Political Science

Summary

The Associate in Arts in Political Science for Transfer is intended for students who plan to complete a bachelor’s degree in Political Science or a related major in the California State University (CSU) system. It is accepted by some but not all CSU campuses. Students who complete this degree and transfer to a participating CSU campus will be required to complete no more than 60 units after transfer to earn a bachelor’s degree. It may not be appropriate preparation for students transferring to a CSU campus that does not accept the degree.

NOTE: Students intending to transfer into this major at a CSU should consult with a counselor and visit ASSIST for guidance on appropriate transfer coursework.

Award Notes: The following is required for all AA-T or AS-T degrees:

• Completion of 60 semester units that are eligible for transfer to the California State University
• Completion of a minimum of 18 semester units in an “AA-T” or “AS-T” major.
• Minimum grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in all CSU-transferable coursework. While a minimum of 2.0 is required for admission, some CSU campuses and majors may require a higher GPA. Please see a counselor for more information.
• Minimum grade of “C” or “P” or better for each course in the major. Students should review the Pass/No Pass acceptance policy of the transfer institution prior to requesting this grade option.
• Certified completion of the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC) pattern.

Learning Outcome(s): Students who complete the Political Science Program will be able to:

1. Think critically in reading, writing, and/or speaking about topics in Political Science, thereby identifying problems, theses, arguments, evidence and conclusions.
2. Write or speak about topics in Political Science, thereby addressing problems, formulating theses, making arguments, analyzing and weighing evidence, and deriving conclusions.
3. Demonstrate an ability to understand one’s role in society, take responsibility for one’s own actions, and make ethical decisions in complex situations.
4. Articulate similarities and contrasts among cultures, times, and environments, demonstrating an understanding of cultural pluralism.

Requirements