 341.
POLS 3342
Constitutional Theory
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBDPrerequisite: POLS 245 or POLS 2245. Recommended: One of the following: POLS 112, POLS 1112, POLS 341, or POLS 3341. Competing theories of constitutional interpretation. Emphasis on the conflict between judicial review and democracy, effects of political events on constitutional evolution, merits of different approaches to constructing constitutional meaning. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 342.
POLS 3343
Civil Rights in the U.S.
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: F, SPUSCPPrerequisite: Completion of GE Area 4A (GE Area D1 for the 2020-26 catalogs). Recommended: POLS 112 or POLS 1112. Case-based examination of discrimination based on race, ethnic, gender, and sexual orientation in the United States. Emphasis on the Supreme Court's interpretation of the Equal Protection Clause. Course may be offered in classroom-based or online format. 3 lectures. Fulfills USCP. Formerly POLS 343.
POLS 3344
Civil Liberties
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: F, SPPrerequisite: Completion of GE Area 4A (GE Area D1 for the 2020-26 catalogs). Recommended: POLS 112 or POLS 1112. Role of Supreme Court as interpreter of civil liberties. Freedom of expression and religion, search and seizure, and due process of law. Course may be offered in classroom-based or online format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 344.
POLS 3347
Politics and Popular Culture
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBDPrerequisite: POLS 112 or POLS 1112. Intersection of politics and mass media. How political actors use popular culture to establish issue agendas, convey political concepts, symbolism, rhetoric, and values. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 347.
POLS 3348
Early U.S. Political Thought
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBD
2026-28 or later: Upper-Div GE Area 4
2020-26 catalogs: Upper-Div GE Area D
Prerequisite: Junior standing; completion of GE Area 1 with grades of C- or better (GE Area A for the 2020-26 catalogs); completion of GE Area 2 with a grade of C- or better (GE Area B4 for the 2020-26 catalogs); and completion of one lower-division course in GE Area 4 (GE Areas D1 or D2 for the 2020-26 catalogs).
Central political ideas of the United States' leading political thinkers from the arrival of the Mayflower to the Civil War. Issues include slavery and race; federalism and state power; church/state relations; hierarchy and inequality; and others. Course may be offered in classroom-based or online format. 3 lectures. Fulfills GE Upper-Division 4 (GE Upper-Division D for students on the 2020-26 catalogs). Formerly POLS 348.
POLS 3349
Contemporary U.S. Political Thought
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBD
2026-28 or later: Upper-Div GE Area 4
2020-26 catalogs: Upper-Div GE Area D
Prerequisite: Junior standing; completion of GE Area 1 with grades of C- or better (GE Area A for the 2020-26 catalogs); completion of GE Area 2 with a grade of C- or better (GE Area B4 for the 2020-26 catalogs); and completion of one lower-division course in GE Area 4 (GE Areas D1 or D2 for the 2020-26 catalogs).
Key political ideas of leading thinkers from the United States during the Civil War period to the present. 3 lectures. Fulfills GE Upper-Division 4 (GE Area Upper-Division D for students on the 2020-26 catalogs). Formerly POLS 349.
POLS 3351
Public Policy and Administration
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: FPrerequisite: Completion of GE Area 4A (GE Area D1 for the 2020-26 catalogs). Recommended: POLS 112 or POLS 1112. Systematic and critical approach to evaluating and designing public policies and development of management functions in government. Attention given to intergovernmental relations and case studies in environment, education, health, income assistance and other policy areas. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 351.
POLS 3359
Research Design
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: F, SPCorequisite: STAT 217, STAT 218, or STAT 1110. Methodology and research design used in qualitative and quantitative analysis. Examination of multiple methods used to analyze political phenomena in the political science discipline. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 359.
POLS 3361
Data Analysis in Political Science
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: F, SPPrerequisite: STAT 217, STAT 218, or STAT 1110; and POLS 359 or POLS 3359. Survey of data analysis in political science, up to and including multiple regression. Software instruction to facilitate understanding of quantitative approaches to political research. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 361.
