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Political Science

Overview Degrees/Certificates Courses

Government and politics profoundly impact us every day, from the laws that govern our behavior, to the quality of the water we drink, to the decision of whether to go to war. Political Science encourages critical thinking about how government works at the local, state, national, and international levels, and how we—as democratic participants—can make government work better. Political Science students may pursue a wide range of careers, at home or abroad, in fields such as law, advocacy, diplomacy, and public administration.

Degrees Offered

A.A.-T. in Political Science
A.A. in Political Science

Dean Kathy Sorensen
Department Chair Anne Gillman
Phone (916) 484-8283
Email gilmaa@arc.losrios.edu

Associate Degrees for Transfer

A.A.-T. in Political Science

The Associate in Arts in Political Science for Transfer degree provides students with a major that fulfills the general requirements of the California State University for transfer. Students with this degree will receive priority admission with junior status to the California State University system. The Associate in Arts in Political Science for Transfer (AA-T) degree may be obtained by the completion of 60 transferable, semester units with a minimum 2.0 GPA, including (a) the major or area of emphasis described in the Required Program outlined below (earning a C or better in these courses) and (b) either the Inter-segmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) or the California State University General Education Breadth Requirements.

Catalog Date: January 1, 2024

Degree Requirements

Course Code	Course Title	Units
POLS 301	Introduction to Government: United States (3)	3
or POLS 481	Introduction to Government: United States - Honors (3)
A minimum of 9 units from the following:		9
POLS 302	Comparative Politics (3)
POLS 310	Introduction to International Relations (3)
or POLS 480	Introduction to International Relations - Honors (3)
POLS 320	Introduction to Political Theory (3)
STAT 300	Introduction to Probability and Statistics (4)
A minimum of 6 units from the following:		6
IS 301	Introduction to Global Studies (3)
IS 302	Issues in Global Studies (3)
IS 310	Peace and Conflict (3)
IS 312	Current Global Development Issues (3)
POLS 304	Introduction to Government: California (3)
POLS 330	Constitutional Rights (3)
POLS 342	Women and Politics from a Global Perspective (3)
Total Units:		18

The Associate in Arts in Political Science for Transfer (AA-T) degree may be obtained by completion of 60 transferable, semester units with a minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0, including (a) a minimum grade of "C" (or "P") for each course in the major or area of emphasis described in the Required Program, and (b) either the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) or the California State University General Education-Breadth Requirements.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

describe the fundamentals of political science and governance.
compare and contrast contemporary comparative systems and governance.
evaluate the relationship between the governing process and public policy.
examine how citizen and interest group participation influence political systems.
analyze the role of culture and its influence on politics.
assess how the design of political institutions and processes affect policy and stability.
analyze politics and diplomacy in the international system.
apply basic research methods to political science.
analyze political and public policy making processes, and relate these to current issues and problems, for evaluating political events and their role in the political system.
compare and contrast various theories of justice and the just state.
evaluate various theories of the purpose of government and apply to a critical analysis of current political events.

Career Information

Career opportunities in political science include, but are not limited to, advocate/organizer, campaign worker, diplomat, educator/teacher, events planner, foreign affairs specialist, lawyer, legislative aide (state and federal), lobbyist, political consultant, and public relations specialist.

Associate Degrees

A.A. in Political Science

This degree provides a comprehensive introduction to the field of political science. It stresses the systematic study of politics, political institutions and governmental processes, state and local government, public policy, foreign policy, international relations, comparative politics, and political theory.

Catalog Date: January 1, 2024

Degree Requirements

Course Code	Course Title	Units
POLS 301	Introduction to Government: United States (3)	3
or POLS 481	Introduction to Government: United States - Honors (3)
POLS 302	Comparative Politics	3
POLS 310	Introduction to International Relations (3)	3
or POLS 480	Introduction to International Relations - Honors (3)
POLS 320	Introduction to Political Theory	3
A minimum of 6 units from the following:		6
HIST 310	History of the United States (To 1877) (3)
or HIST 483	History of the United States - Honors (3)
HIST 311	History of the United States (1865 - Present) (3)
or HIST 484	History of the United States - Honors (3)
IS 301	Introduction to Global Studies (3)
IS 302	Issues in Global Studies (3)
POLS 304	Introduction to Government: California (3)
POLS 330	Constitutional Rights (3)
POLS 342	Women and Politics from a Global Perspective (3)
Total Units:		18

