Office: Clark Hall 471
Telephone: 408-924-5550
Email: polisci@sjsu.edu
Website: www.sjsu.edu/polisci

Professors
James C. Brent
Melinda Jackson
Garrick Percival, Chair
Kenneth B. Peter
Lawrence Quill
Karthika Sasikumar

Associate Professors
Sergio Bejar-Lopez
Mary Currin-Percival
Danijela Dudley

Assistant Professors
Sara Benson
Xintong Chen

Overview

Political science majors tackle the public issues of the day as well as the timeless issues of government, public policy and the political process. The Department of Political Science offers a BA in political science. Our courses cover U.S. politics and public administration, public law, comparative politics, international relations and political theory. Our extensive internship program includes funded internships in Sacramento and Washington, D.C., and our students have the opportunity to participate in a Model United Nations and the honor society Pi Sigma Alpha. We prepare our graduates for advanced graduate study as well as careers in law, public policy analysis, teaching, government service, legislative staffing, political consulting, interest group representation, international relations and other fields. Contact us at 408-924-5550 or visit us at the Political Science Department website.

Honors Program

The achievements of political science majors with an overall GPA of 3.20 and a 3.50 GPA in political science are recognized by the department honors program. These outstanding students are eligible to enroll in POLS 190H - Honors Thesis . Students who attain the required GPA and complete the honors thesis graduate with Honors in Political Science. Interested students should consult the department chairperson.

Programs

• Political Science, BA

• Applied Research Methods Minor
• Political Science Minor
• Public Administration and Public Policy Minor

Courses

• POLS 1 - American Government
• POLS 2 - Introduction to Comparative Politics
• POLS 3 - Introduction to Political Thought
• POLS 4 - Introduction to International Relations
• POLS 15 - Essentials of U.S. & California Government
• POLS 16 - Power and Ideas in American Politics
• POLS 20 - Controversial Legal Issues
• POLS 92 - International Program Studies
• POLS 100M - Political Inquiry
• POLS 100W - Writing Workshop
• POLS 101 - American Government for Teachers
• POLS 102 - State Government and Politics
• POLS 103 - Local Government and Politics
• POLS 105 - Congress
• POLS 106 - The United States Presidency
• POLS 108 - Political Participation
• POLS 109 - Women and Politics
• POLS 110 - Race and Politics
• POLS 111 - Political Movements
• POLS 114 - Introduction to Public Administration
• POLS 120 - Law and Society
• POLS 121A - Constitutional Law: Institutional Powers
• POLS 121B - Constitutional Law: Civil Liberties
• POLS 121C - Constitutional Law: Civil Rights
• POLS 122 - Judicial Politics
• POLS 124 - Introduction to Environmental Law
• POLS 130 - American Public Policy
• POLS 135 - U.S. Environmental Policy
• POLS 141 - Politics of Post-Communist Countries
• POLS 142 - African Politics
• POLS 144 - Middle Eastern Politics
• POLS 145 - Asian Politics
• POLS 146 - Latin American Politics
• POLS 147 - Globalization
• POLS 148 - Nationalism and Comparative Political Cultures
• POLS 150 - War and Peace
• POLS 152A - International Organizations and NGOs
• POLS 152B - Model United Nations
• POLS 153 - European Union
• POLS 154 - U.S. Foreign Policy: Formulation and Administration
• POLS 155 - The Wealth of Nations
• POLS 157 - International Security
• POLS 160A - Classical Political Thought
• POLS 160B - Modern Political Thought
• POLS 160C - Recent Political Thought
• POLS 163 - American Political Thought
• POLS 170V - American Politics in Global Perspective
• POLS 177 - Political Psychology
• POLS 180 - Individual Studies
• POLS 181 - Internships
• POLS 181C - Internship Capstone
• POLS 184 - Directed Reading
• POLS 190 - Senior Seminar
• POLS 190H - Honors Thesis
• POLS 192 - International Program Studies
• POLS 199 - Current Political Issues
• POLS 292 - International Program Studies