POLS 3375
California Politics
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: FPrerequisite: Completion of GE 4A (GE Area D1 for the 2020-26 catalogs). Recommended: POLS 112 or POLS 1112. Political culture, processes, behavior, institutions, public policy, and distribution of power in California state and substate governments. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 375.
POLS 3380
Religion and Politics in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBD
Prerequisite: Completion of one course in POLS or RELS.
The root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its current manifestation. Possibilities for solutions from the perspectives of religious studies and political science. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Crosslisted as POLS/
RELS 3380. Formerly POLS/RELS 380.
POLS 3381
Peace and War
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: SPPrerequisite: One of the following: POLS 225, POLS 2225, POLS 229, or POLS 2229. Dynamics of interstate peace and war. Military strategy, the military-industrial complex, arms races and disarmament, diplomacy, deterrence and pre-emption, collective security and alliance behavior, civil-military relations, post-conflict reconstruction, and the role of international law and organizations. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 381.
POLS 3382
Comparative Foreign Policy
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBDPrerequisite: One of the following: POLS 225, POLS 2225, POLS 229, or POLS 2229. Systematic analysis of the international and domestic pressures leading different states to take particular foreign policy stances, with appropriate examples taken from different regions of the world. Discussion of contemporary foreign policy issues and responses. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 382.
POLS 3383
Politics of the European Union
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBDPrerequisite: One of the following: POLS 225, POLS 2225, POLS 229, or POLS 2229. History and development of the European Union (EU) in the context of theories of regional integration. Overview of institutional and policy-making machinery of the EU. Current issues facing member states. Impact of EU on U.S. interests and world politics more generally. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 383.
POLS 3384
Comparative Law
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBDPrerequisite: One of the following: POLS 225, POLS 2225, POLS 229, or POLS 2229. Survey of cultural, historic, institutional, and social contexts of legal traditions. Emphasis on comparing western common and code law to Confucian, Islamic, indigenous and other nonwestern societies. Comparative concepts may include rights, judicial power, and rule of law. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 384.
POLS 3385
Model United Nations: Conference Participation
(1-2 units)
Term Typically Offered: SPCR/NCPrerequisite: POLS 285 or POLS 2285. Preparation for participation in collegiate Model United Nations conferences. Rules of procedure and debate, preparation of country position papers, and resolution writing. Discussion of current issues of concern to the United Nations. Field trip required. Repeatable up to 6 units. Credit/No Credit grading only. 1-2 lectures. Formerly POLS 385.
POLS 3386
Government Internship
(2-12 units)
Term Typically Offered: F, SP
CR/NC
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. Recommended: Junior standing.
Supervised work experience in a government or related public agency. Intern will function as an employee subject to all the duties and responsibilities of employees engaged in comparable work. Repeatable up to 12 units. Credit/No Credit grading. Formerly POLS 386.
POLS 3387
Research Internship
(1-6 units)
Term Typically Offered: F, SPCR/NCPrerequisite: POLS 359 or POLS 3359; and POLS 361 or POLS 3361. Faculty-supervised research experience on various topics related to politics and government. Student research assistantship with a faculty member engaging in a research project. Repeatable up to 6 units. Credit/No Credit grading only. Formerly POLS 387.
POLS 3395
Advanced Mock Trial
(2 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBDCR/NCPrerequisite: Consent of instructor. Recommended: POLS 295 or POLS 2295. Advanced preparation for intercollegiate mock trial competitions. Advanced topics and techniques related to evidence, trial procedure, objections, and witnesses. Extensive hands-on practice in arguing a legal case. Field trip required. Credit/No Credit grading only. Repeatable up to 4 units. 2 lectures. Formerly POLS 395.
POLS 4400
Special Problems for Advanced Undergraduates
(1-3 units)
Term Typically Offered: F, SP
Prerequisite: Consent of department chair.
Individual investigation, research, study, or survey of selected problems. Repeatable up to 6 units. Formerly POLS 400.