The Political Science Associate in Arts (A.A.) degree may be obtained by completion of the required program, plus general education requirements, plus sufficient electives to meet a 60-unit total. See ARC graduation requirements.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

describe the fundamentals of political science and governance.
compare and contrast contemporary comparative systems and governance.
evaluate the relationship between the governing process and public policy.
examine how citizen and interest group participation influence political systems.
analyze the role of culture and its influence on politics.
assess how the design of political institutions and processes affect policy and stability.
analyze politics and diplomacy in the international system.
apply basic research methods to political science.
analyze political and public policy making processes, and relate these to current issues and problems, for evaluating political events and their role in the political system.
compare and contrast various theories of justice and the just state.
evaluate various theories of the purpose of government and apply to a critical analysis of current political events.

Career Information

This degree is designed to facilitate successful transfer to four-year institutions. Career opportunities in political science include, but are not limited to, advocate/organizer, campaign worker, diplomat, educator/teacher, events planner, foreign affairs specialist, lawyer, legislative aide (state and federal), lobbyist, political consultant, and public relations specialist.

Political Science (POLS) Courses

POLS 301 Introduction to Government: United States

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Advisory:Eligible for ENGRD 310 or ENGRD 312 AND ENGWR 300; OR ESLR 340 AND ESLW 340
Transferable:CSU; UC
General Education:AA/AS Area V(a); CSU Area D8; CSU Area U2; CSU Area U3; IGETC Area 4H
C-ID:C-ID POLS 110
Catalog Date:January 1, 2024

This course analyzes the U.S. government's historic origins, philosophical and theoretical justification, federal structure, and constitutional structures. The course studies the rights and liberties of individuals as articulated in the U.S. Constitution and federal court decisions. Further, it examines and describes the procedural aspects of the U.S. and California political systems including amending the U.S. and California constitutions, holding elections, campaigning, legislating, executing and adjudicating law. The course examines individual and group political behavior in voting, interest groups, political parties, and the media. It provides an analysis of contemporary problems and issues and looks at factors that shape politics and policy-making including diversity, political culture, political socialization, political ideologies, and public opinion. Finally, it also describes California state and local governments' constitutional base, structures and functions, political process, problems and issues, and federal-state relations. This course is not open to students who have completed POLS 481.

POLS 302 Comparative Politics

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Advisory:Eligible for ENGRD 310 or ENGRD 312 AND ENGWR 300; OR ESLW 340.
Transferable:CSU; UC
General Education:AA/AS Area V(b); CSU Area D8; IGETC Area 4H
C-ID:C-ID POLS 130
Catalog Date:January 1, 2024

This course is a comparative study and analysis of political systems, ideologies, institutions, policies, cultures, histories, and the development of government within various countries. It emphasizes the cultural and social dimensions of political behavior and attitudes in connection with governmental and political practices typical of particular geographical regions. It also covers an examination of selected developed and lesser developed nation-states from a global perspective.

POLS 304 Introduction to Government: California

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Advisory:Eligible for ENGRD 310 or ENGRD 312 AND ENGWR 300; OR ESLW 340
Transferable:CSU; UC
General Education:AA/AS Area V(a); CSU Area D8; CSU Area U3; IGETC Area 4H
Catalog Date:January 1, 2024

This course covers the essential organization, institutions, and processes of California state and local government. It fulfills the California State University requirement for state and local government, but not the requirement for the U.S. Constitution.

POLS 310 Introduction to International Relations

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Advisory:Eligible for ENGRD 310 or ENGRD 312 AND ENGWR 300; OR ESLW 340.
Transferable:CSU; UC
General Education:AA/AS Area V(b); CSU Area D8; IGETC Area 4H
C-ID:C-ID POLS 140
Catalog Date:January 1, 2024

This course introduces the academic field of International Relations. It surveys global issues as they relate to theories of international relations, the nation-state system, the role of state and non-state actors, globalization, armed conflict and its causes, international law and conflict resolution, and international political economy. It emphasizes comparing global perspectives among developed and developing nations. This course is not open to students who have completed POLS 480.

