Welcome to UC Davis and the Department of Political Science!

Our department houses students in the following majors: Political Science (POL), Political Science - Public Service (PPS), and International Relations (IRE). Our majors are part of the College of Letters & Science. We also administer three minors: Political Science, War & Peace Studies, and Social Science Data Analysis & Visualization. We look forward to meeting you all soon! Have questions? Email us at poladvising@ucdavis.edu or check out our Frequently Asked Questions below!

Here's what to expect for the summer before you start here at UC Davis. On this page: 
 

• Our major events for summer 2025
• Orientation Steps: Getting Ready for Fall Quarter
• Frequently Asked Questions for Political Science & Political Science - Public Service Majors
• Frequently Asked Questions for International Relations Majors

Our major events (Summer 2025)

In addition to events for your major, make sure to follow ALL of the orientation steps listed below to ensure you are as prepared as possible for registering in classes for your first quarter, and for your arrival to UC Davis! Note: the content of each webinar is designed around a specific major and student type (first-year or transfer student) - make sure you are registering for the webinar that applies to you! 

• Political Science & Political Science-Public Service Majors: New First-Year Welcome Webinar

• Monday, July 14, 10-11am via Zoom - register here: https://ucdavis.zoom.us/meeting/register/IvdMOj5ZSDqf1ZwgMjfNcQ

  This session is for new first-year (freshman) students in the Political Science (POL) major and the Political Science - Public Service (PPS) major. Our Academic Peer Advisors will be providing an overview of the major requirements, suggestions for your first quarter's classes, and answering your questions.

• International Relations Majors: New First-Year Welcome Webinar

• Monday, July 14, 10-11am via Zoom - register here: https://ucdavis.zoom.us/j/97332956229?pwd=OyZT7PLBWx9XvB6PsbuGBLOebsKzSP.1

  This session is for new first-year (freshman) students in the International Relations (IRE) major. Our Academic Peer Advisors will be providing an overview of the major requirements and the tracks in the IRE major, suggestions for your first quarter's classes, and answering your questions.

• Political Science & Political Science-Public Service Majors: New Transfer Students Welcome Webinar

• Monday, July 21, 10-11am via Zoom - register here: https://ucdavis.zoom.us/meeting/register/nAbWUFPFSGyMQ2JJR_vAag

  This session is for new transfer students in the Political Science (POL) major and the Political Science - Public Service (PPS) major. Our staff advisors and Academic Peer Advisors will be discussing major requirements, how to assess your transfer coursework, suggestions for fall quarter classes, and answering any questions you have.

• International Relations Majors: New Transfer Students Welcome Webinar

• Monday, July 21, 10-11am via Zoom - register here: https://ucdavis.zoom.us/j/96160319970?pwd=UbPjaEbNYf4WtHfTVhlRayxOOOeZWf.1&jst=1

  This session is for new transfer students in the International Relations (IRE) major. Our staff advisors and Academic Peer Advisors will be discussing major requirements, how to assess your transfer coursework, suggestions for fall quarter classes, and answering any questions you have.

Orientation Steps: Getting Ready For Fall Quarter

Step 1: Aggie 101

Aggie 101 is an online experience that should take you approximately 1-2 hours to complete. By completing Aggie 101, you will:

• Be introduced to resources for your academic, personal, and social growth
• Know resources that can help meet your basic needs at UC Davis
• Understand the academic policies, requirements, and tools necessary for academic planning
• Identify ways you can build your community on campus

Students admitted for Fall Quarter will access Aggie 101 through their MyAdmissions checklist.

You must complete Aggie 101 before moving on to Aggie Advising. You will be unable to access Aggie 101 until you have created your UC Davis email account. For specific dates, see the Orientation Dates and Deadlines page.

Step 2: Aggie Advising

There are multiple parts to Aggie Advising - please ensure you participate in all the steps!

• Part 1:  Complete the Aggie Advising Canvas Modules.
• These modules will take you through the important and detailed information that you will need to select appropriate courses, balance your schedule, and register for your first quarter. You will also find resources and tips to help you explore your interests and ensure your first quarter at UC Davis is a success. You will receive an invitation to your UC Davis email, or you can navigate directly to the Canvas website where you will log in with your Kerberos ID.
• Part 2:  Attend a "Preparing for Pass 1" webinar
• These webinars are mandatory and are designed around your college and student type (first-year or transfer). Webinar registration directions will be sent to your UC Davis email. In the email, you will see multiple dates/times for this webinar. You only need to attend ONE session. This webinar will be hosted by current students and will demonstrate how to effectively use Schedule Builder, the online tool that you will use to register for courses here at UC Davis. A panel of students will share insights in building a balanced schedule and maximizing your time outside of classes. "Preparing for Pass 1" webinar registration will be available beginning Wednesday, June 25.
  
