Political Science
Here we integrate teaching, research and scholarship to not only educate you about political science, but also to encourage you to use it within your community, country and the world.
Become a skilled researcher
Our curriculum will teach you about political science theories and methodologies (including quantitative and qualitative analyses and fieldwork), and you will have the opportunity to conduct your own empirical research on topics that interest you most. Through our small class sizes and hands-on teaching styles, we ensure that you develop the critical and systematic thinking skills needed to succeed — from being an informed citizen to preparing for law or graduate school and your career beyond.
Dive into civic and global work
With lively classroom discussions and hands-on research opportunities, you’ll find endless ways to engage with politics, both inside and outside of the classroom. We believe political science is a “contact sport,” so we ensure that you will have the opportunity to participate in research projects, pursue internships, and learn from practitioners in a variety of career fields.
Discover your passion
Whether you are interested in environmental policy, social justice, or international affairs, our program is designed to help you explore the topics and career options that most appeal to you. If you’re not sure where you want to go in the future, our suggested Career Tracks will help you learn about the many exciting options to explore as a successful political science graduate.
At a Glance
Degree Type
Bachelor of Arts
Department
School/College
College of Arts and Sciences
Next Steps
Interested in this major? Here's what you can do next:
With challenging and relevant courses, outstanding faculty, small class sizes, and an emphasis on hands-on learning, the political science program will position you to succeed in your chosen career.
Degree requirements
Find out what it takes to earn a degree in political science and explore the courses.
Highlighted Courses
Get familiar with some of the courses you might take in this major.
POLS 310: Multiculturalism
See descriptionRace & Politics in U.S.
See descriptionPOLS 414: Environmental Law and Policy
A study of the regulatory environment in California and the U.S. as it applies to environmental issues, problems and the environmental industry. Includes a critical analysis of environmental challenges and the possible legal and political responses to them.
See descriptionPOLS 418: Women and Politics
This course is designed to explore the various ways that women shape and are shaped by political life at the local, national and global levels. The course examines specific policies as they relate to women as both policymakers and subjects of policy.
See descriptionPOLS 421: The Politics of Data
This course will examine the roles that data collection and analysis tools play on our daily lives and our social/political/economic institutions. This course will draw from a broad range of disciplines (Political Science, Sociology, Law, Communication, Philosophy, Psychology, etc.) to explore these topics.
See descriptionPOLS 427: American Political Institutions
This course uses an American Political Development approach to examine the evolution of US political institutions (Congress, the executive, the courts and political parties.) The course will examine the design of the American system in comparative perspective and guide students through an exploration of how the current system came to be and how its evolution shaped and was shaped by political events.
See descriptionPOLS 476: Capstone
The purpose of the course is for students to: 1) identify and analyze key phenomena, issues or problems in political life, and 2) design and implement an original research project or study. Students select topics that are timely and relevant based on their interests, and use their research project to develop a greater understanding of an issue(s) using primary and secondary data.
See description4+1 Option: Fast Track Your Graduate Degree
Add further value to your degree by choosing the 4+1 Option, which gives you a head start on earning a related graduate degree. With 4+1, you’ll be able to take graduate-level courses as part of your undergraduate curriculum. After graduation, you’ll only need one additional year to complete your degree at Cal Lutheran — saving you both time and money.
Recommended Minors
Want to add even more value to your degree? Consider one of these minors to gain a unique combination of skills and perspectives.
- Communication
- Economics
- Environmental Studies
- Gender and Women’s Studies
- Global Business
- Global Studies
- History
- Legal Studies
- Philosophy
- Religion
- Sociology
- Spanish
- Ethnic and Race Studies
We offer hands-on opportunities that give you the freedom to explore your passion through real-world work and prepare for a fulfilling career.
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Internships at Home and Abroad
By completing a required internship, pursuing a study abroad program, or doing both, you’ll become engaged with the political sphere and explore career opportunities. Our alumni have interned at locations ranging from local nonprofits to congressional offices in Washington, D.C. through the Lutheran College Washington Semester. You can also apply to study abroad at Oxford University in England through the Cal Lutheran Oxford Program.
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Honors Society
The Political Science National Honor Society, Pi Sigma Alpha, develops a speaker series that bring in special guest and alumni working in different political and legal fields to help students see what they can do with their major.
