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Political Science
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Contact: Humanities & Social SciencesTitle: DIvisionContact: hssdiv@mtsac.edu
Career Outlook Political Science

Humanities and Social Sciences Division
Degree A0345

Political Science introduces students to political science theories and methodologies used in the scientific study of political institutions and behavior. The Associate in Arts in Political Science for Transfer degree will provide students with the foundational knowledge necessary to identify research and statistical methods appropriate to political science, to compare and contrast the major theoretical perspectives in political science, and synthesize the analysis of institutions and individuals. The Associate in Arts in Political Science for Transfer degree is designed to assist students in seamlessly transferring to a CSU major in Political Science.

To earn an associate degree for transfer, a student must complete 60 semester units that are eligible for transfer to a CSU that consist of: IGETC pattern or CSU GE breadth and a major of at least 18 units. Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 in all CSU-transferable coursework to receive an associate degree for transfer and all courses in the major must be completed with a C or better. Students earning an associate degree for transfer will not be required to complete any other local graduation requirements.

Required Courses

Industry StatisticsJob Titles & Salaries
Select a related job title below to view demand & salary information
    • Legislators

      Legislators

      SOC Career Code: 11-1031.00

      Develop, introduce, or enact laws and statutes at the local, tribal, state, or federal level. Includes only workers in elected positions.

      Typical Hourly Salary
      $18.13

      The figure above is based off a percentile of 25 percent. 100 mile radus icon for career resultsAll job data and figures based on a 100 mile radius from Mt. SAC

      Top Entry-Level Education
      Chart Legend
      • Doctoral Degree Or More
      • Master's Degree
      • Bachelor's Degree
      • Associate's Degree
      • Some College
      • Certificate
      • High School Diploma Or Less
      Median Salary Earnings
      $59,959.91
      Annual Job Openings
      305

      Openings are regional vacancies due to growth and turnover in this career.All job data and figures based on a 100 mile radius from Mt. SAC

      Historical Wages
    • Regulatory Affairs Managers

      Regulatory Affairs Managers

      SOC Career Code: 11-9199.01

      Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.

      Typical Hourly Salary
      $38.53

      The figure above is based off a percentile of 25 percent. 100 mile radus icon for career resultsAll job data and figures based on a 100 mile radius from Mt. SAC

      Top Entry-Level Education
      Chart Legend
      • Doctoral Degree Or More
      • Master's Degree
      • Bachelor's Degree
      • Associate's Degree
      • Some College
      • Certificate
      • High School Diploma Or Less
      Median Salary Earnings
      $119,181.24
      Annual Job Openings
      13,418

      Openings are regional vacancies due to growth and turnover in this career.All job data and figures based on a 100 mile radius from Mt. SAC

      Historical Wages
    • Compliance Managers

      Compliance Managers

      SOC Career Code: 11-9199.02

      Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.

      Typical Hourly Salary
      $38.53

      The figure above is based off a percentile of 25 percent. 100 mile radus icon for career resultsAll job data and figures based on a 100 mile radius from Mt. SAC

      Top Entry-Level Education
      Chart Legend
      • Doctoral Degree Or More
      • Master's Degree
      • Bachelor's Degree
      • Associate's Degree
      • Some College
      • Certificate
      • High School Diploma Or Less
      Median Salary Earnings
      $119,181.24
      Annual Job Openings
      13,418

      Openings are regional vacancies due to growth and turnover in this career.All job data and figures based on a 100 mile radius from Mt. SAC

      Historical Wages
    • Regulatory Affairs Specialists

      Regulatory Affairs Specialists

      SOC Career Code: 13-1041.07

      Coordinate and document internal regulatory processes, such as internal audits, inspections, license renewals, or registrations. May compile and prepare materials for submission to regulatory agencies.