POLS 4417
Feminist Legal Theory
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBDPrerequisite: Completion of GE Area 4A (GE Area D1 for the 2020-26 catalogs) or graduate standing. Recommended: POLS 112 or POLS 1112. Different approaches to United States feminist legal theory and topics in gender and U.S. law. Concepts covered include employment, domestic violence, sexual harassment, reproductive justice, sex work, rape, and welfare reform. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 seminars. Crosslisted as POLS/
WGQS 4417. Formerly POLS/WGQS 417.
POLS 4419
Social Movements and Political Protest
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBDPrerequisite: Completion of GE Area 4A (GE Area D1 for the 2022-26 catalog) or graduate standing. Recommended: POLS 112 or POLS 1112. Selected social movements in the United States, including abolitionism, feminism, civil rights, the LGBTQ movement, the Christian right, and environmentalism. Political opportunities and constraints that impact collective political action, and effects of grassroots struggles for justice in U.S. politics and society. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 419.
POLS 4420
Contemporary U.S. Foreign Policy
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBDPrerequisite: POLS 225, POLS 2225, POLS 229, or POLS 2229; or graduate standing. Historical influences and theoretical assumptions behind U.S. foreign policy. Examination of American power and influence, examining key concepts from public opinion, business interests, executive privilege, diplomacy, propaganda, trade, and military strategies. Course may be offered in classroom-based or online format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 420.
POLS 4425
Comparative Political Corruption
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBDPrerequisite: POLS 112 or POLS 1112; and POLS 229 or POLS 2229. Examine causes of corruption in the United States and around the world, and the problems corruption causes in different societies. Particular attention placed on role of political and social institutions. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 seminars. Formerly POLS 425.
POLS 4426
International Organizations and Law
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: SPPrerequisite: One of the following: POLS 225, POLS 2225, POLS 229, or POLS 2229; or graduate standing. Analysis of contemporary international legal issues, such as arms control, intellectual property rights within the World Trade Organization, international human rights within the United Nations, and international environmental law. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 426.
POLS 4427
Politics of the Global Economy
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: FPrerequisite: POLS 225 or POLS 2225; and one course in GE Area 4B (GE Area D2 for the 2022-26 catalog). Examination of political conflict and cooperation surrounding globalization processes, such as trade, finance, monetary, and labor structures within the international economy. Case studies drawn from contemporary global controversies. Course may be offered in classroom-based or online format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 427.
POLS 4428
Issues and Topics in Comparative Politics
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBDPrerequisite: POLS 229 or POLS 2229; or graduate standing. Topics and issues in the field of comparative politics. The Class Schedule will list subtitle selected. Repeatable up to 6 units. Not open to students with credit in POLS 568 or
POLS 5568. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 428.
POLS 4429
Issues and Topics in International Relations
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBDPrerequisite: POLS 225 or POLS 2225; or graduate standing. Issues in the field of international relations. The Class Schedule will list subtitle selected. Repeatable up to 6 units. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 429.
POLS 4430
Advanced Topics in Political Theory
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBDPrerequisite: POLS 230 or POLS 2230; or graduate standing. In-depth examination of a theme or thinker in political theory. The Class Schedule will list subtitle selected. Repeatable up to 6 units. Course may be offered in classroom-based or online format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 430.
POLS 4431
Issues in U.S. Politics
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBDPrerequisite: Junior standing and POLS 112 or POLS 1112; or graduate standing. Issues in the field of United States politics. The Class Schedule will list subtitle selected. Repeatable up to 9 units. Not open to students with credit in POLS 568 or
POLS 5568. Course may be offered in classroom-based or online format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 431.
POLS 4435
Political Communication
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: SPPrerequisite: Graduate standing, POLS 112, or POLS 1112. Analysis of concepts, theories and methods from political communications, including media studies, journalism, political science, and public policy. Impact of language and non-verbal communication by various actors on public perception of and behavior in the social, political, and scientific world. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 435.
