Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

Date of BOR Approval
Program Learning Outcomes
Admission Requirements
Graduation Requirements
Summary of Credit Units
Curriculum Checklist
Individual Course Titles and Descriptions with Credit Units, Pre-requisites, and/or Co-requisites

The BA Political Science program is a multidisciplinary undergraduate program that covers the traditional study of politics, emerging issues on health social sciences, Islamic and other religious movements, peace and conflict resolution, human rights, gender studies, sustainable development and the organizing ethics in people’s diplomacy, from the statist approach to the civil society approach. The program offers opportunities in law, teaching, advocacy, and foreign service and international affairs to its graduates.

Date of BOR Approval (Institution)

May 27, 1999

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts in Political Science program are expected to be able to:

  1. compare and contrast the major concepts, theories, and methods in Political Science;
  2. design and execute research using rigorous quantitative and qualitative methods guided by appropriate theories or conceptual frameworks;
  3. demonstrate written, visual and oral presentation skills to produce and present analytical reports;
  4. critique and respond to current issues and problems based on a substantive understanding of the historical and contemporary developments in the national and global contexts; and
  5. be predisposed towards ethical political involvement and practice in various forms and on different levels of engagement.

Admission Requirements

  1. Complete UPCAT application (with Form 1 and Form 2B)
  2. Take UPCAT
  3. Upload high school records and supporting documents
  4. Get your UPG score and wait for offers
  5. Prepare for possible interview/essay (if required by CAS)
  6. Accept offer and complete health requirements

Graduation Requirements

  1. Students must file a formal application as candidates for graduation with the office of the Dean of their respective colleges. They shall be recommended for graduation by the faculty of their respective colleges after having satisfied all academic and other requirements prescribed for graduation.
  2. During the first three (3) weeks after the opening of classes in each semester, each Dean or the duly authorized representative, shall submit to the University Registrar a list of candidates for graduation at the next commencement. The University Registrar, in consultation with the chairs of divisions or departments concerned, shall then inquire into the academic records of the candidates to ascertain whether any candidate in such a list has any deficiency to make up and whether s/he has fulfilled all other requirements to be a candidate for graduation. If there is any question regarding a candidate, her/his name should not be deleted from the list of candidates for graduation, but a footnote to that effect should be made. Ten (10) weeks before the end of a semester, the University Registrar shall publish a complete list of duly qualified candidates for graduation for that semester (Revised UP Code: Art. 406 as amended at 790th BOR Meeting: 19 Dec 1969 and 861st BOR Meeting: 29 May 1975).
  3. All candidates for graduation must have their deficiencies settled and their records cleared not later than five (5) weeks before the end of their last semester, with the exception of those in academic subjects and work in Physical Education and NSTP, in which the student is currently enrolled (Revised UP Code: Art. 407).

Summary of Credit Units

Category Credit Units
General Education 27.0
Foundation 41.0
Majors 48.0
Cognate 12.0
Legislated 3.0
Total 146.0