      Typical Hourly Salary
      $29.52

      The figure above is based off a percentile of 25 percent. 100 mile radus icon for career resultsAll job data and figures based on a 100 mile radius from Mt. SAC

      Top Entry-Level Education
      Chart Legend
      • Doctoral Degree Or More
      • Master's Degree
      • Bachelor's Degree
      • Associate's Degree
      • Some College
      • Certificate
      • High School Diploma Or Less
      Median Salary Earnings
      $80,047.45
      Annual Job Openings
      3,924

      Openings are regional vacancies due to growth and turnover in this career.All job data and figures based on a 100 mile radius from Mt. SAC

      Historical Wages
    • Labor Relations Specialists

      Labor Relations Specialists

      SOC Career Code: 13-1075.00

      Resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, or coordinate grievance procedures to handle employee complaints.

      Typical Hourly Salary
      $37.46

      The figure above is based off a percentile of 25 percent. 100 mile radus icon for career resultsAll job data and figures based on a 100 mile radius from Mt. SAC

      Top Entry-Level Education
      Chart Legend
      • Doctoral Degree Or More
      • Master's Degree
      • Bachelor's Degree
      • Associate's Degree
      • Some College
      • Certificate
      • High School Diploma Or Less
      Median Salary Earnings
      $99,810.67
      Annual Job Openings
      703

      Openings are regional vacancies due to growth and turnover in this career.All job data and figures based on a 100 mile radius from Mt. SAC

      Historical Wages
    • Climate Change Analysts

      Climate Change Analysts

      SOC Career Code: 19-2041.01

      Research and analyze policy developments related to climate change. Make climate-related recommendations for actions such as legislation, awareness campaigns, or fundraising approaches.

      Typical Hourly Salary
      $36.64

      The figure above is based off a percentile of 25 percent. 100 mile radus icon for career resultsAll job data and figures based on a 100 mile radius from Mt. SAC

      Top Entry-Level Education
      Chart Legend
      • Doctoral Degree Or More
      • Master's Degree
      • Bachelor's Degree
      • Associate's Degree
      • Some College
      • Certificate
      • High School Diploma Or Less
      Median Salary Earnings
      $95,039.89
      Annual Job Openings
      1,049

      Openings are regional vacancies due to growth and turnover in this career.All job data and figures based on a 100 mile radius from Mt. SAC

      Historical Wages
    • Political Scientists

      Political Scientists

      SOC Career Code: 19-3094.00

      Study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. May study topics, such as public opinion, political decisionmaking, and ideology. May analyze the structure and operation of governments, as well as various political entities. May conduct public opinion surveys, analyze election results, or analyze public documents.

      Typical Hourly Salary
      $40.24

      The figure above is based off a percentile of 25 percent. 100 mile radus icon for career resultsAll job data and figures based on a 100 mile radius from Mt. SAC

      Top Entry-Level Education
      Chart Legend
      • Doctoral Degree Or More
      • Master's Degree
      • Bachelor's Degree
      • Associate's Degree
      • Some College
      • Certificate
      • High School Diploma Or Less
      Median Salary Earnings
      $107,110.54
      Annual Job Openings
      48

      Openings are regional vacancies due to growth and turnover in this career.All job data and figures based on a 100 mile radius from Mt. SAC

      Historical Wages
    • Postsecondary Political Science Teachers

      Postsecondary Political Science Teachers

      SOC Career Code: 25-1065.00

      Teach courses in political science, international affairs, and international relations. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

      Typical Hourly Salary
      $41.44

      The figure above is based off a percentile of 25 percent. 100 mile radus icon for career resultsAll job data and figures based on a 100 mile radius from Mt. SAC

      Top Entry-Level Education
      Chart Legend
      • Doctoral Degree Or More
      • Master's Degree
      • Bachelor's Degree
      • Associate's Degree
      • Some College
      • Certificate
      • High School Diploma Or Less
      Median Salary Earnings
      $103,540.43
      Annual Job Openings
      20,510

      Openings are regional vacancies due to growth and turnover in this career.All job data and figures based on a 100 mile radius from Mt. SAC

      Historical Wages
    • Public Relations Specialists

      Public Relations Specialists

      SOC Career Code: 27-3031.00

      Promote or create an intended public image for individuals, groups, or organizations. May write or select material for release to various communications media. May specialize in using social media.

