Political Science (POLS)

Political Science at UH West O‘ahu puts government and policy analysis in the larger context of the search for the best way of life possible – the “Good Life”. Political studies involves understanding a way of life in its totality: what it is, what it was, and what it could and should be. This generally begins with an awareness of the most pressing problems of the age and how they impact the quality of life of the individual. The search for improvement then draws from a multi-civilizational, cross-cultural, comparative history of the human condition. This ranges from the baseline of the nine-tenths of human existence we spent as hunter-gatherers, to the various models of the industrial nation state and the emerging global electronic community.

The method of political science is distinctive in its emphasis on synthesis – making connections. Particular attention is paid to making the connection between the bigger picture of political reality and the life-experience of the student. The goal is to help students formulate their own vision of where society should be going, and then to motivate and equip them for responsible participation in public life. Teaching strategies emphasize active, democratic and multi-cultural modes of learning. Political science thus offers an excellent general education, relevant to careers in local and national government, international agencies, print and television journalism, law, public administration, social work, business, and teaching.

Concentration requirements:

For students with a concentration in Political Science, 42 credits are required, including the following courses:

    1. SSCI 486 enior Project or SSCI 490 Social Sciences Practicum

    2. SSCI 300    Philosophy of the Social Sciences

    3. SSCI 317    Fieldwork and Qualitative Methods

    4. SSCI 310    Applied Statistics I

    5. HUM 310   Writing Skills or passing score on the Writing Assessment Exam

    6. POLS 330    American Politics (or equivalent lower division course)

    7. POLS 302   Political Philosophy

    8. Additional courses in the discipline will be recommended for inclusion in the student’s educational plan based on specific competency goals established by the student. Courses that are in bold print are recommended.

    POLS 308   Science and the Modern Prospect
    POLS 316   Constitutional Law
    POLS 320   Global Issues
    POLS 326   Environmental Politics
    POLS 342   Indigenous Peoples and Modernity
    POLS 370   Politics and Public Policy
    POLS 371   Global Futures
    POLS 378   Meaning of Mass Media
    POLS 381   Hawai‘i Politics
    POLS 384   Women and Politics
    POLS 420   Politics of Culture
    POLS 430   Politics and Film
POLS 450   Asian Politics
    POLS 496   Selected Topics in Political Science (v)
    POLS 499   Directed Reading and Research (v)

9. Complementary Area: Nine credits in one additional Social Science concentration area.

Graduates with a concentration in Political Science from UH West O‘ahu should be able to:

Demonstrate understanding of the basics of primordial, classical, modern, and post-modern political philosophy.
Use the Socratic method to integrate a variety of positions in political science.
Show progress in integrating personal experiences with a demonstrated understanding of the varieties of contemporary politics.
Demonstrate understanding of the role of the individual from local, state, and national, to global contexts.
Demonstrate understanding of how participation in political processes effects change.
Explain how political science interacts with other disciplines.