About the Department
The Department of Political Science and International Studies is home to the Political Science major, the International Studies major, and the Pre-Law minor. The Department is distinguished by its commitment to a genuine liberal arts education and by its commitment to promoting the development of the knowledge and skills requisite for an informed, active, and responsible citizenship.
Our programs prepare students for a variety of careers:
- Policy Analysis
- Law
- Diplomacy
- Business
- Government
- Campaign Management
Political Science
The study of politics entails much more than an analysis of current events, the activities of politicians, or the workings of government institutions. In a broad sense, political science is concerned with the nature of power and with its uses and abuses. Because this definition encompasses all of human activity, the study of politics must attend to a vast range of human endeavors. The sheer breadth of the field is what makes the study of politics so intriguing and so important. Moreover, the study of politics is a vital component of an authentic liberal arts education, an education with which students learn to identify, analyze, and evaluate critically significant aspects of the human condition.
International Studies
A modern liberal arts education is incomplete without some understanding of the international and global nature of human society. International Studies majors can use the major as a means to explore the international and global dimensions of economics, politics, or culture, especially as they relate to a particular geographic area of study.
The changing demographics in California have brought the diversity of the globe to our local communities. The major is designed to give students the knowledge, skills, and confidence to work in multicultural settings, whether here or abroad. International studies students learn to develop and articulate their own ideas about the importance of having an international and global perspective in an increasingly multicultural workplace. Students gain an understanding of how cultures differ, as well as the advantages and challenges of cultural diversity. International Studies majors also acquire a richer perspective of their own culture in the process.
Pre-Law (Minor)
Pre-legal education should be a preparation for a lifetime of active involvement in a diverse and changing society and not just a direct preparation for law school. There is no single curricular path that is ideal preparation for law school. However, this pre-law minor specifically seeks to help students further improve their skills in critical thinking, reading, writing, and public speaking, and also to develop an understanding of what shapes human experience within American society and the American legal system.