POLS 320 Introduction to Political Theory

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Advisory:Eligible for ENGRD 310 or ENGRD 312 AND ENGWR 300; OR ESLW 340
Transferable:CSU; UC
General Education:AA/AS Area V(b); CSU Area D8; IGETC Area 4H
C-ID:C-ID POLS 120
Catalog Date:January 1, 2024

This course is a survey of the ideas that have shaped Western political development, covering important thinkers from the ancient, medieval, and modern periods. Topics include theories of just and unjust societies, social contract theory, justifications for government authority, and the rights of citizens versus the responsibilities of citizenship.

POLS 330 Constitutional Rights

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Advisory:Eligible for ENGRD 310 or ENGRD 312 AND ENGWR 300; OR ESLW 340
Transferable:CSU; UC
General Education:AA/AS Area V(b); CSU Area D8; IGETC Area 4
Catalog Date:January 1, 2024

This course is a survey of American constitutional rights and civil liberties. Emphasis is placed on analysis of U.S. Supreme Court decisions and related materials dealing with issues arising under the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

POLS 342 Women and Politics from a Global Perspective

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Advisory:Eligible for ENGRD 310 or ENGRD 312 AND ENGWR 300; OR ESLR 340 AND ESLW 340
Transferable:CSU; UC
General Education:AA/AS Area V(b); CSU Area D4; CSU Area D8; IGETC Area 4D; IGETC Area 4H
Catalog Date:January 1, 2024

This course examines the impact of politics on women's lives and women's impact on politics from a global perspective. It explores past and current influences on the political and legal status of women as well as women’s participation in the political process throughout the world.

POLS 480 Introduction to International Relations - Honors

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:Placement into ENGWR 480 through the assessment process.
Advisory:ENGWR 300 or 480
Transferable:CSU; UC
General Education:AA/AS Area V(b); CSU Area D; IGETC Area 4
C-ID:C-ID POLS 140
Catalog Date:January 1, 2024

This course examines global issues as they relate to theories of international relations, the nation-state system, the role of state and non-state actors, globalization, armed conflict and its causes, international law and conflict resolution, and international political economy. Emphasis is placed on the comparison of global perspectives among developed and developing nations. This seminar-style honors course approaches the topical material through class discussion which encourages problem-solving techniques focusing on current international relations issues. This course is not open to students who have completed POLS 310.

POLS 481 Introduction to Government: United States - Honors

Units:3
Hours:54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:Placement into ENGWR 300.
Transferable:CSU; UC
General Education:AA/AS Area V(a); CSU Area D; CSU Area U2; CSU Area U3; IGETC Area 4H
Catalog Date:January 1, 2024

This course analyzes the U.S. government's historic origins, philosophical and theoretical justification, constitutional structures and how these institutions work. It examines and describes the procedural aspects of the political system including holding elections, campaigning, voting, lobbying, legislating, executing and adjudicating law. It provides an analysis of contemporary problems and issues. It also describes California state and local governments' constitutional base, structures and functions, political process, problems and issues. Conducted in a seminar format, this course emphasizes participatory classroom styles of learning and the material used is more substantial and sophisticated. In addition, there are extensive research projects on American institutions, political processes, and political behavior designed to challenge and motivate. This course is not open to students who have completed POLS 301.

POLS 494 Topics in Political Science

Units:0.5 - 4
Hours:9 - 54 hours LEC
Prerequisite:None.
Advisory:ENGRD 116, or placement through the assessment process.; ENGWR 102 or 103, and ENGRD 116 with a grade of "C" or better; OR ESLR 320 and ESLW 320 with a grade of "C" or better; OR placement through assessment process.
Transferable:CSU
Catalog Date:January 1, 2024

This course provides the opportunity for concentrated study of specialized topics in Political Science. Each offering focuses on a discrete aspect of the Political Science discipline. Refer to class schedule for class topic. Individual field trips may be required.

POLS 495 Independent Studies in Political Science

Units:1 - 3
Hours:54 - 162 hours LAB
Prerequisite:None.
Transferable:CSU
Catalog Date:January 1, 2024

Independent Study is an opportunity for the student to extend classroom experience in this subject, while working independently of a formal classroom situation. Independent study is an extension of work offered in a specific class in the college catalog. To be eligible for independent study, students must have completed the basic regular catalog course at American River College. They must also discuss the study with a professor in this subject and secure approval. Only one independent study for each catalog course will be allowed.

POLS 499 Experimental Offering in Political Science

Units:0.5 - 4
Prerequisite:None.
Transferable:CSU
Catalog Date:January 1, 2024

This is the experimental courses description.