Program: Political Science, B.A. - Whittier College

Apr 15, 2025

Whittier College Catalog 2021-2022

Requirements

A minimum of 36 credits

PLSC 110 - American Government & Politics 3 credits
PLSC 140 - Comparative Politics 3 credits
PLSC 220 - International Relations 3 credits
PLSC 380 - Normative Political Theory 3 credits
PLSC 385 - Research Methods 3 or 4 credits
One Senior Capstone Seminar (see below)
Additional PLSC elective credits to reach a minimum of 36 from the following subfields:

Public Administration or Law

Complete 1 course from:

PLSC 260 - Public Administration & Policy 3 credits
PLSC 262 - Environmental Policy 3 credits
PLSC 270 - Introduction to Judicial Process & Behavior 3 credits
PLSC 360 - The Policy Process 3 credits
PLSC 372 - American Constitutional Law 3 credits
PLSC 376 - Law and the Courts 4 credits

American/Public Administration/Public Law

Complete 1 course from:

PLSC 201 - Women and Leadership 3 credits
PLSC 202 - The President & Congress 3 credits
PLSC 203 - Race & Ethnicity in American Politics 3 credits
PLSC 205 - Women and U.S. Politics 3 credits
PLSC 206 - The Media & the Political Process 3 or 4 credits
PLSC 207 - Elections and Participation 3 credits
PLSC 208 - California Politics & Government 3 credits
PLSC 210 - State and Local Politics 3 credits
PLSC 212 - Urban Politics 3 credits
PLSC 260 - Public Administration & Policy 3 credits
PLSC 262 - Environmental Policy 3 credits
PLSC 270 - Introduction to Judicial Process & Behavior 3 credits
PLSC 304 - Political Parties, Interest Groups and the Media 3 credits
PLSC 360 - The Policy Process 3 credits
PLSC 372 - American Constitutional Law 3 credits
PLSC 376 - Law and the Courts 4 credits

International Relations/Comparative Politics

Complete 1 course from:

PLSC 228 - International Organizations 3 credits
PLSC 245 - From Russia With Feeling 4 credits
PLSC 246 - Russian Politics 3 credits
PLSC 252 - Latin American Politics 3 credits
PLSC 253 - Political Diversity in Latin America: Race, Religion & Gender 4 credits
PLSC 321 - Political Economy of Development 3 credits
PLSC 330 - Human Rights and Humanitarian Assistance 3 credits
PLSC 332 - American Foreign Policy 3 credits
PLSC 339 - Military Strategy & Arms Control 3 credits
PLSC 340 - Political Violence 3 credits

Capstone Seminar

Complete 1 Capstone Seminar from:

PLSC 400 - Seminar in American Politics 3 credits
PLSC 420 - Seminar in International Relations 3 credits
PLSC 440 - Seminar in Comparative Politics 3 credits
PLSC 460 - Seminar in Public Policy 3 credits
PLSC 470 - Seminar in Public Law 3 credits
PLSC 480 - Seminar in Political Theory 2 or 3 credits

International Relations Track

Students wishing to pursue an International Relations track should complete the basic requirements for the Political Science major and the following courses in International Relations and Comparative Politics:

PLSC 228 - International Organizations 3 credits
PLSC 332 - American Foreign Policy 3 credits

Human Rights, Military Strategy, or Political Violence

Complete 1 course from:

PLSC 321 - Political Economy of Development 3 credits
PLSC 330 - Human Rights and Humanitarian Assistance 3 credits
PLSC 339 - Military Strategy & Arms Control 3 credits
PLSC 340 - Political Violence 3 credits

Comparative Politics from Two Regions

Complete 2 courses from:

PLSC 140 - Comparative Politics 3 credits
PLSC 245 - From Russia With Feeling 4 credits
PLSC 246 - Russian Politics 3 credits
PLSC 252 - Latin American Politics 3 credits
PLSC 253 - Political Diversity in Latin America: Race, Religion & Gender 4 credits
PLSC 340 - Political Violence 3 credits
PLSC 440 - Seminar in Comparative Politics 3 credits

Foreign Language

Complete 2 years of a foreign language or equivalent.