Majors & Minors

The plastics sustainability minor is designed for students interested in an interdisciplinary approach to addressing the proliferation of plastic waste, which is a pressing sustainability issue for the 21st century. The plastics sustainability minor confronts this issue through a program that educates students on both technical aspects of polymer manufacturing and circularity and the broader economic and societal drivers that must be understood to confront and solve the plastics problem.

The plastics sustainability minor requires a minimum of 23 units, as follows:

The minor is designed to give students a grounding in the history, theory, production and business of podcasting. Students will develop a discerning ear for quality audio content and the best practices for effective oral communication. Students will learn practical skills required for the production of a variety of podcast formats, from narrative storytelling to interview/conversational to fictional podcasts. In addition, the course work will expose students to non-production aspects of podcasting such as branding, marketing, distribution, analytics, monetization and legal issues. The minor will equip students to start a podcast or seek employment for podcast production jobs.

The Bachelor of Arts in Political Economy explores the intersection of economics with politics in domestic and international contexts. It prepares students for engagement with global and regional questions that require analysis of economic and political causes and consequences and provides a useful background for a wide variety of entry positions in the public and private sectors.

The digital environment is changing the face of political organization, both in domestic American electoral politics and in the methods used by transnational social movements to call attention to problems around the globe. Howard Dean's use of the Internet to fund his 2004 presidential campaign has made other candidates aware of the political power of the Web in fundraising and grass-roots orchestration of local (and "global") events.

This minor should be of interest to students majoring in international relations, political science or other programs who plan to use technology to affect contemporary national and international affairs. As with all minors, students must choose four courses dedicated exclusively to this minor and four courses outside their major departments. These may, but need not be, the same four courses.

This minor is intended to help students engage in domestic and international political organizing by creating Websites, podcasting and using other new technologies. It should help students secure internships and jobs with political and international organizations, and generally improve their abilities to change the world.

Department majors are required to take ten courses (40 units) in political science.

Students who minor in political science must take five courses, 20 units, in political science. Students can either pursue course work in a traditional subfield (American politics, comparative politics, law and public policy, or political theory) or in a specific issue area of concentration (civil liberties and human rights, race, ethnicity, and gender, urban political problems, Asian politics, etc.).

Those who focus their studies on a traditional subfield must take the lower-level introductory course in that subfield: POSC 100 Theory and Practice of American Democracy (American politics); POSC 110 Ideology and Political Conflict (political theory); POSC 120 Comparative Politics (comparative politics) or POSC 130 Law, Politics and Public Policy (law and public policy).

Students pursuing the minor must also take four upper-division courses, three of which must be in the chosen subfield. Students choose from a predetermined list of courses divided by subfield in consultation with and approval of the department's undergraduate student adviser.

Those who pursue a specific issue area of concentration are required to take the department's designated gateway course, POSC 120 Comparative Politics, and at least three upper-division courses in the issue area of concentration. A fourth upper-division course must be taken in the issue area of concentration or a complementary area. The upper-division courses are chosen in consultation with and approval of the department's undergraduate student adviser.

This minor consists of courses that examine different aspects of popular music. The minor focuses on the study of the repertories and their cultural and social context. Students must be in good academic standing to be admitted. No previous musical experience is required.

The Practical Politics Minor offers students a unique opportunity to study the theory and practice of American Democracy. The minor includes courses on campaigns, elections, political communications, legislative politics, and governing. Students will engage with faculty who possess a wealth of knowledge and experience in electoral politics and campaign strategy. The minor will help students develop a multitude of skills applicable to the job market, such as problem solving, polling, social media analytics, micro-targeting, research, writing and public speaking. Students will also complete an internship that will provide them with professional training and exposure to different careers. In addition, students can pursue courses through Maymester and the Dornsife in Washington D.C. program toward the minor.

The Practical Politics Minor complements many majors in the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences including economics; sociology; philosophy, politics, and law; and international relations, as well as majors outside of the college including communications; business and public policy.

The ability to succeed in today's workplace necessitates a growing number of communication skills. As today's increasingly global and highly competitive marketplace grows in complexity, the need to understand intercultural differences, the power of structure in the workplace and other issues such as dealing with interpersonal conflicts continues to increase. This minor will provide students interested in the management of people, resources or products with these necessary tools. Requirements for admission are a minimum 3.0 GPA and completion of a minimum of 32 units (sophomore standing). The 3.0 GPA is a minimum standard and does not guarantee admission.

The Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences minor offers students the ability to explore knowledge, concepts and research in the areas of psychiatry and behavioral health, providing a solid foundation of these salient topics for students interested in pursuing professions within the healthcare field or applying these concepts more broadly in professional settings. 

A minimum of 16 units is required.