POLS 4440
California Student Bill Project
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBDPrerequisite: POLS 112 or POLS 1112; and consent of instructor. Recommended: POLS 375 or POLS 3375. Experiential, project-based course where students will draft a bill and work to move it through the California Legislature toward becoming law. Field trip may be required. Repeatable up to 6 units. 3 seminars. Formerly POLS 440.
POLS 4445
Voting Rights and Representation
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBDUSCPPrerequisite: POLS 112 or POLS 1112. Philosophical, legal, and behavioral analysis of electoral representation. The 1965 Voting Rights Act, vote dilution, racial and partisan discrimination, voter identification and voter suppression. Similarities and differences across and within racial/ethnic/political groups in the United States with regards to effective representation. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Fulfills USCP. Formerly POLS 445.
POLS 4451
Technology and Public Policy
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: FPrerequisite: Completion of GE Area 4A (GE Area D1 for the 2020-26 catalogs) or graduate standing. Recommended: POLS 112 or POLS 1112. Exploration of the political influences shaping modern science and technology policy. Addresses institutional sources of technological innovation, such as public-private partnerships, military R & D, democratic governance, and competitiveness among industrialized nations. Course may be offered in classroom-based or online format. 3 seminars. Formerly POLS 451.
POLS 4452
Technology and International Development
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: FPrerequisite: One of the following: completion of GE Area 4B (GE Area D2 for the 2020-26 catalogs), POLS 225, POLS 2225, POLS 229, or POLS 2229; or graduate standing. Examines potential for advanced technologies to support international development from political and social science perspective. Reviews historical efforts toward and socio-economic contexts of global development. Analyzes current applications of advanced technology for sustainable development, democracy-building, education, healthcare, and policy reform. Course may be offered in classroom-based or online format. 3 seminars. Formerly POLS 452.
POLS 4455
Grant Writing
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: SP
Prerequisite: Junior standing and completion of GE Area 1 with grades of C- or better (GE Area A for the 2020-26 catalogs); or graduate standing.
Instruction on writing grants, evaluating grant proposals, and in researching and cultivating funding sources while considering organizational mission and program development. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 455.
POLS 4457
U.S. Reproductive Politics
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBDPrerequisite: Completion of GE Area 4A (GE Area D1 for the 2020-26 catalogs). Recommended: POLS 112 or POLS 1112. Multi-disciplinary approach to the study of the law and politics of reproduction in the United States. Histories of reproductive regulation, abortion law and politics, technology and fertility, and social policy and reproductive control. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 seminars. Crosslisted as POLS/
WGQS 4457. Formerly POLS/WGQS 457.
POLS 4458
Urban Politics
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBDPrerequisite: POLS 112 or POLS 1112. Theoretical approaches, concepts, and politics associated with urban governments. Urban power structures, the relationship between urban society and politics, and inter-governmental relations. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 471.
POLS 4459
The Politics of Poverty
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: FPrerequisite: Completion of GE Area 4A (GE Area D1 for the 2020-26 catalogs) or graduate standing. Recommended: POLS 112 or POLS 1112. Analysis of the politics and policies associated with the U.S. welfare state, focusing on welfare and homelessness policies. Exploration of the causes of poverty and how social policy responds to poverty. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 459.
POLS 4461
Senior Project I
(2 units)
Term Typically Offered: F, SPPrerequisite: Senior standing; POLS 359 or POLS 3359; and POLS 361 or POLS 3361. Selection and development of a project under faculty supervision. Project results presented in a formal paper. Formerly POLS 461.
POLS 4462
Senior Project II
(2 units)
Term Typically Offered: F, SPPrerequisite: POLS 461 or POLS 4461. Completion of a project under faculty supervision. Project results presented in a formal paper. Formerly POLS 462.
POLS 4470
Special Advanced Topics
(1-3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBDPrerequisite: Junior standing and POLS 112 or POLS 1112; or graduate standing; and consent of instructor. Directed courses on timely issues and special topics for advanced students. The Class Schedule will list topic selected. Repeatable up to 9 units. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 1 to 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 470.