Curriculum Checklist

First Year
First Semester Second Semester
Course Code Credit Units Course Code Credit Units
GE (CORE) WIKA 1 (Wika, Kultura at Lipunan) 3.0 GE (CORE) COMM 10 (Critical Perspectives in Communication) 3.0
GE (CORE) KAS 1 (Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas) 3.0 GE (CORE) MATH 10 (Math, Culture and Society) 3.0
GE (PRESCRIBED) 3.0 GE (CORE) ETHICS 1 (Ethics and Moral Reasoning) 3.0
Communication I (Communication Skills I) 3.0 Communication II (Communication Skills II) 3.0
Mathematics 11 (College Algebra) 3.0 Psychology 101 (General Psychology) 3.0
Political Science 11 (Introduction to Political Science) 3.0 Political Science 14 (Philippine Politics) 3.0
PE 1 2.0 PE 2 2.0
NSTP 1 3.0 NSTP 2 3.0
Total 15.0 Total 18.0
Second Year
First Semester Second Semester Midyear
Course Code Credit Units Course Code Credit Units Course Code Credit Units
GE (CORE) STS (Science, Technology & Society) 3.0 GE (PRESCRIBED) 3.0 Political Science 190 (Practicum) 6.0
GE (PRESCRIBED) 3.0 Economics 101 (Macroeconomic) 3.0
Communication III (Speech Communication) 3.0 Political Science 110 (Political Analysis) 3.0
Economics 11 (Introductory Economics) 3.0 Political Science 130 (Introduction to Health and Politics) 4.0
Political Science 150 (Introduction to Philippine Public Administration) 3.0 Political Science 170 (Introduction to Comparative Politics) 3.0
Political Science 160 (Introduction to Political Dynamics) 3.0 Political Science 182 (Introduction to International Politics) 3.0
PE 2 2.0 PE 4 2.0
Total 18.0 Total 19.0 Total 6.0
Third Year
First Semester Second Semester Midyear
Course Code Credit Units Course Code Credit Units Course Code Credit Units
Economics 102 (Microeconomics) 4.0 Community Development 100 (The Philippine Community) 3.0 CMSC 190 (Practicum) 3.0
Philosophy 11 (Logic) 3.0 Political Science 126 (Philippine Political Thought) 3.0
Political Science 120 (Introduction to Political Theory) 3.0 Political Science 178 (Southeast Asian Politics) 3.0
Political Science 199.1 (Quantitative Research in Political Science) 3.0 Political Science 199.2 (Qualitative Research in Political Science) 3.0
Public Administration 142 (Politics and Administration) 3.0 Cognate 3.0
Elective 3.0 Elective 3.0
Total 19.0 Total 18.0 Total 3.0
Fourth Year
First Semester Second Semester
Course Code Credit Units Course Code Credit Units
Economics 151 (Government Finance) 3.0 Philosophy 171 (Ethics) 3.0
Political Science 200 (Thesis) 3.0 PI 100 (The Life and Works of Jose Rizal) 3.0
Cognate 3.0 Cognate 3.0
Cognate 3.0 Elective 3.0
Elective 3.0 Elective 3.0
Total 15.0 Total 15.0

Individual Course Titles and Descriptions with Credit Units, Pre-requisites, and/or Co-requisites

Major Courses

Course Code: Political Science 11
Course Title: Introduction to Political Science
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: None
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Concepts, theories, and principles of political sciences, types of political systems

Course Code: Political Science 14
Course Title: Philippine Government and Politics
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: None
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Development, organization, and operation of the Philippine political system with emphasis on the present

Course Code: Political Science 110
Course Title: Political Analysis
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: Pol Sci 11 and Pol Sci 14
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Frameworks of political analysis and approaches for understanding and explaining political phenomena

Course Code: Political Science 120
Course Title: Introduction to Political Theory
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 11 and PolSci 14
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: An introduction to major themes and key concepts in normative political theory

Course Code: Political Science 130
Course Title: Introduction to Health and Politics
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 11 and PolSci 14
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Political analysis as applied to issues of health; Concepts, approaches and principles in health policy and administration, political economy of health, and health advocacy and communication

Course Code: Political Science 150
Course Title: Introduction to Philippine Public Administration
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 11 and PolSci 14
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Principles, practices, and problems of public administration; historical, behavioral and institutional analysis and evaluation of the national and local bureaucracy and administration of the Philippines

Course Code: Political Science 160
Course Title: Society, Politics and Government
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 11 and PolSci 14
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Society as the matrix of politics; political power and leadership; patterns in decision-making; political modernization and development

Course Code: Political Science 170
Course Title: Introduction to Comparative Politics
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 11 and PolSci 14
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: An introduction to comparative political processes in the developed and developing states

Course Code: Political Science 181
Course Title: American Foreign Policy
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 182
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Development of American foreign policy, forces, techniques and problems in the formulation and implementation of the United States foreign policy in the major regions, with emphasis on Asia

Course Code: Political Science 182
Course Title: Introduction to International Politics
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 11 and PolSci 14
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Interplay of political forces in the international system, national power, national interests and goals, settlement of international disputes

