1. College Success

• COLLG 110 College Success (3 credits)

• Course purpose: A foundational course to explore and affirm a career choice and build upon the skills, knowledge, and resources that will support you at Pierce College and beyond.

2. Research Essentials

• INFO 101 Research Essentials (2 credits)

• Course purpose: This course will aid you in two areas. It will help you develop the skills to distinguish reliable from unreliable information, which is particularly critical in today’s political environment. It will also aid in developing the ability to research college papers which are a critical aspect of coursework, particularly in upper-level political science coursework.

3. English Composition I

• ENGL& 101 English Composition I (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Clear and strategic communication with others is a central feature of all careers connected to political science. The skills you will learn in ENGL& 101 are invaluable for later course work in the pathway.

Action Item: Meet with Advisor

Use your Success Network! In your first quarter, meet with your advisor to revisit your career and transfer path, make adjustments to your goals as needed, and plan for your next steps.

4. Introduction to Political Science

• POLS& 101 Introduction to Political Science (5 credits)

• Course purpose: This is a good course to introduce you to the key features of the discipline.

5. Math Course Recommendation

The math course you select will depend on the transfer institution you plan to attend and your math placement.  Your advisor will assist you in selecting the appropriate course(s).

Mathematics Courses   

6. Communication Course Recommendation

Choose one

• CMST& 101 Introduction to Communications (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Communications is key for nearly all professions in political science. CMST& 101 would be useful in fields such as administration.

• CMST& 220 Public Speaking (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Communications is key for nearly all professions in political science. CMST& 220 would be especially useful for fields requiring presentations in a group setting (such as education or law).

7. Social Science Course Recommendation

Choose one

• SOC& 101 Introduction to Sociology (5 credits)
• PSYC& 100 General Psychology (5 credits)

• Course purpose: These are excellent courses for introducing you to the critical thinking skills of applying social science generalizations to social and individual phenomena.

8. Survey of Environmental Science

• ENVS& 100 Survey of Environmental Science (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Environmental issues are an increasingly critical element of the collective decisions that form the core of political science. The critical thinking element of this course will be important in developing the ability to distinguish valid arguments from logical fallacies.

9. English Composition II

• ENGL& 102 Composition II: Argumentation and Research (5 credits)

• Course purpose: This course will allow you to learn a number of the most important core ability goals identified in the learning inventory for communications classes:  expressing complex ideas, present a persuasive argument for contested idea, present options for dealing with current issues, effective advocacy and appropriate use of accurate information.

10. American Government

• POLS& 202 American Government (5 credits)

• Course purpose: For most people this is the political science class most closely related to their own lives and interests. It is of central importance to the discipline, you should take this class in your first year. This is political science’s version of English Composition.

Action Item: Apply for Graduation

Way to go! It is time to apply for graduation. Visit the Pierce College Graduation website for details. https://www.pierce.ctc.edu/graduation

11. Natural Science Course Recommendation

Choose one

• ATMOS 101 Introduction to Weather (5 credits)
• GEOL& 101 Introduction to Physical Geology (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Each of these courses fulfill the lab requirement. They also focus and promote the distinction between logical and fallacious arguments. These lab classes focus on elements of the natural world involving key collective action problems, and the resultant political decisions.

12. History/Education Course Recommendation

Choose one

• HIST& 128 World Civilizations III (5 credits)

• Course purpose: The historical perspective provided by this course will help you learn multi-cultural concepts, particularly inequities based on cultural privilege/disadvantage. This course looks at the period of time when the US constitution was written and key political institutions were created. It would be ideal if you are  interested in American politics.

• HIST& 156 History of U. S. I (5 credits)

• Course purpose: The historical perspective provided by this course will help you learn multi-cultural concepts, particularly inequities based on cultural privilege/disadvantage. This course focuses on the creation of the modern world and the expansion of European state system and world economy. It is recommended if you are interested in international or comparative politics.

• EDUC& 202 Introduction to Education (5 credits)

13. Introduction to Ethics

• PHIL 150 Introduction to Ethics (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Philosophy trains you to think clearly about how to evaluate the moral choices that citizens must make.  You will learn to productively interact with people holding different views and also to present information on political topics in a way that is clear and engaging.

14. Introduction to International Relations

• POLS& 203 International Relations (5 credits)

• Course purpose: This is the third of the foundational political science courses offered at Pierce College. It is especially important for its treatment of multicultural issues in a global framework and the international context it provides for the student’s understanding of American politics.

15. Humanities Course Recommendation

Choose one

• HUM 106 Ethnic Thought and Culture (5 credits)
• HUM 209 The American Civil Rights Movement (5 credits)
• ENGL 264 Literature of U.S. Slavery and Abolition (5 credits)

• Course purpose: These courses that will encourage you to be appreciative of different points of view and self-reflective about the elements assumptions embodied in the dominant Western culture. Awareness of how cultures shape meaning, demonstrating awareness of cultural differences in order to avoid misunderstandings and demonstrating awareness of inequities based on cultural privilege disadvantage are all developed in these courses.

16. Anthropology Course Recommendation

Choose one

• ANTH& 106 The American Mosaic (5 credits)
• ANTH& 206 Cultural Anthropology (5 credits)

• Course purpose: These courses will develop the your cultural competencies for understanding and dealing productively with difference. This is a key skill for success in each of the recommended careers for the major. ANTH& 106 is recommended for students interested in careers in politics, government, law and administration. ANTH& 206 is recommended for students interested in education, or international work.

17. Natural Science Course Recommendation

Choose one

• MATH& 107 Math in Society (5 credits)
• ENVS 150 Environmental Issues (5 credits)
• GEOG 210 Physical Geography (5 credits)

• Course purpose: Each of these courses places an emphasis on critical thinking and the differentiation of valid arguments from fallacies. They have also been picked because they each represent the intersection of science and the human concerns that are at the heart of political science.

18. Social Science/Education Course Recommendation

Choose one

• SOC& 201 Social Problems (5 credits)
• ECON 110 Survey of Economics (5 credits)
• GEOG 200 Human Geography (5 credits)

• Course purpose: These courses will exposure you to additional tools for analyzing social phenomena. SOC& 201 would be recommended for students planning a career in politics or government. ECON 110 is recommended for students planning a career in administration or law. GEOG& 200 is recommended for students planning a career in education.

• EDUC 190 Education Practicum (3-5 credits)

19. Social Science/World Language Course Recommendation

Choose one

• HIST& 158 History of U.S. III (5 credits)
• HIST 260 History of Russia and the Soviet Union (5 credits)
• HIST 280 Introduction to Chinese Civilization (5 credits)

• Course purpose: These courses give you the opportunity to pick a specialized topic and delve into it in great detail. This will afford you a chance to develop an appreciation for the complexity of social phenomena and historical causation, and will be useful preparation for the more specialized studies you will encounter at four-year schools. 

Total Credits: 90