Bulletin--Political Science Program

Political Science

College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Dean: Joseph Julian

Department of Political Science
SCI 378
415-338-1178
Chair: Richard DeLeon

Graduate Coordinator: D. Tabb

Faculty
Professors—Bradley, Browning, DeLeon, Geisler, Heather, Lawson, Pomerleau, Powell, Smith, Stolz, Tabb, Weinstein

Associate Professor—Graham

Assistant Professor—Shastri

Programs
B.A. in Political Science

Minor in Political Science

M.A. in Political Science

Program Scope
Undergraduate study in political science is designed to develop knowledge, analytical skills, and critical insight into the nature of politics and political problems. The aim is to prepare students for active engagement in political life, whether as informed citizens or in a range of possible careers. The department endeavors to acquaint students with the issues of political life that have absorbed political thinkers and actors throughout the ages, as well as to equip students with the most contemporary skills for research analysis and policy making.

Pre-Law Programs
No specific major is required for admission to a school of law. The student should consult the catalog of the school of law to which she/he expects to apply for admission. Since law schools generally expect their students to have a broad foundation in the social sciences and the humanities, selection of a major in these areas is recommended.

For pre-law students who choose a major in political science, special concentration courses appropriate for preparation for legal training are provided on advisement within the framework of the major program in political science. The Department of Political Science and the student-operated Pre-Law Advising Center also provide advising and other services (e.g., mock LSAT) for pre-law students in any major who wish to improve their preparation for law school.

Other Programs
Upon advisement, majors and minors in political science may select options enabling them to concentrate in a variety of career-related fields: civic education; public service, community action; pre-professional (for students anticipating graduate study in political science); political journalism; and comparative studies (with opportunity to focus on Latin America, Asia, Europe, or Africa).

The Master of Arts in Political Science is designed for students who wish to proceed to further post-graduate study at the doctoral level as well as those who seek to terminate their study with the M.A. Areas of specialization within the M.A. program may include American politics, political theory, comparative politics, public law, research methods, campaign management, as well as joint programs with International Relations and Public Administration. Community college credential programs and student teaching opportunities are also available in the last semester of work. Evening seminars are readily available. Limited financial aid is available in the form of teaching assistantships and research assistantships. These are usually not available during the first semester of work. The program is professional in its standards, substantitive offerings, and levels of expectation.

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE

Courses for this discipline are listed in alphabetical sequence (see Political Science discipline in the Announcement of Courses section).

At least 30 of the 42 units for the major must be in upper division courses.

Core						Units
PLSI 100	Understanding Politics		 3
PLSI 200	American Politics		 3
PLSI 300	Scientific Inquiry in Political 
		Science				 4
PLSI 351	Political Theory: The Classical 
		Tradition or
	PLSI 360	American Political 
			Thought			 4
Breadth Requirement
Political science courses chosen to include at 
least one upper division course in each of 
these fields: American politics, comparative 
politics, public administration and policy, 
and public law					16
Electives
At least six (6) units in political science. 
Remaining units may be selected from related 
departments with consent of a major adviser	12
		Total				42

MINOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE

 
						Units
PLSI 100	Understanding Politics		 3
PLSI 200	American Politics		 3
Upper division electives in political science 
selected in consultation with a Political 
Science adviser to serve the student's 
interests and life goals			15
		Total				21

MASTER OF ARTS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE
Admission to Program
Students are expected to have completed an undergraduate major in political science with a 3.0 grade point average, normally with a minimum of twenty-one semester units in political science courses and at least nine semester units in a related field. The department also requires applicants to have a 3.0 grade point average as undergraduates. The department occasionally admits students with undergraduate majors other than political science but does so as conditional graduate students required to take at least eleven semester units in political science courses specified by the graduate coordinator. Such conditional graduate students will be expected to achieve a minimum of a B grade in the courses taken during their conditional status. All applicants are expected to have taken a course in scientific inquiry in politics, statistics, research methods, or its equivalency. PLSI 300 or URBS/PLSI 492 in the undergraduate curriculum fulfill such a prerequisite. All applicants are required to submit two letters of recommendation evaluating the student's ability, promise, and past performance. Interviews may also be required.

All foreign students whose native tongue is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and must score at least 550.

The Political Science Department aims to complete action on May 15 for the Fall semester and by December 15 for the Spring semester. Late applicants may be deferred or admitted to conditional status.

Written English Proficiency Requirement
Level One: passing any of the core courses with a grade of C or better. Level Two: upon assessment by the graduate coordinator of the student's written work in the program at the time of advancement to candidacy.

Advancement to Candidacy
Applicants must have classified status; have successfully completed PLSI 710, 720, and 730; maintained an overall grade point average of 3.0; and have the approval of the graduate coordinator.

Courses are listed in alphabetical sequence (see Political Science discipline in the Announcement of Courses section).

Core Requirements				Units
PLSI 710	Seminar in American Political 
		System				    4
PLSI 720	Seminar in Comparative 
		Government			    4
PLSI 730	Seminar in Political Theory	    4
Elective Seminar
At least one course selected from the 
following:					  3-4
	PLSI 711	Topics in American 
			Government (4)
	PLSI 721	Topics in Comparative 
			Government (4)
	PLSI 731	Topics in Political 
			Theory (4)
	Graduate seminar in related field upon 
	advisement and approval (3-4)
Related Courses
Graduate seminars and/or upper division under-
graduate courses in Political Science or related 
fields upon advisement and approval of graduate 
coordinator. (No more than four units of 
PLSI 899 may be taken.)				10-15
PLSI 898	Master's Thesis (4) or
	Written Comprehensive Examinations (0)	  0-4
		Minimum total			   30
Examinations
Students may opt for written comprehensive examinations in two areas of specialization instead of a thesis. If this option is taken, an additional four units of related courses must be taken to meet the minimum 30-unit requirement.

Bulletin 1994-96 Table of Contents, SFSU Home Page

last modified July 21, 1995