Whether your goal is to become an informed citizen, a community leader, or a player on the political scene, the major in political science will provide you with life-long skills well suited for a variety of career paths. Political scientists learn to apply sound reasoning and develop insightful critical thinking skills; they learn to do research and write intelligently about their findings; they develop the skills to work in collaborative groups and practice oral presentations. Political Science is the study of people's behavior as it relates to power and public organizations. The discipline is normally divided into six subfields: Political philosophy, which deals with normative questions about how power should be used and distributed, rights and obligations, the nature of justice and the ideal state. American politics, which is concerned with campaigns and elections, parties, elected executives, legislative processes, and issues of public policy. Public administration, which studies the role played by public employees in policy making, planning, personnel management, taxation and finance, and in responding to the needs and problems of communities and the nation. Public law, which involves the judicial process, civil rights and liberties, and the significance of such terms as equal opportunity and due process in the United States. Comparative government, which raises the same questions of politics, administration and law about other countries, and moves toward conclusions based on comparisons between them. International politics, which is concerned with relations between the states and other international actors such as multinational corporations and the United Nations and with the underlying realities of power, based on resources, wealth, military preparedness and national security.

Because of its emphasis on the processes of governments, many political science students seek careers in the public sector and in law. Our program has an excellent history of preparing students who go on to law schools, including the major programs at Harvard, Columbia and the University of California. Our graduates are city managers throughout California and are employed at every level of government. They also teach, do research, and enjoy careers in the Foreign Service, military, journalism, public relations, and business.