  College of Letters & Science: First-Year Sessions
  July 9, 12pm
  July 9, 3pm
  July 10, 3pm
  
  College of Letters & Science: Transfer Sessions
  July 15, 12pm
  July 16, 12pm
• Part 3: Attend a major advising webinar.
• See our upcoming major events above and attend the webinar that applies to you!
• (OPTIONAL) Part 4: Attend an advising appointment or drop-in advising.

• For First-Year Students: 

  Meet with the College of Letters & Science advisors for GE and academic planning: We strongly encourage you to meet with the College of Letters & Science advising team to discuss your fall quarter courses. The College of Letters & Science advising can discuss general academic planning and your General Education requirements set by the College and the University (this includes your Entry Level Writing Requirement [ELWR], foreign language, topical breath/core literacies, American History & Institutions requirement, and more). 

  To make an appointment with the College of Letters & Science advising team, go to appointments.ucdavis.edu, click on "Get Scheduled", then choose "Letters & Science Dean's Office". The College advisors also offer Express Advising (virtual drop-in advising for brief questions): https://lettersandscience.ucdavis.edu/advising/express-advising. Note: you will need to have completed BOTH Aggie 101 and Aggie Advising Canvas modules to be able to make an appointment. 
  
  Drop-in advising for your major: For questions about major-specific requirements for Political Science/International Relations, we will be holding major drop-in advising via Zoom on July 29 and 30, just for incoming first-year students. More information to follow with specific times and login instructions. We unfortunately are unable to provide major advising appointments to first-year students this summer. Please visit our drop-in advising for help with your major-specific questions.
   

  For Transfer Students: 

  Meet with a major advisor: We encourage you to meet with a major advisor for Political Science/International Relations this summer, so that you can take the appropriate major courses in the fall. Appointments will be available with major advisors starting July 22. You can book an appointment at https://appointments.ucdavis.edu/ by clicking on "Get Scheduled" and then "Kerr Hall Advising Center". Select your major when prompted. Note: you will need to have completed BOTH Aggie 101 and Aggie Advising Canvas modules to be able to make an appointment. 

  Meet with the College of Letters & Science advisors for GE and academic planning: We strongly encourage you to meet with the College of Letters & Science advising team to discuss your fall quarter courses. The College of Letters & Science advising can discuss general academic planning and your General Education requirements set by the College and the University (this includes foreign language, topical breath/core literacies, and more). If you completed an IGETC or CalGETC at community college, make sure that the College of Letters & Science has received it so that it can be applied to your requirements! 

  To make an appointment with the College of Letters & Science advising team, go to appointments.ucdavis.edu, click on "Get Scheduled", then choose "Letters & Science Dean's Office". The College advisors also offer Express Advising (virtual drop-in advising for brief questions): https://lettersandscience.ucdavis.edu/advising/express-advising. Note: you will need to have completed BOTH Aggie 101 and Aggie Advising Canvas modules to be able to make an appointment. 

Step 3: Registration

• Students register for classes using Schedule Builder. All new students will receive a Pass 1 appointment (course registration time) from the Office of the University Registrar. For a look at when your course registration week will be, visit the Registration Calendar. Your specific appointment can be viewed in Schedule Builder. More information about pass times and course registration can be found by viewing Aggie 101.
• The College of Letters and Science has put together a comprehensive resource with information about registration.
• Need additional support?
  • Drop-in advising available with the College of Letters & Science advising team: https://lettersandscience.ucdavis.edu/advising/express-advising. If you have general questions about your classes, General Education requirements, or academic planning, go here.
  • For major-specific questions, Check out instructions above on how to access advising for your major as an incoming first-year or as an incoming transfer student. 

Step 4: Fall Aggie Orientation

Step 5: Start your first quarter at UC Davis!

The first day of Fall 2025 instruction is Wednesday, September 24. Go Aggies!