      Typical Hourly Salary
      $27.77

      The figure above is based off a percentile of 25 percent. 100 mile radus icon for career resultsAll job data and figures based on a 100 mile radius from Mt. SAC

      Top Entry-Level Education
      Chart Legend
      • Doctoral Degree Or More
      • Master's Degree
      • Bachelor's Degree
      • Associate's Degree
      • Some College
      • Certificate
      • High School Diploma Or Less
      Median Salary Earnings
      $76,067.18
      Annual Job Openings
      2,903

      Openings are regional vacancies due to growth and turnover in this career.All job data and figures based on a 100 mile radius from Mt. SAC

      Historical Wages

Certificate & Degree Details

Select a certificate below to expand details
  • Political Science

    Humanities and Social Sciences Division
    Degree A0345

    Political Science introduces students to political science theories and methodologies used in the scientific study of political institutions and behavior. The Associate in Arts in Political Science for Transfer degree will provide students with the foundational knowledge necessary to identify research and statistical methods appropriate to political science, to compare and contrast the major theoretical perspectives in political science, and synthesize the analysis of institutions and individuals. The Associate in Arts in Political Science for Transfer degree is designed to assist students in seamlessly transferring to a CSU major in Political Science.

    To earn an associate degree for transfer, a student must complete 60 semester units that are eligible for transfer to a CSU that consist of: IGETC pattern or CSU GE breadth and a major of at least 18 units. Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 in all CSU-transferable coursework to receive an associate degree for transfer and all courses in the major must be completed with a C or better. Students earning an associate degree for transfer will not be required to complete any other local graduation requirements.

    Required Courses

    Course Prefix Course Name Units
    Core Courses
    POLI 1Introduction to American Government and Politics3
    or POLI 1H Introduction to American Government and Politics - Honors
    List A
    Choose three courses from the following:9-10
    MATH 110
    Elementary Statistics
    or MATH 110H
    Elementary Statistics - Honors
    or PSYC 10
    Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences
    POLI 2
    Comparative Politics
    POLI 5
    Political Theory I - Ancient to Contemporary
    POLI 9
    International Relations
    List B
    Choose two courses from the following or any course not selected in List A:6
    ANTH 5
    Cultural Anthropology
    BUSC 1A
    Principles of Economics - Macroeconomics
    or BUSC 1AH
    Principles of Economics - Macroeconomics - Honors
    GEOG 2
    Human Geography
    or GEOG 2H
    Human Geography - Honors
    GEOG 5
    World Regional Geography
    GEOG 30
    Geography of California
    HIST 1
    History of the United States
    HIST 4
    World History: Early Modern to the Present
    or HIST 4H
    World History: Early Modern to the Present - Honors
    HIST 7
    History of the United States to 1877
    or HIST 7H
    History of the United States to 1877 - Honors
    HIST 8
    History of the United States from 1865
    or HIST 8H
    History of the United States from 1865 - Honors
    POLI 7
    Political Theory II - Early Modern to Contemporary
    POLI 10
    Environmental Politics
    POLI 25
    Latino Politics in the United States
    POLI 35
    African American/Black Politics
    PSYC 1A
    Introduction to Psychology
    or PSYC 1AH
    Introduction to Psychology - Honors
    SOC 1
    Introduction to Sociology
    or SOC 1H
    Introduction to Sociology - Honors
    Total Units for Major18-19
    CSU General Education or IGETC Pattern 139-42
    Total Units60
    1

    Courses may be double-counted with either CSU-GE or IGETC.

How to Complete the Program

Guided Pathways

Program Guided Pathways

Contacts

Department Contact

Contact: Humanities & Social SciencesTitle: DIvisionContact: hssdiv@mtsac.edu

Office Contact

Location: Building 66-225Phone: (909) 274-4570