Best Political Science Associate Programs for 2027

El Camino's political science transfer degree starts with American Government and Politics, then lets you build the remaining major through two course groups. Choices include political-science methods, political philosophy, comparative politics, international relations, and statistics. The broader elective menu includes Ethnicity in the American Political Process and Civil Rights and Liberties in the United States, alongside other social sciences. Honors options are available in government and international relations. Plan the course combination around your intended university; the AA-T provides CSU system priority consideration, with campus and major admission handled separately.

Pierce's political science transfer degree gives you real choice in the core. You pick three of four foundation courses: Introduction to Comparative Politics, The History of Western Political Thought, Introduction to International Relations, and American Government and Politics. List A then asks for two more, drawn from any core course you skipped plus a research or statistics option such as POL SCI 050, Introduction to Research in Political Science, and only one of those research or statistics courses can count. List B adds one course from options like Women in Politics, Environmental Politics, and The Political Process. The major totals 18 to 20 units alongside Cal-GETC. Finishing guarantees admission with junior status to the CSU system, though not to a particular campus or major.

De Anza schedules on quarters, and its program map spreads this transfer degree over six terms. The required core is three courses: Introduction to Political Thought and Theory, Comparative Politics, and International Relations. American Government and Politics sits on the map too, counting toward both the major and general education. List A brings in the Grassroots Democracy series, covering race, social movements since the 1960s, and leadership and power, or a statistics course, and only one statistics course can be used. List B reaches into cultural anthropology, ethnic studies, economics, world history, and the sociology of globalization. Completing the degree guarantees admission to the CSU system, but not to a particular campus or major.

Sierra's political science AA-T starts with American government, then lets you select foundational work in comparative government, international relations, theory or research methods. The methods course covers research design, data collection, interpretation and ethics, with statistics recommended beforehand. Later choices reach beyond the introductory subfields to the Middle East, developing countries, terrorism, American foreign policy and women in global politics. If you want practical experience, the department also lists an internship course requiring faculty approval and an orientation. Build your plan around the particular subjects and methods you want to carry into a bachelor's program.

Orange Coast's political science AA-T lets you combine a broad introduction to politics with a choice of research methods or statistics. Its foundational group covers American government, international relations, comparative politics and political theory, with three courses selected for the core. A later elective can turn toward current issues, the American legal system or women, politics and inequality. That gives you specific ways to shape the major before transferring. The college's suggested sequence also identifies where a course can serve both major preparation and general education, so check those overlaps when planning your terms.

Pasadena's political science AA-T gives you a choice of three foundational courses from American government, comparative government, world politics and political theory. You then choose from a second group that includes political economy, principles of political science and several statistics options. That structure lets you think about the balance between political concepts and quantitative preparation before transfer. A final selection can add cultural anthropology, economics or cultural geography, or use another eligible political science course. Work through those choices with your intended university's major requirements beside you.

College of the Canyons gives you a practical way to try international negotiation through its Model United Nations course. You'll study UN rules and procedures, prepare around a country and topic, and take part in simulated multilateral bargaining with an emphasis on extemporaneous speaking. Other departmental courses examine ethnic and gender politics, political theory and the forces behind conflict between nations. The AA-T prepares you for further political science study. Compare these course options with your transfer plan, especially when deciding how much room to leave for experiential work.

Mt. SAC's political science AA-T lets you extend the introductory subfields into environmental politics, Latino politics or African American and Black politics. Its core is a selection from American government, comparative politics, political theory and international relations. The next group includes a further political theory course and statistics taught through business, psychology, sociology or general mathematics. Those choices let you compare approaches to evidence as well as political topics. The program's learning objectives include choosing appropriate research and statistical methods and comparing political institutions and theories.

Santiago Canyon's political science transfer major combines American Government and Politics with required courses in comparative politics, international politics, and political theory. You'll then choose two supporting courses, with options that include Women in American Politics, microeconomics or macroeconomics, cultural anthropology, sociology, and world history. An honors government course can fulfill the foundation requirement. This is a useful course plan to compare if you want political theory and international study included before transfer, while retaining some choice in the social sciences that support them.

Saddleback's AA-T sets a fixed core of three courses: American Government and Politics, which also comes in an honors version, Comparative Politics and Government, and International Relations. From List A you choose two of Introduction to Political Science, Honors Political Theory, and International Political Economy. List B adds one more, and the options lean global and legal: Human Rights in a Globalized World, Gender, Race, Sexuality and the Law, Introduction to Race and Ethnicity in Political Science, Introduction to Contemporary Africa, and History of the Modern Middle East are among them. The major comes to 18 units, paired with Cal-GETC. Completing it earns priority admission to the California State University system, though a spot at a specific campus isn't guaranteed.

