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To see if you have already completed lower division courses transferrable to the Government B.A., consult http://www.assist.org/, the official source for California articulation and student transfer information. In Area A3,
we recommend Journalism 50, Mass Media and Critical Thinking, or Communication
Studies 2, Argumentation. Learning to think your way through an argument,
and to build an effective argument on behalf of a position, is an invaluable
skill and will serve you well in your Government courses.  Other Courses You Might Take: We are often asked what other courses Government majors should take. Considering that the major (36 units) and General Education (51 units) comprise 87 units and the B.A. requires 124 units, you have a considerable number of electives from which to choose in completing your degree. If you choose wisely, you can buttress your Government major with course work that will enhance your understanding and your skills and better prepare you for possible additional study or for a career.It is highly recommended that a Government major get a good grounding in Economics (Economics 1A minimally; more if you can handle it) and a solid background in history. Take History 17A and 17B, instead of just one, as you are required to do for GE. Other upper division history courses would also be a good idea; for example History 155A and 155B are a two-course sequence in 20th century American history; both are excellent courses. Writing: It is especially important for Government majors to work at becoming effective writers. In recent "Career Days" we have sponsored, where Government Department graduates returned to advise current students on preparing for careers, every single alumna/us stressed the importance of writing skills in the working world, at least in the jobs they held related to government and politics and law. They universally recommended our students take advanced writing courses in English and look for those courses around the campus that require writing.
Other Social Sciences: It is a good idea to get a solid general grounding in the other social sciences; this will enhance your understanding of your own discipline and better prepare you if you are thinking of undertaking graduate study. When you are making your course selections to meet General Education requirements, try where you can to select courses from other social sciences, including such departments as History, Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, Economics, and Geography.A
Minor?: The Government Department does not require its majors to take
a minor, as some other majors do. Most minors are twenty-one units and
meeting those requirements of course reduces the number of electives you
can sample within the 120 unit total for the B.A. However, if you want
to take a minor, there are a few "logical fits" with the Government
major. Economics is an excellent choice; it will give you knowledge and
skills that you can use in a future career and make you more attractive
to employers and possibly to graduate programs. It would certainly help
equip you for graduate work in public policy, which is a good field of
study for those interested in careers in government involving policy development
and analysis. For those interested in law school, a minor in English or
perhaps Philosophy is an excellent choice. History is another subject
that fits well as a minor for Government majors. Communication Studies
is a popular choice for a minor, especially for those Government majors
who want careers involving public relations or political communication.
If you think you are interested in Journalism, you should look at the
Government-Journalism joint major instead of the Journalism minor.
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