This recommended pathway meets the requirements of the AAS/DTA degree and prepares you for a university major in political science, political science/social studies, political science/economics, political science/economics/philosophy, or other combinations. You can customize your plan even more. Talk with your advisor about adapting it for your individual goals.
Scroll to the end for course suggestions.
Quarter 1 (13-14 credits)
POLS& 202 American government (5 credits)
ENGL& 101 English composition I (5 credits)
Physical education (1-2 credits)
EDPL 100 College success (2 credits)
This course is really helpful if you don't have much college experience.
Career exploration:
- Find your people! Attend area-of-study activities and connect with clubs with a focus on community activism, politics, sustainability, or leadership. See what student government is doing.
Action items:
- Meet with your advisor to build your degree plan in Starfish.
- Have your transfer-in credits officially evaluated.
- Visit the Intercultural Center, the Learning Center and the library.
Quarter 2 (15 credits)
HIST& 147 US history II (5 credits)
or other social science (5 credits): a course with "SS" at the end of the course description, but not a POLS course
ENGL& 201 Advanced composition (5 credits)
MATH& 146 Intro to statistics (5 credits) (preferred)
or other 100-level MATH course (5 credits)
If you're not ready for 100-level math, start the math sequence that leads to it.
Career exploration:
- Compare the different political science majors at universities you're interested in.
Quarter 3 (15 credits)
CMST& 101 Intro to communication (5 credits)
or CMST& 220 Public speaking (5 credits)
or CMST& 230 Small group communication (5 credits)
or CMST& 245 Organizational communication (5 credits)
Lab science (5 credits): a physical or biological science with "MS l" at the end of the course description
Humanities (5 credits): a course with "H" at the end of the course description
Career exploration:
- Ask your instructors about nearby conferences you might attend next year.
- Look for a summer job or internship related to your career goals.
Action items:
- Check the GPA and other entry requirements for your future major. Are you on track?
Quarter 4 (16-17 credits)
POLS& 201 Intro to political theory (5 credits)
Science (5 credits): a physical or biological science with "MS" or MS l" at the end of the course description
HIST& 128 World civilizations III (5 credits)
or HIST& 148 US history III (5 credits)
or other elective (5 credits)
Physical education (1-2 credits)
or other elective (2 credits)
You can use up to 3 total credits of activity PE in your AAS/DTA degree.
Career exploration:
- Listen to podcasts about political science or the kind of career you're aiming for.
Action items:
- Meet with your advisor about applying to universities. Start your transfer applications.
- Apply for next year's financial aid.
Quarter 5 (15-17 credits)
POLS& 203 International relations (5 credits)
IDS 210 Science/economics/politics of sustainable resources (5 credits)
or other science/math (5 credits): a science, an additional 100-level math course, or a programming course
Humanities (5 credits): a course with "H" at the end of the course description
Optional:
Physical education (1-2 credits)
or other elective (2 credits)
Take this elective only if you need it to reach 90 total 100- and 200-level credits.
You can use up to 3 total credits of activity PE in your AAS/DTA degree.
Action items:
Quarter 6 (15 credits)
ECON 100 Survey of economic principles (5 credits)
or other elective (5 credits)
Humanities (5 credits): a course with "H" at the end of the course description
Elective (5 credits)
Action items:
- Attend the spring job fair.
Course Suggestions
If your goal is to major in political science at WWU
- POLS& 202, POLS& 203 and POLS& 201 as listed above
- Elective (if offered):
POLS& 204 Comparative politics (preferred)
or POLS& 101 Intro to political science
If your goal is to major in political science/social studies at WWU
(leads to a secondary education endorsement in social studies)
- POLS& 202, POLS& 203 and POLS& 201 as listed above
- Elective (if offered):
POLS& 204 Comparative politics (preferred)
or POLS& 101 Intro to political science
- Social science or elective:
ANTH& 206 Cultural anthropology
or SOC 201 Social problems
or SOC 120 Marriage and family
ECON& 201 Microeconomics
ECON& 202 Macroeconomics
Note: as an alternative, wait until after transfer and take a course geared toward teaching economics.
HIST& 214 Pacific Northwest history
HIST& 126 World civilizations I
HIST& 128 World civilizations III
HIST& 146 US history I
HIST& 147 US history II and HIST& 148 US history III (must take both to get credit for WWU's HIST 104)
GEOG& 200 Human geography
If your goal is to major in political science/economics at WWU
- POLS& 202, POLS& 203 and POLS& 201 as listed above
- Elective (if offered):
POLS& 204 Comparative politics (preferred)
or POLS& 101 Intro to political science
- Social science or elective:
ECON& 201 Microeconomics
ECON& 202 Macroeconomics
- Math (Quarter 2), Math/science (Quarter 5) or elective:
MATH& 146 Intro to statistics
MATH& 141 Precalculus I
MATH& 142 Precalculus II (prereq for calculus I)
MATH& 151 Calculus I
MATH 145 Algebra applications for business and economics (prereq for business calculus)
MATH& 148 Business calculus
If your goal is to major in political science/economics/philosophy at WWU
- POLS& 203 as listed above
- POLS& 202 or POLS& 201 as listed above (not both)
- Social science or elective:
ECON& 201 Microeconomics
ECON& 202 Macroeconomics
- Humanities or elective:
PHIL& 101 Intro to philosophy
PHIL 130 Intro to ethics
- Math (Quarter 2), Math/science (Quarter 5) or elective:
MATH& 146 Intro to statistics
MATH& 141 Precalculus I
MATH& 142 Precalculus II (prereq for calculus I)
MATH& 151 Calculus I
MATH 145 Algebra applications for business and economics (prereq for business calculus)
MATH& 148 Business calculus
PHIL& 117 Traditional logic