HOME
DEPARTMENT
PEOPLE
UNDERGRADUATES
Program
Advising FAQ's
Financial Aid
Study Abroad
Pi Sigma Alpha
Pre-Law Society
GRADUATES
INTERNSHIPS
NEWSLETTER
COURSES
LINKS
EVENTS
CONTACT
US
|
 |
Undergraduate Advising FAQs
(Frequently Asked Questions):
How do I declare political science as my minor,
major, or second major?
Declaring the minor or major is easy -- there are no deadlines, fees,
or hassles. Just drop by the department office (NH 103) anytime to pick
up a list of undergraduate advisors and office hours, then visit one of
the department's advisors for a signature and informational materials.
Back To Top
What is impaction, and how does it affect me?
Because demand for seats at SDSU runs far ahead of supply, many popular
majors have had to implement various formulas for enrollment management.
In the political science department you are initially admitted as a "premajor,"
and earn the opportunity to move into the major by clearing the following
"impaction" requirements:
A. Cumulative Grade Point Average of 2.5 or higher.
B. Complete a minimum of 30 semester units.
C. Complete 12 units "preparation for the major" with a C or
better in all four courses (Pol S 101, Pol S 102 or 320, Pol S 103, and
a course in statistics or logic (see requirements worksheet below for
a list of approved courses)
Impaction does not affect political science minors.
Back To Top
What is the difference between a premajor and
a major?
Premajor is a temporary status assigned while you demonstrate the ability
to succeed in political science courses. Until you have cleared the impaction
criteria (see above), you will remain a premajor. Once you clear the requirements,
you must visit with a department advisor to be moved into the major.
Premajors can do nearly everything majors can do. You may take nearly
all of our courses (including upper division) and earn credits toward
your BA degree. However, premajors cannot enroll in thesis or internship,
nor can they apply for graduation. It is therefore imperative that you
clear impaction requirements and move into the major before you attempt
to graduate.
Back To Top
Can I take upper division courses even though
I am still a premajor?
We do not normally recommend that freshmen and sophomores enroll in upper
division courses. However, if you are nearing completion of your premajor
requirements and you feel competent in political science and confident
enough to face the challenge of more advanced coursework, you may proceed
with 300 or even 400 level coursework. In general, we advise you take
101 and 102 before proceeding with Field I and II courses, and 103 before
you take Field III and IV courses. Any units you earn as a premajor will
apply to your major (see above).
Back To Top
How do I move from the premajor to the major?
YOU are responsible for advancing yourself into the major once you have cleared the impaction criteria! Sometimes this is done automatically, but most students need to visit one of the political science undergraduate advisors when you clear impaction. You must complete all impaction criteria to be advanced to the major.
Back To Top
Have the requirements for the major/minor changed recently?
Yes. Starting with the 2007-8 general catalog we have increased the number of political science units needed for the major to 39 and for the minor to 21. For both the major and minor an additional course is now required. Whether the new rules apply to you depends on your major catalog year. If your major catalog year is 2006 or earlier, you are bound by the old requirements. Students with a 2007 catalog year or later must follow the new requirements. If you are not sure which requirements apply to you, determine your major catalog year by viewing your degree evaluation and then consult the appropriate general catalog. Impaction criteria have not changed.
Back To Top
What are the requirements for the political science
major?
Political science is a 36 or 39 unit major, depending on your major catalog year. Like all Bachelor of Arts degrees, it requires clearance of the writing proficiency and foreign language requirements. In addition, you need 12 lower division and 24 or 27 upper division units of political science. Political science is divided into specialized fields; majors are required to take at least one course in each of four fields (political theory, American politics, comparative politics, international politics), plus additional elective upper division coursework, plus a senior "capstone" requirement of an internship, a senior thesis, or a graduate level (500 level) course.
You may pick up a major requirements worksheet at the department office or from one of the undergraduate advisors. You may also print it out by clicking here. We recommend that you also print out the political science pages of the current university catalog; course offerings and requirements may have changed since you purchased your catalog.
Back To Top
What are the requirements for the political science
minor?
Political Science is an 18 or 21 unit minor, requiring 6 or 9 units of lower division (depending on your minor catalog year) and 12 units of upper division coursework,. Upper division coursework requires some specialization, selecting at least 3 courses in either political theory, American politics, or the combined fields of comparative and international politics. The other upper division courses can be within the same or a different area. You may pick up a minor requirements worksheet at the department office or from one of the undergraduate advisors. You may also print it out by clicking here. We recommend that you also print out the political science pages of the current university catalog; course offerings and requirements may have changed since you purchased your catalog.