Frequently Asked Questions for Political Science & Political Science - Public Service Majors

• Do I need to take the chemistry or math placement exams? Do I need to take STEM courses?
• As Political Science and Political Science – Public Service majors, the math and chemistry placement exams are NOT required. Math (MAT), Chemistry (CHE), or Biology (BIS) courses are also NOT required to be able to complete your major. However, if you plan on taking these courses at some point, such as for electives or for potential double majors/minors in STEM fields, the placement exams may be required to eventually take those courses, so you may want to complete them now.
• What classes should I take (or not take) in my first quarter?
• We recommend 1-2 major courses and 1-2 General Education or elective courses, for a total of 12-15 units. For first-year Political Science and Political Science - Public Service students, any of the fundamental POL lower-division courses (POL 1, 2, 3 or 4) would be great options to take in your first quarter. For transfer students, any POL upper-division course (numbered 100-199, like POL 102, POL 140A, etc.) would be great to start with in your first quarter. First-year students are advised against taking upper-division courses in their first year. For ALL students, we recommend that you do NOT take POL 51 in your first quarter.
• I don't have a major class in my schedule for fall quarter - what should I do?
• That's okay! Courses might be full, you might need to take some GE courses, or there might be other courses you're interested in exploring. As a first-year student, if you don't take any major courses in your first quarter, it'll be okay - both the Political Science and Political Science - Public Service majors don't require a lot of units, so you can still graduate in your preferred timeline. Come talk to an advisor about academic planning in your first year if you have a specific graduation timeline in mind.
• Is POL 001 required?
• POL 1 is only a required course for Political Science - Public Service majors. It is recommended for all political science students, especially if you did not take an American government course in high school. You do not need to take POL 001 specifically in your first quarter, even if you are a Public Service major.
• Do I have to take the POL 1, 2, 3, 4 courses in order?
• No. You can take the lower division courses in any order you choose.
• What are lower-division vs. upper-division courses?
• Lower-division courses are numbered 0-99. Examples include POL 1, POL 11C, STA 13. 
  Upper-division courses are numbered 100-199. Examples include POL 104, POL 140C, POL 151. 
  Courses numbered 200+ are for graduate students.
• A class I saw in the catalog isn’t available on Schedule Builder. How can I find it?
• Not all courses in the catalog are offered every quarter. The courses available on Schedule Builder are the only ones offered during the selected quarter. If there's a specific course you're looking to take, keep an eye out on Schedule Builder in future quarters as it may be offered in the future. You can also find a tentative schedule of POL courses for the whole academic year on our department website.

• What’s the difference between the Political Science and Political Science - Public Service majors?

• The Political Science major allows you to take courses from four fields of political science: American politics, comparative politics, international relations and political theory. The Political Science-Public Service major focuses specifically on American government and policy processes, and allows you to take courses in certain policy areas like environmental or economic policy. The Public Service major also requires an internship and research experience. Either major can be broadly applied to career fields or graduate/law schools. You can learn more about the majors here.
• Can I double major or add a minor?
• Yes, and we encourage it! Both Political Science and Political Science - Public Service majors will need additional units to graduate, in addition to completing your major requirements - so double majoring or adding a minor is a great way to get those additional units. Think about your interests and goals in selecting a second major or minor, and take a look at the options in the Degree Explorer. Consider taking a class in the subject you're interested in to see if it's a good fit for you. 
  
  Note: You cannot double major within the same department - Political Science, Political Science - Public Service, and International Relations cannot double major with each other.
• Can I change my major?
• You will be able to change your major or declare a double major AFTER you have completed your first quarter at UC Davis. You can, however, start taking courses for your intended major in your first quarter, if you wish to do so. Make sure to check in with the advising team for your intended major about changing major.
• Do I need to take a foreign language?
• The College of Letters and Science does have a foreign language requirement that applies to all Political Science and Political Science - Public Service majors. You can read about the policy here. Check with the College of Letters & Science advisors on whether you need to take a foreign language course. 

Frequently Asked Questions for International Relations Majors

• Do I need to take the math or chemistry placement exams? 

• As an International Relations major, you have no need to take the Chemistry placement exam (unless you identify other academic goals that would require Chem classes, like a minor in a STEM subject, for example). You are welcome to skip the Chem placement exam if you do not anticipate any STEM related additional academic goals.

