Information about the Department of Political Science

Office

Location: Engineering and Technology Building (E&T A523)
Phone: (323) 343-2230
Fax: (323) 343-6452
Email: polisci@calstatela.edu
Website: Department of Political Science

Chair

Name: Taylor Dark

Location: E&T A517
Email: tdark@calstatela.edu
Phone: (323) 343-2230

Overview

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 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, Pre-Legal Studies, and Public Administration. We also offer minors in General Political Science, Pre-Legal 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  and undergraduate courses also help prepare students for more effective civic engagement and participation in the political life of their communities.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Political Science is to combine teaching, research, and scholarship to educate students to:

• Think critically and systematically about government and politics across local, national, and global settings;
• Prepare for successful careers and graduate study in law, public service, politics, international affairs, and numerous other fields;
• Become active and informed citizens through an understanding of American politics and society; and,
• Contribute to the discipline of political science through professional participation and scholarly activities in academic and civic communities.

Accreditation

The Master of Public Administration program is accredited by NASPAA (Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration). NASPAA is the recognized global accreditor of master’s degree programs in public administration, public policy, public affairs, non-profit and related fields.

The Faculty

Professors:  Taylor Dark (Chair), Timothy C. Lim, Michael L. McLendon
Associate Professors:  Emily Acevedo, Martin Adamian, Gar Culbert, Jessica DeShazo, Ellen Shiau
Assistant Professors:  Gabrielle Clark, Xian Gao, Chongmyoung Lee, Marla Parker
Emeriti:  Theodore Anagnoson, Greg Andranovich, Scott R. Bowman, Naomi Caiden, Siegrun Fox Freyss, Stephen K. Ma, Edward Malecki, Jaime Regalado, Nadine Koch Steinberg, Michael Siler, Kenneth Wagner

Programs

• Political Science, B.A.

• Minor in Global Politics
• Minor in Political Science
• Minor in Political Science Public Administration
• Minor in Prelegal Studies

• Political Science, M.A.
• Public Administration, M.P.A.

• Subject Waiver for the Single Subject Credential in Social Sciences

Courses

• POLS 5040 - Seminar: Quantitative Methods and American Political Behavior
• POLS 5050 - Seminar: American Political Studies
• POLS 5090 - Seminar: Foundations of Empirical Political Theory
• POLS 5100 - Seminar: Political Theory
• POLS 5260 - Seminar: International Political Economy
• POLS 5270 - Seminar: Advanced Studies in International Relations
• POLS 5310 - Seminar: Latin American Government
• POLS 5440 - Jurisprudence in a Globalized World
• POLS 5500 - Seminar: Comparative Politics
• POLS 5700 - Public Administration as a Field of Practice: Ethics, Integrity, Service
• POLS 5720 - Public Sector Organization and Management
• POLS 5730 - Public Sector Human Resource Management
• POLS 5740 - Public Budgeting and Financial Administration
• POLS 5750 - The Third Sector and Nonprofit Organizations
• POLS 5760 - Managing Intergovernmental and Intersectoral Relations
• POLS 5770 - E-Government and Management
• POLS 5800 - Data Analysis for Public and Nonprofit Managers
• POLS 5810 - Policy Analysis for Public and Nonprofit Managers
• POLS 5820 - Policy and Program Implementation and Evaluation
• POLS 5825 - Seminar: Public Sector Organization Change and Development
• POLS 5830 - Managing Social Policy
• POLS 5835 - Arts and Cultural Administration
• POLS 5840 - Seminar: Issues in the Metropolitan Area
• POLS 5845 - Seminar: Community Development Administration
• POLS 5850 - Seminar: Regulation, the Environment and California Public Policy
• POLS 5861 - Personal Leadership and Development in Administration
• POLS 5862 - Effective Communication for Public and Non-Profit Administrators
• POLS 5863 - Effective Human Resource Management Practices
• POLS 5864 - Collaborative Governance
• POLS 5865 - Negotiation and Conflict Management for Administrators
• POLS 5866 - Public Sector Contracting Basics
• POLS 5867 - Seminar: Fundamentals in Public Sector Project Management
• POLS 5868 - Seminar: Fundamentals in Public Sector Strategic Planning
• POLS 5869 - Seminar: Managing Stress in the Public Sector
• POLS 5870 - Nonprofit Governance
• POLS 5871 - Fundamentals of Strategic Planning for Public Sector Leaders
• POLS 5872 - Program Evaluation Best Practices for Public Sector Leaders
• POLS 5873 - Development and Fundraising for Public Sector Leaders
• POLS 5874 - Managing Organizational Change in the Public Sector
• POLS 5875 - Fundamentals of Public Sector Project Management
• POLS 5900 - MPA Capstone
• POLS 5955 - Seminar: Selected Issues in Public Administration
• POLS 5960 - Comprehensive Exam
• POLS 5980 - Graduate Directed Study
• POLS 5990 - Thesis

