Congratulations on your admission to UC Davis, Political Science students!
Our Department of Political Science academic programs are designed to give students a foundation in the mechanisms of politics and political systems at the national and international levels. All students, consistent with the research mission of UC Davis, will learn how to employ scholarly standards to assess the quality of political science research; and effectively write about political systems, processes, and theories in a rigorous manner. Our programs are excellent choices for graduate and law schools and a broad array of professional fields. Both Political Science and Political Science - Public Service majors offer excellent preparation for careers in municipal, state and federal elected office and support staff, advocacy, the legal profession, journalism, market research, public relations, urban policy planning, academics, political consulting, diplomacy, policy analysis, and other fields.
The Political Science major is intended to give students a broad understanding of political concepts, political institutions, political behavior and political processes. Lower-division coursework includes contemporary political science and the historical foundations of modern politics. In upper-division courses, students are exposed to a broad range of topics encompassing political theory, American government and institutions, public law, and international relations and comparative political systems.
The Political Science - Public Service major is for students who wish to concentrate on the means by which policy is formulated, implemented, evaluated and interpreted. In contrast to the Political Science major, the Political Science - Public Service major has an internship and research requirement and focuses specifically on the American political system. Students may choose from among internship opportunities with political, governmental and nonprofit organizations encompassing a wide range of activities and interests.
Check out the International Relations Major at UC Davis!
The International Relations major is also part of the Political Science Department. The discipline of International Relations (IR) involves exploration of differences among cultures and nations, as a means of finding commonalities for mutually constructive cultural and economic interactions. The International Relations Program is an interdisciplinary major encompassing specializations or tracks. Want to learn more about IR? Visit their website here.
Want to learn more about Political Science at UC Davis?
Attend Aggie Day! Our department's staff advisors and student peer advisors will be part of the Letters & Science Majors Fair. Look for us in the University Credit Union Center!
Attend our webinar after Aggie Day: Still have questions after Aggie Day? Our major advisors will be holding a webinar just for prospective Political Science and Political Science - Public Service students to answer any questions you may have. Join us Monday, April 13 from 3:30-5pm. Register here.
More information below:
Department of Political Science
- Political Science Major Overview
- Political Science - Public Service Major Overview
- Explore our Majors - Political Science, Political Science - Public Service, International Relations
- What can you do with a Political Science degree?
- Political Science or Political Science - Public Service: UC Davis Majors Blog
- Popular Double Majors and Minors for Political Science students
- Political Science Major requirements
- Political Science - Public Service Major requirements
- UC Davis Career Center: What can I do with my Major?
- Instagram: UC Davis Political Science Advising
Campus Resources
- College of Letters & Science & College Advising
- Pre-Grad/Pre-Law Advising
- Career Center Advising
- UC Center Sacramento - Internships
- UC Davis Washington Program - Internships in Washington, D.C.
- Global Learning Hub - Study Abroad
University of California, Davis
- UC Davis
- Undergraduate Admissions
- UC Davis General Catalog
- Academic Calendar
- Course Transfer Information for California Community Colleges
Contact Us
Department of Political Science
University of California, Davis
469 Kerr Hall
One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616
Questions? Undergraduate Admissions advisors are available! Contact Admissions here.