Back To Top
Can I change my political science minor into a first or second major?
Many Political Science minors are surprised to discover that as they near completion of the minor they are only a few courses away from a second major. This is particularly true if you have already cleared the foreign language requirement, and have already taken statistics, logic, or POLS 103. Dropping the minor and adding political science as a first or second major is easy (see adding the major, above), and all prior political science coursework will apply.
Back To Top
What are the department's rules about writing
proficiency and foreign language?
These match university requirements, as spelled out in the "graduation requirements" section of the university catalog. The political science department normally approves the use of American Sign Language. If you have cleared upper division writing by a "W" course other than those listed in our requirements, we will accept any W course, but you must see an advisor for the waiver form.
Back To Top
Can I change my catalog year to take advantage
of new program requirements?
Yes. If a new catalog reveals changes to your major or minor curriculum
that appeal to you, you may adopt the catalog in effect during the year
in which you graduate. You can see a department advisor, or you can indicate
your preference for the current catalog on your graduation application
(e.g., on the "major" line, write "political science, current
catalog").
Back To Top
Can I take political science courses for my
"explorations" requirement?
If you are a political science MAJOR, you CANNOT use political science
classes to satisfy upper division general education (explorations area
B). The general rule on campus is that while lower division courses can
"count twice" to satisfy various requirements, upper division
courses can only count once. Note however that there is an exception:
upper division coursework for general education CAN apply to the MINOR.
Hence political science minors can indeed satisfy explorations with one
of the political science courses and apply those units to the minor as
well.
Back To Top
Will transfer units from another college or
university apply to my minor or major?
Transfer credit depends upon comparability of courses, existing "articulation"
agreements between institutions, and quarter versus semester hours. Normally
you must wait until the transcript evaluators have determined transferability
of your coursework from other institutions (usually during your first
semester). However, you can easily log on to www.assist.org (the web-based
clearinghouse for articulation among California institutions of higher
education), to determine if agreements exist for the courses and schools
in question. If the Registrar rejects a course you believe should have
been transferable, bring supporting documents to a department advisor
to determine if that decision can be challenged by petition.
Many schools offer equivalents to SDSU's major preparation (lower division)
courses. Be careful with Pol S 101 and 102 (see below). If you have taken
a lower division course in international relations (rather than comparative
politics), you may see a department advisor to substitute that course
for Pol S 103.
Note that SDSU need not offer an equivalent course in order to accept
transfer credit, particularly at the upper division level. If you have
taken political science courses elsewhere for which no SDSU equivalents
exist, we can probably apply those units toward the major or minor, presuming
you can support a petition with relevant documents (e.g., syllabus). You
will need to meet with a department advisor to determine field eligibility
of the course(s) in question. Under no circumstances will the university
allow more than 12 units of upper division coursework by transfer to the
major, or 6 units to the minor (that is, half of your upper division major
or minor units must be completed at SDSU).
Back To Top
How do I know if the introductory political
science course I took elsewhere is the equivalent of SDSU's Pol S 101
or Pol S 102?
While some community and junior colleges offer direct equivalents to all
of SDSU's major preparation (lower division) courses, you must be particularly
careful with Pol S 101 and 102. This is because many schools only offer
one "introductory" course, and the course numbers may be different
(or even reversed!). Thus when you arrive at SDSU and discover that here
you will need to take both 101 and 102, you may not know which course
you already took and which to take next. DO NOT make the mistake of just
"guessing" and proceeding with one or the other -- if you guess
wrong, you will lose the units!
If you took only one introduction to political science course, and you
do not know if it is the equivalent of 101 or 102, normally you must wait
until the transcript evaluators have determined transfer credit (usually
during your first semester). If you cannot wait for that determination,
log on to www.assist.org (the web-based clearinghouse for articulation
agreements among all California institutions of higher education) to determine
if agreements exist for your course. "Assist" will tell you
if your course is the equivalent of our 101 or our 102. If Assist does
not show an articulation, the rule of thumb is that if your introductory
course included a section on California State government, it will almost
certainly be deemed the equivalent of Pol S 102.
Back To Top
Will units earned on study abroad or foreign
exchange apply to my minor or major?
San Diego State University is a recognized leader in international education,
and boasts a wide variety of excellent opportunities for study abroad.
The political science department strongly encourages students of all majors
and minors to take advantage of these opportunities for international
experience, and strives to accommodate units transferred from overseas
institutions and programs.
Most study abroad programs require that you meet first with a major or
minor advisor for approval of planned coursework. However, final approval
of units is done upon your return. Normally you must wait until the international
transcript evaluators have determined transferability of your overseas
coursework, though we can facilitate this process by meeting to go over
your materials. If the Registrar rejects a course you believe should have
been transferable, bring supporting documents to a department advisor
to determine if that decision can be challenged by petition.