• POLS 1000 - Power, Politics and Engagement in US Government
• POLS 1555 - Critical Analysis of Political Communication
• POLS 2000 - California State and Local Government
• POLS 2500 - World Politics in Films and Media
• POLS 2810 - Quantitative Research Design in Political Science
• POLS 3100 - Gender, Politics, and Government
• POLS 3290 - Class, Civil Rights, and Gender in Late Modern Political Thought
• POLS 3300 - Politics of Aging
• POLS 3420 - Rights and Justice (also listed as COMM 3420)
• POLS 3450 - The Politics of Science
• POLS 3500 - State Politics and Policy
• POLS 3580 - Environmental Policy and Management
• POLS 3600 - Dynamics of Change in the Developing World (also listed as LAS 3600, PAS 3600)
• POLS 3710 - Foundations of American Politics
• POLS 3720 - Foundations of Political Theory
• POLS 3730 - Foundations of Comparative Politics
• POLS 3740 - Foundations of Global Politics
• POLS 3950 - Community Service in Political Science
• POLS 4000 - Power and Policy in Washington: Congress and the President
• POLS 4030 - State and Local Government
• POLS 4040 - Urban Government and Politics
• POLS 4060 - Los Angeles City Politics
• POLS 4080 - Political Socialization and Public Opinion
• POLS 4090 - Minority Politics in the U.S.
• POLS 4140 - Politics and the Media
• POLS 4180 - U.S. Political Parties, Campaigns, and Elections
• POLS 4201 - The United Nations
• POLS 4202 - Model United Nations
• POLS 4250 - U.S. Foreign Policy in a Changing World
• POLS 4260 - International Political Economy (also listed as ECON 4260)
• POLS 4270 - International Relations
• POLS 4290 - Global Challenges and the United States
• POLS 4310 - Classical Political Theory
• POLS 4330 - Modern Political Theory
• POLS 4350 - American Political Thought
• POLS 4370 - Twentieth Century Continental Political Thought
• POLS 4400 - Judicial Process
• POLS 4410 - American Constitutional Law: Federalism
• POLS 4420 - American Constitutional Law: Civil Rights
• POLS 4430 - American Constitutional Law: Civil Liberties
• POLS 4440 - Legal Advocacy
• POLS 4450 - Judicial Behavior
• POLS 4460 - Global Legal Studies
• POLS 4500 - European Politics
• POLS 4510 - Latin American Politics
• POLS 4520 - Government and Politics of China
• POLS 4530 - Politics of Africa and the Mid-East
• POLS 4540 - Selected Topics in Global Politics
• POLS 4580 - Immigration Politics and Policy in the United States: A Global Perspective
• POLS 4590 - Politics of East Asia
• POLS 4600 - Foundations of Public Administration
• POLS 4610 - Dynamics of Urban Administration
• POLS 4620 - Public Policy
• POLS 4640 - Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Applications in Political Science
• POLS 4670 - The Third Sector and Nonprofit Organizations
• POLS 4720 - Organization and Management