Political Science at UCLA?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Los Angeles
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<p>I realize that in the national rankings UCLA is highly ranked for political science, but I believe that is at the GRADUATE level, not undergrad.</p>

<p>Is there anyone that can give me some information about undergrad experiences in the political science dept at UCLA? I am assuming the 100-level classes are huge lectures with small group discussions led by TA's on other days. Scantron tests, etc.?? But what is it like? Does it get better (smaller classes, more interaction with professors) as you go into the 200 or 300-level classes? </p>

<p>Also are UCLA students able to get summer internships or other political science opportunities? Is there any political science research available to undergrads? How about the ability to get jobs after graduation? We know of one UCLA political science grad who is still looking for work, but it is a pretty lousy economy for college grads everywhere. </p>

<p>Thoughts, rumors, first-hand or even second-hand knowledge?</p>

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<p>Undergrads only take (primarily, there are special exceptions) classes labeled 1-199. 1-99 are “lower division” and 100-199 are “upper division”. Basically, you can also separate this between pre-major and major. 200+ classes are reserved only for graduate studies. </p>

<p>As far as class sizes, lower divison classes are often the largest with smaller (30ish) discussion groups. Classes can range anywhere from 100 to 400+. Upper division classes typically max out at around 200 and typically don’t have discussions.</p>

<p>Tests and grading are at the discretion of the professor. Some like scantrons, some like multiple choice, some like essays, some like a combination, etc…</p>

<p>As far as “connecting” with professors, this usually doesn’t happen in the lower divison. Primarily because it is somewhat “mutually understood” that the lower division teachers are simply a bridge for the students to get into the core of the material. Also, the sheer volume of students makes it impossible as some teachers will easily have over 1000 students during the course of a 9 month year. </p>

<p>Internships are really up to you. They are out there. It’s up to you to do the leg work, apply, and get out there. Political science is somewhat harder because, frankly, you are somewhat “limiting” your options if you want to go into political science. I mean, the industries you can select aren’t as abundant a, say accounting and business economics, where EVERY SINGLE INDUSTRY deals with money and needs someone to keep track of it. </p>

<p>And just a personal .02 here - the fact your friend can’t find work is purely on him. Using the economy as an excuse is pure crap and testifies to his laziness. If he wanted a job, he would get a job. Yeah, I’m sure the economy is limiting his options for his “dream job”, but lets get real - he needs to grow a sack and build himself up from the bottom and not expect to start so high.</p>

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<p>In the 14 classes I have taken in the political science department, I can say that I’ve taken a Scantron test only once. The format for exams is typically identification, short response, and/or essay in a bluebook, regardless of the size of the class. In those lower and upper division classes with graduate student TAs, they do all the grading in addition to leading the discussion sections. In those which do not have TAs, there is usually one or more graduate or undergraduate student graders who do the work.</p>

<p>The lower division classes in the department are always large, and some of the upper division classes in the department are very large, too. Around 120 seems to be the default size for upper division these days. Classes with the senior professors often are around 60 students, though, and there are seminars with 20 students or fewer. I really wouldn’t let class size scare you, especially if you are looking at other UCs. From what I’ve observed, UCLA’s class sizes aren’t any worse than them. In fact, I’ve seen UCs with lower division class sizes in excess of 500 students, something you would never encounter in this department and only very rarely at UCLA. </p>

<p>Some professors make a special effort to learn names and interact with students, but if you want them to be interested in you, you’ll usually have to spend time in their office hours. You’ll likely have more interaction with them if you take a seminar or choose to write a senior thesis. </p>

<p>Tenured or tenure track professors at UCLA will usually not have anywhere near 1000 students a year. Typically, they’ll teach only about two undergraduate classes a year, which means that they’ll have about 250 students. Part time lecturers, which teach a good number of classes in the department at the upper division levels, teach a course or two a quarter, for a total of about 360 students a year.</p>

<p>I can’t tell you much about the job market for political science majors, unfortunately, because I am not going to enter it (I am also in another, more career-oriented program). From what I’ve seen, however, the top students in the department are very often interested in law school and not in entering the workforce immediately upon graduation. Political science is a great major for this purpose because it enables you to earn a high GPA; there are no department-mandated curves. </p>

<p>Here are the names of some of the professors I have taken classes from and particularly liked.: Bawn, Geddes, Groseclose, Larson, Lewis (chair of the department), Pagden, Trachtenberg, Zaller</p>