Program Overview

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Undergraduate Program

The Department of Political Science offers a general political science major along with eight areas of concentration:

• American politics
• Comparative politics
• Data analytics
• International relations
• Political theory
• Public law
• Public policy
• Race, ethnicity, and politics The department also offers two minors.

Program Details

The heart of the UCSD campus belongs to its eight undergraduate colleges:

• Eleanor Roosevelt
• Earl Warren
• Thurgood Marshall
• John Muir
• Revelle
• Sixth
• Seventh
• Eighth College Each of these colleges has a unique educational philosophy and different graduation requirements. Each faculty member is formally affiliated with one of these colleges. Departmental courses are open to students of all colleges.

Major and Minor Requirements

The department offers a general political science major and two minors. The major requirements include:

• Completion of a minimum of 12 upper-division courses in political science
• A minimum GPA of 2.0 in all upper-division courses
• Completion of a senior thesis or research paper

Accelerated Pathway to USD Law Program

The department offers an accelerated pathway to the University of San Diego Law Program. This program allows students to complete their undergraduate degree and law degree in six years.

Political Science Courses

The department offers a wide range of courses in political science, including:

• Introduction to American Politics
• Introduction to Comparative Politics
• Introduction to International Relations
• Introduction to Political Theory
• Introduction to Public Law
• Introduction to Public Policy

Research Opportunities

The department offers research opportunities for undergraduate students, including:

• Research assistantships
• Independent research projects
• Senior thesis or research paper

Law and Politics

The department offers courses and research opportunities in law and politics, including:

• Public Law
• Public Policy
• Law and Politics

Senior Honors Program & Pi Sigma Alpha

The department offers a senior honors program and Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society.

Careers & Graduate School

The department offers career counseling and graduate school advising for undergraduate students.

Political Science Student Association & Events

The department has a student association that organizes events and activities for undergraduate students, including:

• Guest lectures
• Career panels
• Research workshops

Scholarship, Grant, and Fellowship Opportunities

The department offers scholarship, grant, and fellowship opportunities for undergraduate students, including:

• Departmental scholarships
• University scholarships
• External scholarships

Alumni Spotlight

The department features alumni spotlights, highlighting the achievements and careers of our graduates.

Alumni Mentor Program

The department offers an alumni mentor program, which pairs undergraduate students with alumni mentors in their field of interest.

Supplementary Instructional Resources

The department offers supplementary instructional resources, including:

• Tutoring
• Study groups
• Online resources

Undergraduate Awards

The department offers undergraduate awards, including:

• Departmental awards
• University awards
• External awards

Department of Political Science

The Department of Political Science is committed to providing a high-quality education to its undergraduate students. The department offers a range of courses, research opportunities, and extracurricular activities to help students achieve their academic and career goals.

Faculty

The department has a diverse and experienced faculty, including:

• Professor J. Lawrence Broz, Department Chair
• Professor Simeon Nichter, Director of Undergraduate Studies

Research Areas

The department has research areas in:

• American politics
• Comparative politics
• International relations
• Political theory
• Public law
• Public policy
• Race, ethnicity, and politics

Rankings

The University of California, San Diego has been ranked:

• 11th in the top U.S. undergraduate institutions to study International Relations
• 7th best public university in the U.S. and 34th best university in the world by the Center for the World University Rankings (CWUR)
• 6th best public university in the nation and 28th among the more than 400 public and private national universities ranked by U.S. News & World Report