Follow your passion in political science!

Studying political science can open doors that lead in many directions. Explore what inspires you and consider the ways you could pursue these interests as a student at ARC and in a career beyond.

Are you interested in questions of power and justice? Could you see yourself leading an organization that advocates for positive change or working as an attorney protecting people’s rights?

• Build a strong foundation with POLS 301: Introduction to Government: United States. Then take courses like POLS 330 Constitutional Rights to learn about the fundamental rights outlined in our Constitution, POLS 320 Political Theory to analyze what constitutes a just society, or POLS 342 Women and Politics to examine how excluded groups have gained political power.

• Gain organizing and community-building skills by joining one of the many ARC student clubs on campus. Volunteer or intern for a local non-profit organization serving Sacramento.
• After ARC, continue in political science, or consider studying law, philosophy, ethnic studies, or other fields focused on promoting justice.

Are you interested in the inner workings of government? Could you imagine yourself shaping policy or even serving as an elected official?

• Build a strong foundation with POLS 301 Introduction to Government: United States. Then take POLS 304 Introduction to Government: California to learn about how California state and local government work.
• Pursue an internship with an elected official. Reach out to your representatives in the California legislature or the US Congress to ask about opportunities. For example, local Congressman Ami Bera and Congresswoman Doris Matsui offer Sacramento-based internships.

• After ARC, continue with political science, or consider studying public administration and public policy. Look for programs with opportunities for hands-on experience, such as the CSU Sacramento has a Semester Program where students are immersed in the policymaking world here in our state’s capital.

Do you love learning about other countries? Could you envision yourself working for an international aid program abroad or influencing foreign policy here at home?

• Take POLS 310 Introduction to International Relations to build your knowledge of the international system and POLS 302 Comparative Politics to understand how government works in different countries.
• Join the ARC Model United Nations Club to gain hands-on experience in global diplomacy, or volunteer with the Sacramento Chapter of the United Nations Association. Immerse yourself in a different culture and language by studying abroad.
• After ARC, continue in political science, or pursue a degree in international relations.

Even if you don’t choose political science as your major, learning about government can reveal many career opportunities. For example, there are myriad California government agencies which employ thousands of people - from scientists to IT specialists to translators to accountants.

It all starts in the ARC Political Science Department. We can’t wait to have you in class!