Note that SDSU need not offer an exact equivalent course in order to accept
credits from abroad, particularly at the upper division level. When you
take courses overseas for which no SDSU equivalents exist, we can usually
apply those units toward the major or minor, presuming you can support
a petition with relevant documents (e.g., syllabus or catalog description).
You will need to meet with a department advisor to determine field eligibility
of the course(s) in question. Under no circumstances will the university
allow more than 12 units of upper division coursework by transfer to the
major, or 6 units to the minor (that is, half of your upper division major
or minor units must be completed at SDSU). Note that official "SDSU
study abroad programs" (such as the London, Paris, and Florence semesters)
earn "resident" units, just as if earned on campus.
Back To Top
Does the department offer a specialization in
pre-law?
While no specific "pre-law" course of study exists at SDSU,
the department of political science has a recognized tradition of support
for students of any major who are law-school bound. Public law has long
been one of the department's strengths, and we have for many years maintained
a dedication to high quality teaching and research in both American public
law and international law. The major requirements are sufficiently flexible
to allow pre-law students substantial immersion in appropriate coursework.
Political science is also home to SDSU's Pre-Law Society, and offers pre-law
advising. The Society meets regularly to explore trends in the field,
to host guest speakers and colloquia, and to provide information and experience
to guide the process of selecting and applying to law schools.
Note that the legal studies emphasis that existed in the 2001-02 catalog
has been discontinued. Widely misperceived as a "pre-law" program,
it was in actuality a 5-year BA degree combined with paralegal certification.
Students who wish to pursue a paralegal career should meet with the pre-law
advisor for information on paralegal studies programs in the region and
an appropriate course of study.
Back To Top
Where can I find information on internships
in political science?
By the senior year, many students are eager to put their knowledge to
work in the community, and to start building the practical and applied
foundations of their careers. Graduates often report that the internship
was one of the most rewarding components of their education. The internship
experience has long been one of the department's recognized strengths,
considered so vital to our curriculum that it remains one of three possible
"capstone" requirements designed to represent the culmination
of your undergraduate experience. The department offers three internships
to satisfy the capstone requirement for the major: local, Sacramento,
and Washington DC. Further information and links for all three internship
programs can be found on the department website or by contacting the internship
advisors.
The local internship takes place in San Diego County, normally during
the same semester in which you enroll in Pol S 495. This is a 3-unit course
combining practical experience in a supervised internship with related
coursework. You must be a senior and major to enroll, though exceptions
are sometimes made by approval of instructor.
The Sacramento and the Washington DC internships are full-semester programs
which take you off campus for immersion in state or federal service. The
Sacramento semester earns 12 units, all of which apply to the political
science major. The Washington semester also earns 12 units, 6 of which
apply to the political science major (the other 6 apply to your 120 overall
unit requirement). Both are normally only open to seniors and majors.
Back To Top
What can I do with a degree in political science?
Political science is not a vocational major such as nursing, nutrition,
or accounting, all of which train you with a specific set of skills tied
to certification for professional practice. Rather, political science
is a liberal arts degree, which -- like most university majors -- is designed
instead to prepare you broadly for professional development, critical
thinking, citizenship, and lifelong learning. By completing a BA you develop
many skills -- organizational, analytical, technological, research, writing,
speaking and more -- which equip you for many different possible applications.
Graduates in political science go on to a full range of career paths including
state, local, or federal government service, nonprofit and advocacy work,
law, business, journalism, international careers, education, campaigns
and polling, lobbying, public administration, social and marketing research,
social work, and many other professional arenas. Some political science
majors go directly into private, nonprofit, or public sector employment,
while others continue their education by pursuing teaching credentials
or advanced degrees from law schools and graduate schools.
Undergraduate advisors can provide career informational materials from
the American Political Science Association, or you can check their website
(www.apsanet.org). If you are nearing graduation and are looking for ways
to put your skills to work, we also recommend you take advantage of the
data, materials, and services provided by SDSU's Career Services (www.career.sdsu.edu).
Back To Top
Where can I find answers to other advising questions?
This advising FAQ's may not contain the most up-to-date information.
Students can find the most authoritative information about the major from
the undergraduate catalog. When you're still unsure about any aspect
of our program, please direct your inquiries to an undergraduate advisor
during his or her office hours. Check the department office (Nasatir
Hall 103) for a list of current undergraduate advisors, their office hours
and locations. You may also direct inquiries to psadvice@mail.sdsu.edu
Back To Top
|
