# Political Science (POLS) courses

Allan Hancock College · 2026-2027 Catalog · 8 courses

Source: https://hancockcollege.curriqunet.com/catalog/iq/28544/28867/31206

"Offered" lists sections in this catalog year's class schedules: Summer 2026, Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027.

### POLS 101 — Introduction to Political Science

- **Units:** 3
- **Advisory:** Eligibility for ENGL C1000
- **C-ID:** POLS 150
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Summer 2026, 1 section (/c/allan-hancock-college/schedule/summer-2026/pols.md); Fall 2026, 2 sections (/c/allan-hancock-college/schedule/fall-2026/pols.md); Spring 2027, 2 sections (/c/allan-hancock-college/schedule/spring-2027/pols.md)
- Course Offered: Spring, Fall
- Grading Method: Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass

This is an introductory course examining a variety of approaches to the study of political science with particular emphasis on the American political system in comparative perspective. Topics discussed include nature of politics, comparative politics, selected political philosophers, principles of government, methods used by political scientists, and American government. This course satisfies part of the history and government requirements for the California State Colleges and Universities and Allan Hancock College. Students receiving credit must demonstrate satisfactory knowledge about national and state government.

### POLS 104 — Introduction to International Relations

- **Units:** 3
- **Advisory:** ENGL C1000 and POLS C1000
- **C-ID:** POLS 140
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Spring 2027, 1 section (/c/allan-hancock-college/schedule/spring-2027/pols.md)
- Course Offered: Spring, Fall
- Grading Method: Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass

A study of the forces and conditions involved in the actions, interactions and relations of nations and organizations within the international system. Emphasis is placed on the tools of analysis for understanding and predicting behavior on the international stage.

### POLS 105 — Comparative Politics

- **Units:** 3
- **Advisory:** ENGL C1000 and POLS C1000
- **C-ID:** POLS 130
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/allan-hancock-college/schedule/fall-2026/pols.md)
- Course Offered: Fall
- Grading Method: Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass

This course is an introduction to the comparative analysis of contemporary governmental institutions, political processes and their environments. The survey includes current political institutions, citizen participation, political problems, politics, and policies within these systems.

### POLS 106 — California Government and Politics

- **Units:** 1
- **Advisory:** ENGL 514
- **Transfers to:** CSU
- **Offered:** not on the Summer 2026, Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules
- Course Offered: Spring
- Grading Method: Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass

Introduction to the structure and function of California state government. Satisfies California state and local government requirement for students who have taken Federal, State, and Local Government without a California component or who receive Advanced Placement credit for American Government.

### POLS 110 — Political Theory

- **Units:** 3
- **C-ID:** POLS 120
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/allan-hancock-college/schedule/fall-2026/pols.md)
- Course Offered: Spring, Spring, Spring, Fall, Fall, Fall
- Grading Method: Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass

Introduction to political theory. Focuses on concepts like: authority, liberty, equality, law, justice, community, rights, citizenship, property, class conflict, and constitutionalism. Readings from major thinkers, such as Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas, Machiavelli, Locke, Hobbes, Rousseau, Marx, Nietzsche, Rawls, and others.

### POLS 189 — Independent Projects-Honors

- **Units:** 2
- **Prerequisite:** program application
- **Transfers to:** CSU
- **Offered:** not on the Summer 2026, Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules
- Grading Method: Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass

Honors courses designed to be an enriching experience associated with a specific general education course. The course material will either be a more in depth coverage of the material in the GE course, or will be more advanced material related to the course topics.

### POLS 199A — Special Topics in Political Science

- **Units:** 1
- **Advisory:** ENGL 514
- **C-ID:** N/A
- **Transfers to:** CSU
- **Offered:** not on the Summer 2026, Fall 2026, Winter 2027, Spring 2027 schedules
- Grading Method: Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass

This course will examine the campaigns, issues, electoral process and candidates for the United States Presidential election.

### POLS C1000 — American Government and Politics

- **Units:** 3
- **Advisory:** Eligibility for ENG 101
- **C-ID:** POLS 110
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Summer 2026, 5 sections (/c/allan-hancock-college/schedule/summer-2026/pols.md); Fall 2026, 12 sections (/c/allan-hancock-college/schedule/fall-2026/pols.md); Winter 2027, 4 sections (/c/allan-hancock-college/schedule/winter-2027/pols.md); Spring 2027, 9 sections (/c/allan-hancock-college/schedule/spring-2027/pols.md)
- Course Offered: Spring, Fall
- Grading Method: Letter Grade or Pass/No Pass

This course is an introduction to government and politics in the United States and California. Students examine the constitutions, structure, and operation of governing institutions, civil liberties and civil rights, political behaviors, political issues, and public policy using political science theory and methodology. A study of American government at the national, state, and local levels. Governmental principles, institutions, and their historical development are examined. This course satisfies part of the history and government requirements for the California State Colleges and Universities, University of California, Allan Hancock College, and many private colleges. (F,S). The course is not open to students who received credit for POLS 103.