POLS 5500
Independent Study
(1-3 units)
Term Typically Offered: F, SP
Prerequisite: Admission into the Master's of Public Policy with minimum of 12 units completed and consent of instructor.
Individual research, studies, or surveys under the supervision of the faculty. Repeatable up to 3 units. Formerly POLS 500.
POLS 5510
Research Design
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: F
Prerequisite: Graduate standing.
Approaches to policy research, question development, hypothesis framing, literature reviews, sampling, measurement, and approaches to analysis. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 510.
POLS 5515
Introduction to Public Policy
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: F
Prerequisite: Graduate standing.
Theoretical and practical approaches to public policy making and contemporary policy issues such as markets, regulation, criminal justice, housing, environment, poverty, health care, and education. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 515.
POLS 5518
Public Policy Analysis and Evaluation
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBD
Prerequisite: Graduate standing.
Contextual, problem-oriented analysis of the societal problems and possible public policy solutions to them. Development and use of concepts and tools related to the practice of policy analysis and program evaluation. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 518.
POLS 5540
Leadership and Management in Public Policy
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: SP
Prerequisite: Graduate standing.
An exploration of the changing notion of leadership in public policy. Focus on understanding and developing leadership capacity within the complex inter-organizational structure in which the student works. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 seminars. Formerly POLS 540.
POLS 5550
Regulatory and Economic Policy
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBD
Prerequisite: Graduate standing.
Theories of regulatory and economic policy, including markets and market failures, politics of economic policy, and applications of government regulatory and economic policy. Skills and experience necessary to answer social and economic questions. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 seminars. Formerly POLS 550.
POLS 5560
Quantitative Methods
(4 units)
Term Typically Offered: SP
Prerequisite: Graduate standing.
Social science methodology focusing on research design and quantitative methods used in policy and political research, such as multiple regression, non-linear techniques, diagnostics and time series. Advanced computer packages used to analyze challenging data sets. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 4 lectures.
POLS 5568
Issues in Public Policy
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBDPrerequisite: POLS 515 or POLS 5515. Advanced topics applicable to public policy problems. The Class Schedule will list subtitle selected. Repeatable up to 6 units. Not open to students with credit in POLS 428,
POLS 4428, POLS 431, or
POLS 4431. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 seminars. Formerly POLS 568.
POLS 5570
Special Advanced Topics
(1-3 units)
Term Typically Offered: TBD
Prerequisite: Graduate standing and consent of instructor.
Directed group study of special advanced topics for graduate students. The Class Schedule will list topic selected. Repeatable up to 6 units. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 1 to 3 lectures. Formerly POLS 570.
POLS 5575
Public Policy Practicum
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: SPPrerequisite: One of the following: POLS 351, POLS 3351, POLS 515, or POLS 5515. Experiential, project-based course where students collaborate with a community client to address pressing, policy-relevant challenges. Field trip may be required. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 seminars.
POLS 5586
Policy Internship
(3-6 units)
Term Typically Offered: F, SP
CR/NC
Prerequisite: Completion of 9 units in the Master of Public Policy Program, and consent of instructor.
Supervised work experience in a government or related public agency. Intern will function as an employee engaged in comparable work. Repeatable up to 6 units. Credit/No Credit grading only. Formerly POLS 586.
POLS 5597
Directed Readings for MPP Comprehensive Examinations
(1 unit)
Directed readings and preparation for Master of Public Policy (MPP) comprehensive exams. Regular consultation between advisor and student. Credit/No Credit grading only. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 1 seminar. Formerly POLS 595.
POLS 5598
Project
(3 units)
Term Typically Offered: FPrerequisite: POLS 560 or POLS 5560. Seminar designed as a culminating component to the Master of Public Policy Program. Individual research under the supervision of the faculty within a small discussion environment, leading to a graduate project or paper that demonstrates practical mastery of the MPP curriculum. Repeatable up to 6 units. Course may be offered in classroom-based, online, or hybrid format. 3 seminars. Formerly POLS 590.
