Department of Political Science

DEPARTMENT OFFICE
Engineering and Technology A523
Phone: (323) 343-2230
E-mail: polisci@calstatela.edu
Website: www.calstatela.edu/dept/pol_sci/

Faculty and students of the Department of Political Science engage in teaching and learning–critically and systematically–about government, politics, public affairs, and public policy in the United States and the world. Political Science courses embrace elements of the liberal arts, social sciences, and citizen education. The Department offers three degree programs: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Master of Arts in Political Science, and Master of Science in Public Administration.
The Bachelor of Arts in Political Science provides pre-professional education for careers in government, non-profit organizations, teaching, and business, as well as for admission to graduate and law school. Students may choose from four options: General Political Science, Global Politics, Prelegal Studies, and Public Administration. We also offer minors in General Political Science, Prelegal Studies, Public Administration, and Global Politics to students majoring in other subjects. The two graduate degree programs prepare students for professional careers in government, public service, public sector management, international relations, and teaching. Our graduate as well as undergraduate courses also help to prepare students for more effective civic engagement and participation in an urban-global context.

The Faculty

Professors: Greg Andranovich (Chair), Scott R. Bowman, Timothy C. Lim, Stephen K. Ma, Michael J. Siler.

Associate Professor: Martin Adamian, Taylor E. Dark III, Michael Locke McLendon.
Assistant Professors: Emily Acevedo, Gar Culbert, Ellen Shiau, Jessica DeShazo.
Emeriti: J. Theodore Anagnoson, Donald W. Bray, Naomi J. Caiden, Robert Bascom Callahan, Eugene P. Dvorin, Siegrun Fox Freyss, Edward Malecki, James A. Regalado, Thomas A. Rusch, Benjamin W. Smith, Nadine S. Koch Steinberg, Virgil H. Stevens, Kenneth A. Wagner.

Minors in Political Science

The Department of Political Science offers four minor programs for students majoring in other fields. The General minor requires 24 units and may interest majors in such related fields as history, economics, geography, sociology, anthropology, or English. The Global Politics minor requires 20 units and is designed for students whose career or personal interests would be enhanced by a study of international relations and comparative government. The Prelegal Studies minor, which requires 20 units, is available to students who may be interested in attending law school. The minor in Public Administration requires 20 units and is designed for students who may be interested in government service at the local, state, or federal level. All students are expected to complete POLS 150 and, if listed below, lower division requirements before enrolling in upper division courses in the minor programs in political science.

The Graduate Program

Two master’s degree programs are offered in political science, in order to satisfy varying career objectives of graduate students. The Master of Arts degree emphasizes advanced studies for those interested in teaching, preparing for doctoral studies in political science, or preparing for political journalism, similar occupations, or various forms of citizen leadership. Our nationally accredited Master of Science degree in Public Administration provides present and future public service employees the administrative skills and knowledge necessary for leadership of government and non-profit organizations.

Admission to the Programs

Application must be made to both the Department of Political Science and the University. Forms for both may be obtained from the department office. Please note that acceptance into the University does not guarantee admittance to the department.

Completed departmental applications with one copy of transcripts from all colleges attended and two letters of recommendation (normally from Cal State L.A. faculty in the case of recent Cal State L.A. graduates) must be sent to the Department of Political Science. University applications and two copies of official transcripts from all colleges attended must be sent to the Admissions Office. Deadlines and procedures for applying to the University can be found in the University Catalog or on the web at www.csumentor.edu

The Credential Program

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science, administered by the Department of History has been approved for the Single Subject credential in Social Science by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The program is listed under Social Science section of this chapter. In addition, the department offers two supplementary authorizations for persons who hold a Single Subject teaching credential in another field. These programs are described below.