Political Service Teacher

Political Science

What is Political Science?

Political Science is the study of power, decision-making, and how communities organize themselves to live together. It’s not just about who wins elections; it’s about the rules, ideas, and people that shape our world. Think of it as the toolkit for understanding how laws are made, why governments behave the way they do, and how ordinary people can influence big changes.

In this field, you’ll explore topics like voting, rights, justice, racial politics, and public policy. You’ll look at different systems such as democracies, autocracies, and everything in between to see what works, what doesn’t, and why. You’ll learn how leaders persuade us, how protests can spark reform, and how data and evidence shape smart decisions.

What you study in Political Science helps you become a better citizen: you’ll learn to read news critically, ask tough questions, and argue ideas respectfully. You’ll gain skills in analysis, debate, and clear communication which is useful in careers from law and journalism to nonprofit work and government service. If you’re curious about how decisions affect your daily life from things like education funding, urban planning, and climate policy then political science is for you. It’s a field that combines curiosity with real-world impact, and it welcomes diverse perspectives and voices.

Why Students Should Take Political Science Courses at WLAC

Political Science helps you understand the world you’ll be living in after college; how decisions are made, who has power, and how you can have a voice in shaping your community. At West LA College, you’ll find practical courses that connect what you learn to real life circumstances. You’ll explore how laws, elections, and public services actually work; you’ll compare how different nations organize government and why some systems succeed while others face challenges; you’ll dive into global events, diplomacy, and how nations cooperate or clash on issues that affect us all; and you’ll examine how race, ethnicity, and gender shape politics and policy in the United States.

These courses build essential skills such as clear writing, strong analysis, evidence-based thinking, and the ability to argue ideas respectfully. They’re useful for any major and can lead to careers in law, journalism, public service, or nonprofit work. If you’re curious about power, policy, and making change, Political Science is for you.

What WLAC Students Can Do with a Political Science Degree

A Political Science degree opens doors to many meaningful paths. You’ll gain skills in clear writing, careful reasoning, and evidence-based thinking that employers from law firms to tech firms value deeply. You can pursue careers in law, journalism, public policy, or nonprofit work, where understanding power, policy, and people helps you make real change. Roles in government, city planning, or public affairs let you shape budgets, elections, and services that affect daily life. Internationally minded students can explore diplomacy, international organizations, or global nonprofits. You’ll also be ready for graduate study in law or policy, or for roles in advocacy, community organizing, or research. Even if you’re not sure of a specific job, the degree builds versatile, in-demand skills that help you think critically, communicate persuasively, and work well on teams. If you’re curious about how decisions impact communities and want a flexible, impactful career path, studying Political Science at West LA College is indeed a smart starting point.

Your journey in the social sciences starts here at WLAC, come join our community of learners and changemakers!

Contact

Division Chair


Tiffany Lanoix

@email

Course Advisor 


Christopher Lee

Leecb@WLAC.EDU

Pathway

Political Science

Location

GC 380

 

Political Science at WLAC

Click below for more information about the Political Science program at WLAC.

POLS C1000 American Government and Politics (3) UC/CSU Formerly POL SCI 001: The Government of the United States

This course is an introduction to government and politics in the United States and California. Students examine the constitutions, structure, and operation of governing institutions, civil liberties and civil rights, political behaviors, political issues, and public policy using political science theory and methodology. (GE Areas - CalGETC: 4H)

POL SCI 002 Introduction to Comparative Politics (3) UC/CSU Advisory: ENGL C1000 or ENGLISH 101Y

Comparative analysis of different kinds of political systems, including their history, political institutions, processes and policies, the environments in which they occur, and their consequences. (GE Areas - CalGETC: 4H)

POL SCI 007 Introduction to International Relations (3) UC/CSU Advisory: ENGL C1000 or ENGLISH 101Y

This course is a survey of the factors involved in international relations today. Emphasis is placed on providing the student with a historical and theoretical framework for the analysis of world affairs. (GE Areas - CalGETC: 4H)

POL SCI 014 Government and Politics in the Middle East (3) UC/CSU

This course surveys the culture, history, and resources of the countries in the region and their relationship with each other and with the western world. (GE Areas - CalGETC: 4H)

