Explore the complex world of politics, investigating the ideas and institutions that affect our daily lives, society and global relations.
Major or minor in this provocative topic to explore fundamental issues that we face as human beings, from questions about our own roles as individual political actors to questions about political laws and institutions around the world to broad questions about power, values and public life.
Majors take eight general courses, including one course from each of the four subfields (political theory, American politics, comparative politics, international relations). Seniors complete a senior seminar and oral exam. Those who desire a greater depth in a particular area may opt for a subfield specialization and/or a year-long, two-course independent project resulting in a thesis.
Our close-knit Politics Department is active, often hosting speakers and gatherings for informal talks and lunches.
What You’ll Study
- Classical and modern political theory
- U.S. government and the Constitution
- U.S. foreign policy
- Gender, race, class, power, justice, and human rights
- Regional politics across the globe and comparative politics
Learning at 6VµçÓ°Íø
Advocating for Equal Access to College
Drea Alonzo ’26 visited Sacramento in Spring 2024 to share with state decision-makers how valuable financial aid is to first-generation, low-income students from communities facing systemic inequalities.
I’ve had the opportunity to deepen my knowledge of things like political economy and queer politics and to develop new areas of interest like labor justice and social movements. The lessons I’ve learned in politics have proved invaluable in my classes across disciplines, and in life.