Political science is the study of the processes, principles, and structure of government and political institutions. Students take courses to prepare for a political science major or to fulfill general education requirements.

Graduates with a bachelor's degree in political science pursue careers in education; federal, state, and local government (in areas such as intelligence, foreign affairs, environmental protection); national, state, and local legislation; law; and marketing research.

Academic and Career Pathway

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Contact Information

Chair: John Phillips Dean: Michael Fino https://www.miracosta.edu/academics/degree-and-certificate-programs/social-and-behavioral-sciences/political-science/index.html

Department: Social Science Office: Building OC3600, 760.757.2121 x6924

Full-Time Faculty

John Phillips

Associate Degrees

Associate in Arts Degree

Law, Public Policy, and Society for Transfer

Students completing this associate degree will have completed lower-division major preparation requirements for an American Studies degree, an emphasis or option within an American Studies degree, or a degree considered similar, such as Public Administration, at a participating California State University (CSU) campus.

Following transfer to a participating CSU campus, students will be required to complete no more than 60 units to obtain a bachelor's degree; however, some CSU campuses accepting this degree may require additional lower-division major preparation. This degree may not be appropriate preparation for students transferring to a CSU campus not accepting this degree or to a university or college that is not part of the CSU system. Students should consult with a MiraCosta counselor for further information regarding the most efficient pathway to transfer as an American Studies or Public Administration major and to determine which CSU campuses are participating in this program.

Graduation Requirements

• Complete a minimum of 60 CSU-transferable semester units. 
• Complete all courses required in the major with a “C” or "P" or better.
• Complete the CSU-GE (Plan B) or IGETC (Plan C)* general education pattern. *Students completing IGETC may be awarded the degree, but they must complete a course from Area 1C: Oral Communication to meet CSU admission requirements.
• Obtain a minimum CSU-transferable GPA of 2.0.
• Complete a minimum of 12 units in residence at MiraCosta College.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to do the following:

• Demonstrate knowledge of basic concepts of American law and connect them to contemporary societal issues.
• Transfer to a California State University baccalaureate program in American Studies, Public Administration or a related major.

Course Requirements

Required Core (26-28 units):
Understanding the Law (select one course)		3
ADM 100	Introduction to the Administration of Justice **
ADM 200	Concepts of Criminal Law **
BUS 140	Legal Environment of Business
BUS 140H	Legal Environment of Business (Honors)
Ethics (choose one course)		3
PHIL 102	Contemporary Moral Problems **
Oral Communication (choose one course)		3
COMM 101	Public Speaking **
COMM 106	Group Communication **
Written Communication (choose one course)		4
ENGL 100	Composition and Reading **
ENGL 100H	Composition and Reading (Honors) **
Critical Thinking (choose one course)		3-4
COMM 212	Argumentation **
ENGL 202	Critical Thinking and Composition **
ENGL 202H	Critical Thinking and Composition (Honors) **
PHIL 110	Introduction to Logic **
PHIL 110H	Introduction to Logic (Honors) **
Quantitative Reasoning (choose one course)		3-4
BTEC 180	Biostatistics **
BUS 204	Business Statistics **
BUS 204H	Business Statistics (Honors) **
MATH 103	Statistics **
PSYC 104	Statistics for Behavioral Science **
PSYC 104H	Statistics for Behavioral Science (Honors) **
SOC 125	Introduction to Statistics in Sociology **
U.S. History (choose one course)		3
HIST 110	United States History to 1877 **
HIST 110H	United States History to 1877 (Honors) **
HIST 111	United States History Since 1877 **
HIST 111H	United States History Since 1877 (Honors) **
Intro to American Government (choose one course)		4
PLSC 102	American Institutions and History **
List A: Select two courses.*		6-7
ACCT 201	Financial Accounting
or ACCT 201H	Financial Accounting (Honors)
CSIT 120	Fundamentals of Computer Information Systems
ECON 101	Principles of Economics: MACRO **
ECON 102	Principles of Economics: MICRO **
Total Units		32-35

*

Students intending to transfer to San Diego State University in the Public Administration major should complete all courses in List A.

**

Course satisfies a general education requirement on the CSU-GE or IGETC general education (GE) pattern. To ensure this degree is completed with no more than 60 units, students should select courses that will also satisfy a GE requirement.

Associate in Arts Degree

Political Science for Transfer

Students completing this associate degree will have completed lower-division major preparation requirements for a political science degree or a degree considered similar to political science at a participating California State University (CSU) campus.

Following transfer to a participating CSU campus, students will be required to complete no more than 60 units to obtain a bachelor’s degree; however, some CSU campuses may require additional lower-division major preparation. This degree may not be appropriate preparation for students transferring to a CSU campus not accepting this degree or to a university or college that is not part of the CSU system. Students should consult with a MiraCosta counselor for further information regarding the most efficient pathway to transfer as a political science major and to determine which CSU campuses are participating in this program.

Graduation Requirements

• Complete a minimum of 60 CSU-transferable semester units.
• Complete all courses required in the major with a “C” or "P" or better.
• Complete the CSU-GE (Plan B) or IGETC (Plan C)* general education pattern. *Students completing IGETC may be awarded the degree, but they must complete a course from Area IC: Oral Communication to meet CSU admission requirements.
• Obtain a minimum CSU-transferable GPA of 2.0.
• Complete a minimum of 12 units in residence at MiraCosta College.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to do the following:

• Articulate the fundamental concepts of major political ideologies such as Democracy, Anarchism, Nationalism, Marxism and Fascism, and assess the underlying social, cultural and economic factors.
• Explain and assess the American legislative system of checks and balances.
• Identify various instruments of foreign policy and evaluate their application to contemporary political issues.

Course Requirements

Required courses:
Required Core
PLSC 102	American Institutions and History *	4
List A: Select three courses (9 units)		9
PLSC 101	Introduction to Political Science *
or PLSC 101H	Introduction to Political Science (Honors)
PLSC 103	Comparative Government *
PLSC 150	Introduction to International Relations *
List B: Select one statistics course and one other course (6-7 units)		6-7
Select one statistics course from the following (3-4 units):
BUS 204	Business Statistics *
or BUS 204H	Business Statistics (Honors)
BTEC 180	Biostatistics *
MATH 103	Statistics *
PSYC 104	Statistics for Behavioral Science *
or PSYC 104H	Statistics for Behavioral Science (Honors)
SOC 125	Introduction to Statistics in Sociology *
Select one course from the following (3 units):
ADM 100	Introduction to the Administration of Justice *
ADM 200	Concepts of Criminal Law *
ADM 270	Crime and Delinquency
ANTH 102	Cultural Anthropology *
or ANTH 102H	Cultural Anthropology (Honors)
BUS 140	Legal Environment of Business
or BUS 140H	Legal Environment of Business (Honors)
ECON 101	Principles of Economics: MACRO *
ECON 102	Principles of Economics: MICRO *
PHIL 102	Contemporary Moral Problems *
Total Units		19-20

*

Course satisfies a general education requirement on the CSU-GE or IGETC general education (GE) pattern. To ensure this degree is completed with no more than 60 units, students should select courses that will also satisfy a GE requirement. Note: The honors version of identified GE courses also satisfy a GE requirement.

How to Read Course Descriptions

For more detailed information about a course, such as its content, objectives, and fulfillment of a degree, certificate, or general education requirement, please see the official course outline of record, available on the Courses and Programs webpage.