  There is only one track, Track 1A, World Trade and Development with a focus on industrialized countries, that would require Calculus. If you are confident that you are not planning on pursuing Track 1A, you are also welcome to skip the Math placement exam. If you find yourself considering Track 1A, you may want to complete the Math placement exam.

• Do I need to take a foreign language?
• Probably! The International Relations major has a language requirement of roughly two years of college level study or demonstrated equivalent. This means that native or heritage speakers of a language other than English could take a proficiency exam to prove proficiency and possibly complete the requirement without taking a course. Students with sufficient AP scores in certain languages may also have already met the IR language requirement. If you do not already have a high level of proficiency in a language other than English or an AP score that fulfills the requirement, you can view the language course series that you will need to complete on the IR major website. If you have taken some language courses but do not anticipate testing out of the language requirement altogether, you may want to consider taking a placement exam to determine the appropriate language course for which to register.  
• What classes should I take (or not take) in my first quarter?
• We recommend 1-2 major courses and 1-2 General Education or elective courses, for a total of 12-15 units. For first-year International Relations students, this could come from the language requirement or the preparatory subject matter requirement (with the exception of ECN 1A, ECN 1B, STA 13, POL 12Y or POL 51 which we do not recommend taking your first quarter). First-year students are advised against taking upper-division courses in their first year. For transfer students, any remaining preparatory subject matter (except for POL 51) courses or language courses are a good idea for fall. You could also look at any Track or Area Study courses that either have no prerequisites or you have already met the prerequisites with your transfer work.  For ALL students, we recommend that you do NOT take POL 51 in your first quarter.
   
• I don't have a major class in my schedule for fall quarter - what should I do?
• That's okay! Courses might be full, you might need to take some GE courses, or there might be other courses you're interested in exploring. As a first-year student, if you don't take any major courses in your first quarter, it'll be okay – International Relations is a relatively low unit total major, so you can still graduate in your preferred timeline. Come talk to an advisor about academic planning in your first year if you have a specific graduation timeline in mind. Transfer students, between lower division, Track & Area Study requirements you should be able to find at least 1-2 courses for your major for your first quarter. Make sure to schedule an advising appointment (after completing Aggie 101 and the Aggie Advising Canvas modules) to discuss your planned schedule for fall.
• What are lower-division vs. upper-division courses?
• Lower-division courses are numbered 0-99. Examples include ANT 2, ECN 1B, and POL 3 
  Upper-division courses are numbered 100-199. Examples include ANT 127, ECN 110B, and POL 132.  
  Courses numbered 200+ are for graduate students.
• A class I saw in the catalog isn’t available on Schedule Builder. How can I find it?
• Not all courses in the catalog are offered every quarter. The courses available on Schedule Builder are the only ones offered during the selected quarter. If there's a specific course you're looking to take, keep an eye out on Schedule Builder in future quarters as it may be offered in the future. You can also find a tentative schedule of courses for the whole academic year on many departmental websites. Additionally, we create IR course grids each quarter where you can find which upper division courses for the major are being planned for the upcoming quarter. These documents are still somewhat tentative and need to be checked against Schedule Builder.
• How and when should I declare my Track with International Relations?
• Ideally, you know what Track you would like to pursue by the time you start taking upper division courses for the major. Your preparatory subject matter courses will help you determine your strengths and interests in different courses and looking ahead to the classes that fall under each Track will help you decide which Track feels like a good fit. There is no official Track declaration process. You can let your advisor know in an advising appointment, start a Track specific degree worksheet in OASIS, or just start taking the courses required for your Track. Please keep in mind that the Tracks are not career specific and you should select a Track based on your interest in the courses for your Track.
• Can I double major or add a minor?
• Yes! International Relations majors will need additional units to graduate, in addition to completing your major requirements - so double majoring or adding a minor is a great way to get those additional units. Think about your interests and goals in selecting a second major or minor, and take a look at the options in the Degree Explorer. Consider taking a class in the subject you're interested in to see if it's a good fit for you. Note: You cannot double major or minor within the same department, so International Relations majors cannot double or minor with Political Science or Political Science - Public Service.
• Can I change my major?
• You will be able to change your major or declare a double major AFTER you have completed your first quarter at UC Davis. You can, however, start taking courses for your intended major in your first quarter, if you wish to do so. Make sure to check in with the advising team for your intended major about changing major.