Charles and Louise Travers Department of Political Science, UC Berkeley

The Political Science major is concerned with exploring the exercise of power in its myriad forms and consequences. Students in the major are encouraged to explore such central issues as the ethical problems attendant to the exercise of power; the history of important political ideas, such as "liberty", "justice", "community", and "morality"; the impact of historical, economic, and social forces on the operation of politics; the functioning and distinctive features of the US political system; the diversity of political systems found among national and the significance of these differences; the interaction among international actors and the causes of war and peace. Undergraduate courses in Political Science vary from large lectures of 450 students to small seminars of 18 students. The courses are challenging, often emphasizing critical reading and analytical writing.

• Learning in Political Science Learn about and understand the Political Science Major
• Requirements for the Major Learn about the requirements to complete the major including rules and regulations of the program, course enrollment strategies, sample schedules, and what to do about incomplete grades.
• Courses Review descriptions of the current semester's course offerings as well as links to course websites and archived descriptions by semester.
• Declaring the Major Find out how to become a political science major, and learn about the different requirements for declaring the major based on when you were admitted to Cal.
• Academic Opportunities Browse through the many opportunities to get involved in the department and enhance your undergraduate education outside the classroom.
• Graduation and Beyond Ensure that you are on the right track to completing the major for graduation, learn about commencement ceremonies and receiving your diploma, and explore post-graduation options like the job market and graduate school.