Politics Minor

Politics Minor

Grapple with enduring questions about freedom, justice, equality, and democracy. 

The Politics Department will challenge you to analyze political thought, political institutions, and political action. In small, Socratic seminar-style classes, our devoted and knowledgeable faculty will guide you through vital conversations about conflict and cooperation between individuals and governments and amongst governments themselves. 

This minor in Politics is designed to give a broad understanding of all manner of political frameworks; you’ll have the opportunity to explore everything from the politics of Vladimir Lenin to the interpersonal politics of gender in the workplace. 

You will leave Saint Mary’s with a greater insight into public affairs and a wealth of conceptual, analytical, and communication skills that will be valuable in any career. Graduates of our program have gone on to be senators, prosecutors, professors, and providers of humanitarian aid.
 

Learn more about the program

Get to know our well-respected faculty and their academic specialties. Or explore scholarship opportunities and an array of internship possibilities.

Curriculum

Politics, Minor

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Requirements

Lower Division

  • Choose two of the following courses
  • Introduction to American Politics (4 units)
  • Introduction to Comparative Politics (4 units)
  • Introduction to International Relations (4 units)
  • Introduction to Political Theory (4 units)

Upper Division

  • Take at least 10 units of 300 or 400-level politics courses. Each course must be at least 3 units.

Note

  • The department faculty recommend that students taking an upper-division course in American politics complete POL-101 first; for comparative politics complete POL-102 first; for international politics, POL-203 is recommended first; and for political theory, POL-204 is recommended first.
  • Introduction to American Politics (4 units)
  • Introduction to Comparative Politics (4 units)
  • Introduction to International Relations (4 units)
  • Introduction to Political Theory (4 units)
  • Writing, Research, and Analysis (3 units)
  • California and Local Politics (4 units)
  • Political Parties, Social Movements and Interest Groups (4 units)
  • Campaigns and Elections (3 units)
  • Congress and the Presidency (4 units)
  • Introduction to Public Policy (3 units)
  • Introduction to Public Policy EL (1 units)
  • US Public and Constitutional Law (4 units)
  • American Legal Institutions (3 units)
  • Politics of Mass Incarceration (4 units)
  • Politics of Labor (4 units)
  • Politics and Race (3 units)
  • Politics and Race EL (1 units)
  • Environmental Politics (3 units)
  • Environmental Law and Regulation (3 units)
  • Politics and the Media (3 units)
  • Gender Politics (3 units)
  • Gender Politics EL (1 units)
  • Contemporary Revolutions (3 units)
  • Middle East Politics (4 units)
  • Asian Politics (4 units)
  • Latin American Politics (4 units)
  • West European Politics (4 units)
  • Russian Politics From Lenin to Putin (4 units)
  • East European Politics (4 units)
  • American Foreign Policy (4 units)
  • Defense Policy (3 units)
  • Human Rights (4 units)
  • Dynamics of Terrorism (4 units)
  • Politics of Developing Countries (4 units)
  • Food Politics (3 units)
  • Food Politics EL (1 units)
  • Politics in the Global Economy (4 units)
  • Modern Political Theory (4 units)
  • American Political Theory (4 units)
  • Just and Unjust Wars (4 units)
  • Political Theories of Decolonization (4 units)
  • Theories of Justice (4 units)
  • Theory of Law (4 units)
  • Political Polling and Survey Research (3 units)
  • Political Polling and Survey Research EL (1 units)
  • Topics in American Politics (3-4 units)
  • Topics in Comparative Politics (3-4 units)
  • Topics in International Politics (3-4 units)
  • Topics in Political Theory (3-4 units)
  • Social Justice Speakers Series (1 units)
  • Democracy Lab (1 units)
  • Internship in Politics (1-4 units)
  • Independent Study (1-4 units)

School and Department Information