POL SCI 017 Government and Politics in Latin America (3) UC/CSU

This introductory course provides a framework for understanding and analyzing the governments, politics and institutions of Latin America in connection with the region's diverse cultures and societies and their markets and economies in the context of the global economy. (GE Areas - CalGETC: 4H)

POL SCI 020 Race and Ethnicity in Politics (3) CSU

The social construction of racial and ethnic groups in American society and their relationship to local, state, and national governments are covered. The problems of racism, discrimination and assimilation, and the impact of ideology on integration into the political system are covered. In addition, the course examines voting behavior and pressure group politics, resistance and political action, the social construction of race and racism, and the political conditions shaping our understanding of the poor. The course also explores the political challenges faced by the aged, the young, and women.

POL SCI 060 Introduction to Globalization (3) UC/CSU Advisory: ENGL C1000 or ENGLISH 101Y

Introduction to the phenomenon of globalization from the broad perspectives of economics, governments and conflicts, and cultures and societies. Structured around these three pillars of globalization, this course is designed to provide a framework for understanding the multiple and complex connections that globalization produces among nation-states, non-governmental organizations, and societies around the world with their particular ethnic, cultural and religious groups. (GE Areas - CalGETC: 4H)

POL SCI 061 Global Issues (3) UC/CSU Advisory: ENGL C1000 or ENGLISH 101Y

This course introduces students to the origins, current status, and future trends of major transnational issues confronting the global community. Topics can include population trends, economic development and inequality, basic human needs (such as food, water, health care, and shelter), human rights, international conflict, migration, security concerns, and environmental problems. The course also focuses on global governance, including the study of collective global responsibilities. (GE Areas - CalGETC: 4)

Meet with a WLAC counselor to decide which courses meet your academic and personal needs. You can meet one-on-one with counselors either on-campus or virtually. Consult the Counseling Center’s website for hours and days of operation. Counseling appointments may be made through one of the following:

  • On-Line Counseling webpage.
    • counseling hours for individual counselors can be found on this page
    • you may select a specific counselor or the next available
  • Through email at wlac-cnseldsk@laccd.edu   
  • Using the on-line counseling request form
  • In person at the Counseling Front Desk located in SSB 350.
  • By calling the Counseling Center directly at (310) 287-7242.

Program Offered

Associate of Arts for Transfer Degree (AA-T)

The Associate of Arts in Political Science for Transfer degree is designed to provide lower-division preparation for students who intend to transfer to a CSU for a bachelor’s degree in political science or similar major. This degree includes coursework that may align with lower-division requirements for transfer to various universities within the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems. While this degree guarantees admission to the CSU, it is not to any particular campus or program. Students are encouraged to contact the Transfer Office to learn more about transfer and to meet with a counselor for major preparation at the college of their choice in order to facilitate a seamless transition.

To earn an Associate Degree for Transfer, students must meet the following requirements: 1) Completion of 60 semester units or 90 quarter units of degree-applicable courses, 2) Minimum overall grade point average of 2.0, 3) Minimum grade of "C" (or "P") for each course in the major, and 4) Completion of IGETC and/or CSU GE-Breadth.

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Man looks directly in camera

Christopher Lee is an Associate Professor of Political Science at West Los Angeles College. He earned his BA, MA, and Ph.D. in Political Science from UCLA, completing his graduate studies in 2011 after a decade of study. Early in his career he served as a Legislative Assistant for nearly five years in the California State Assembly, experience that informs his teaching with real-world governance insight. In addition to his current full-time teaching role at West LA, he has taught Political Science courses at multiple colleges and has taught African American Political Thought, Global Economics, and courses on Race and Ethnicity, among other areas, enriching students’ understanding of policy and society. He is dedicated to student equity and uses culturally responsive teaching practices to connect course content with students’ lives and communities. His passion is to help students understand what makes American politics tick and to empower them to engage thoughtfully and critically with public life.

This collection of interviews contributes to a continuous project that seeks to amplify the scholarship and contributions of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to the profession and investigate the history of race and racism in the political science profession. It further builds upon the APSA-Pi Sigma African American Alpha Oral History Project (1988-1994) and is motivated by the McClain Task Force on Systemic Inequality in the Discipline (2022).