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Student Clubs
The perfect place to start making an impact is right on campus. Whether you join a student club, run for student government, attend chats put on by the Political Science National Honor Society, or compete with the Model United Nations team, there’s no shortage of ways to get involved.
For me, my passion is so much more than political strategy and legal jargon. It’s a way of understanding people and the world. I have never understood the intersectionality of identities as much as I do now, and my passion for government has only grown since I started college. I love the support I’ve received from my professors, the advice, and the long conversations about my career and aspirations. It’s an experience that makes you feel like a part of a family.
Sophia Cruz Ponce '23
Students are offered opportunities to study abroad at Oxford and other notable programs, engage in community development and service projects, and intern in public policy and non-profit agencies in Washington, DC and throughout Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
Potential Careers
Court Reporters and Simultaneous Captioners
Use verbatim methods and equipment to capture, store, retrieve, and transcribe pretrial and trial proceedings or other information. Includes stenocaptioners who operate computerized stenographic captioning equipment to provide captions of live or prerecorded broadcasts for hearing-impaired viewers.
See descriptionInstructional Coordinators
Develop instructional material, coordinate educational content, and incorporate current technology into instruction in order to provide guidelines to educators and instructors for developing curricula and conducting courses. May train and coach teachers. Includes educational consultants and specialists, and instructional material directors.
See descriptionLawyers
Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions. May specialize in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law.
See descriptionPolitical Scientists
Study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. May study topics, such as public opinion, political decisionmaking, and ideology. May analyze the structure and operation of governments, as well as various political entities. May conduct public opinion surveys, analyze election results, or analyze public documents.
See descriptionClimate Change Policy Analysts
Research and analyze policy developments related to climate change. Make climate-related recommendations for actions such as legislation, awareness campaigns, or fundraising approaches.
See descriptionDigital Forensics Analysts
Conduct investigations on computer-based crimes establishing documentary or physical evidence, such as digital media and logs associated with cyber intrusion incidents. Analyze digital evidence and investigate computer security incidents to derive information in support of system and network vulnerability mitigation. Preserve and present computer-related evidence in support of criminal, fraud, counterintelligence, or law enforcement investigations.
See descriptionLegislators
Develop, introduce, or enact laws and statutes at the local, tribal, state, or federal level. Includes only workers in elected positions.
See descriptionFundraising Managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities to solicit and maintain funds for special projects or nonprofit organizations.
See descriptionLooking for more career paths? Search these related areas to discover more options.
Employers
Some of the organizations our graduates work for include:
- California State Assembly
- County of Ventura
- Democratic National Committee
- Disney General Entertainment Content
- Getty Research Institute
- Los Angeles City Council
- Los Angeles Superior Court
- Masry & Vititoe Law Office
- Standard and Poors Global Ratings
- The Alliance to Save Energy
- U.S. Department of State
- U.S. House of Representatives
Graduate Schools
Our alumni have pursued advanced degrees at:
- Duke University School of Law
- Georgetown University
- London School of Economics and Political Science
- New York University
- Notre Dame School of Law
- University of California, Irvine School of Law
- University of California, Los Angeles
- University of Chicago
- University of Michigan
- University of Oxford
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Southern California, Gould School of Law
Cal Lutheran’s liberal arts curriculum allowed me to gain crucial experience in various courses and topics. Being an attorney requires constant reading and writing, so the political science department’s emphasis on both directly contributed to my academic achievements. I took logic, which helped me on the LSAT, and criminal law, which exposed me to the law and introduced me to the pre-law coordinator. For law school and the bar exam, I have to know business law, so undergrad courses in accounting and economics gave me background knowledge on these topics.
Tia Kerkhof '19
Law student at USC Gould School of Law
This page includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Some occupations listed above may require a related graduate degree.
How We Prepare You for Success
We have 20,000+ employer contacts for jobs and internships, with over 200 listings posted each week.
Our excellent career counselors in the Career Services center will get in touch with you during your very first term on campus. They offer over 50 workshops each year on resume writing, interviewing, salary negotiations, applying to graduate schools, and other critical skills to help you begin your career successfully.
After you graduate from Cal Lutheran, you receive free access to Career Services for life, as a valued member of our alumni family.
of Cal Lutheran graduates find a job or enroll in graduate school within nine months
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