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Undergraduate Program


Welcome to the Department of Political Science Undergraduate Program!

Political Science is the sixth largest major on campus, with over nine percent of UCSD students graduating from our department. Our department offers a general political science major along with eight areas of concentration - American politics, comparative politics, data analytics, international relations, political theory, public law, public policy, and race, ethnicity, and politics - and two minors. In recent years, many of our students have been admitted to leading graduate programs in political science, international business, economics, and law. They have also found employment in the private and government sectors.

The heart of the UCSD campus belongs to its seven undergraduate colleges - Eleanor Roosevelt, Earl Warren, Thurgood Marshall, John Muir, Revelle, Sixth, and the newest College - Seventh, which began in Fall 2020. Our college system combines the friendly intimacy of a small campus with the academic advantages of a major research university. Each of these colleges has a unique educational philosophy and different graduation requirements. Each faculty member is formally affiliated with one of these colleges. Departmental courses are open to students of all colleges.


Fall 2023 Newsletter 

Political Science Learning Objectives

New Triton Website

Campus Community Centers and Resources

 

Commitment to Action on Racial Injustice and Social Inequality

From the Division of Social Science's Dean Carol Padden


Do you have any advising questions? Visit the Virtual Advising Center

News


UCSD Ranked 9th

UC San Diego ranked 9th for "Affordable Elites" by Washington Monthly's 2019 national university college rankings.


UCSD Ranked 11th

U.S. scholars rank UCSD 13th in the top U.S. undergraduate institutions to study International Relations.


UCSD Ranked 4th 

The Center for the World University Rankings (CWUR) ranks University of California, San Diego as the fourth best public university in the U.S. and the 27th best university in the world. These rankings are based on quality of research, faculty, influence, enterprise and successful alumni.


 UCSD Ranked 9th 

U.S. News & World Report ranked UC San Diego the 9th best public university in the nation in its 2016 America's Best Colleges guidebook. UCSD is 39th among the more than 200 public and private universities ranked.


UCSD Listed at Top

UC San Diego is listed as the top California public university - ahead of UC Berkeley and UCLA - in Lumosity's annual ranking of the "smartest colleges in America." We are #23 overall.