Miramar's political science AA-T puts statistics beside introductory politics, American government and comparative politics in its required foundation. You can choose general or behavioral science statistics, then build outward through electives such as international politics, business law, cultural geography or interpersonal communication. Contemporary International Politics connects diplomacy and security with economic competition, international law and environmental issues. The introductory political science course also examines how researchers study participation, public opinion and institutions. Compare those elective subjects with the preparation your intended university expects before setting your course sequence.

Irvine Valley's political science planning materials give you room to investigate a region as well as a political system. Its sample UC-transfer plan combines American government and political philosophy with comparative politics, international relations and regional study of the Middle East, Latin America or East Asia. Model United Nations appears as a recommended extracurricular course, giving you another option to discuss with a counselor. The college also directs political science students to writing support in its Student Success Center. Use the sample plan to check the requirements of your intended university.

Diablo Valley's political science AA-T lets you begin American-government study through a general course or through courses centered on Latinx or Black politics. The next group includes political ideology, political theory, comparative politics, international relations and statistics options. You can then add subjects such as Law and Democracy, California Politics or Introduction to Social Justice. That range gives you concrete choices about whose political experience and which institutions you'll study. The current degree requires an approved selection across these groups, so plan your electives around the university you hope to enter.

Moorpark's political science AA-T gives you a broad set of ways to complete the major beyond its introductory core. After choosing three foundational political science courses, you select additional work that can include research methods, statistics or national, state and local politics. The final group reaches into ethics, criminal law, cultural geography and history, including Native American history and the history of American women. Those options make your course plan worth comparing with the university major you want. The catalog cautions that the AA-T may not fit every transfer destination.

West Valley's political science AA-T combines American government, comparative government and international relations in its core. The next part of the plan brings introductory political science together with statistics, including honors alternatives. Your remaining major choice can extend the political foundation through subjects such as African American history, Mexican-American history, race and ethnicity, gender or world regional geography. Read those options as different ways to focus your preparation, rather than interchangeable electives. You'll also complete the general education and transferable coursework needed for the associate degree and your intended university.

Glendale's AA-T opens with American Government and Politics, then you pick two of three: Modern Comparative Governments, Introduction to World Politics, and Introduction to Political Theory. List A adds two from courses such as Politics and Practice of the United Nations, The Modern Middle East, Introduction to the American Legal Tradition, The Politics of Race and Ethnicity in the U.S., Global Issues, or introductory statistics. For List B, your one choice can come from a wide social science spread, including Introduction to Restorative Justice, Social Protest in the 1960's, and Los Angeles County: History, Politics, and Culture. Plan on 18 to 20 major units with a C or better, plus Cal-GETC, and check with a GCC counselor about what your target CSU expects.

Santa Monica's political science AA-T keeps the required core to a single course, American Government and Politics, and leaves most of the decisions to you. List A asks for three of Introduction to Statistics, Political Philosophy, Comparative Government and Politics, and International Politics. List B adds two more from a long menu that runs from Sex, Gender, and Power and Introduction to Public Policy to urban studies, environmental ethics, and sociology courses on race and ethnicity. The area of emphasis totals 18 units, with Cal-GETC for general education. SMC points out that the University of California system has its own political science transfer pathway, so see a counselor if a UC campus is on your list.

This AA-T is built to carry you into the California State University system, and completing it guarantees you admission to a CSU campus. You pick three of four core courses: American Government and Politics, Comparative Government, Introduction to Political Theory and International Relations. Then come two List A courses, where Introduction to Statistics and California State and Local Government sit beside any core class you skipped, and one List B course such as U.S. history or Introduction to Global Studies. Every major course needs a C or better, and you'll pair the major with the Cal-GETC general education pattern to reach 60 transferable units. LPC also runs ongoing programs with the Northern California World Affairs Council in San Francisco.

Clovis Community College's political science AA-T lets you connect political theory with current problems and compare institutions with the cultural exchanges that influence them. Plan American Government and Politics early: the catalog lists it as a prerequisite for political theory, comparative government and international relations. International Relations then examines how economic, historical and geographic forces affect states and other international actors. The degree's broader choices include statistics, economics, world regional geography, Mexican American history and American minority groups. Use those options to build the academic foundation that fits your transfer plans.

Chabot's political science courses let you connect California policy with questions about representation. The department offers a course on race and gender that examines how education, health and criminal-justice policies affect marginalized groups. Comparative Politics considers institutions alongside identity, social movements and political violence. You'll also find political theory built around interpreting primary texts and applying ideas about justice, rights and citizenship to public issues. The department's Beyond the Classroom resource lists internships, volunteer work and student clubs you can investigate alongside the AA-T.