Course Code: Political Science 190
Course Title: Practicum
Credit Units: 6.0
Pre-requisite: Must have taken more than 90 units including PA 142 and CD 100
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: A field course to enable students to practice theories, concepts, and principles learned in political science

Course Code: Political Science 198
Course Title: Special Problems in Political Science
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 11, PolSci 14, and PolSci 110
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Special Problems

Course Code: Political Science 199.1
Course Title: Quantitative Research in Political Science
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: Pol Sci 110, Math 11
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Quantitative approaches, design, and methods in political science research

Course Code: Political Science 199.2
Course Title: Qualitative Research in Political Science
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: Pol Sci 199.1
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Qualitative approaches, design, and methods in political science research

Course Code: Political Science 200
Course Title: Thesis
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: Pol Sci 110, Pol Sci 199.1, and Pol Sci 199.2
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Directed research and writing of undergraduate thesis

Course Code: Public Administration 142
Course Title: Politics and Administration
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: Pol Sci 150
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Principles, concepts, and techniques for systematic analysis and decision-making in public policy

Course Code: Public Administration 161
Course Title: Government Planning
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: Pol Sci 150
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Principles, concepts, and techniques for systematic analysis and decision-making in public policy

Electives

Course Code: Political Science 122
Course Title: Ancient and Medieval Political Theory
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 120
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Political thought from Plato to Machiavelli

Course Code: Political Science 123
Course Title: Modern Political Theory
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 120
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Political thought from Machiavelli with emphasis on the contemporary

Course Code: Political Science 124
Course Title: American Political Theory
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 120 and PolSci 171
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Political and social ideas of leading American statesmen, publicist, and other thinkers from the colonial period to the present and their influence upon American democracy

Course Code: Political Science 125
Course Title: Asian Political Thought
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 120
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Main currents of Asian political thought

Course Code: Political Science 126
Course Title: Philippine Political Thought
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 120
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Main currents of Philippine political thought

Course Code: Political Science 128
Course Title: Contemporary Political Theory
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 120
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Contemporary currents in political theory

Course Code: Political Science 131
Course Title: Biopolitics
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 130
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Various traditions of critical theory as applied to issues on the dynamic relationship between health, body and political processes

Course Code: Political Science 132
Course Title: Comparative Health Policy
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 130
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Politics of health care and the making of health policy in the Philippines and other health and political systems around the world

Course Code: Political Science 139
Course Title: Special Topics in Health and Politics
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 130
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Special Topics

Course Code: Political Science 151
Course Title: The Executive
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 150
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: The national executive in the Philippines; its nature and development

Course Code: Political Science 152
Course Title: Philippine Legislative System
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 150
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Structure and function of the Philippine legislative system; legislative behavior and legislative processes; statute and bill drafting; executive and judicial law-making

Course Code: Political Science 153
Course Title: Philippine Judicial System
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 150
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Role of courts and other law enforcement agencies in the administration of justice

Course Code: Political Science 159
Course Title: Special Topics in Philippine Politics
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 150
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Current Issues in Philippine politics

Course Code: Political Science 161
Course Title: Political Parties and Interest
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 160
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: The types and structures of political parties and interest groups; their functions in the political system; their strategy and tactics, particularly in aggregating and articulating interest in controlling governmental power and public policy

Course Code: Political Science 162
Course Title: Politics of Change
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 160
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Problems of social, economic and political change in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America

Course Code: Political Science 163
Course Title: Political Behavior, Processes, and Movements
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 160
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Belief systems, nature, and development; processes and movements

Course Code: Political Science 171
Course Title: American Politics
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: None
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Theory and dynamics of the government and politics of the United States

Course Code: Political Science 172
Course Title: European Politics
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 170
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Political systems of the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Russia

Course Code: Political Science 173
Course Title: United Kingdom and Commonwealth Politics
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 170
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Political systems of the United Kingdom and the principal Commonwealth States

Course Code: Political Science 177
Course Title: East Asian Politics
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 170
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Political systems of Japan, the People's Republic of China, North Korea, Nationalist China, and Republic of South Korea

Course Code: Political Science 178
Course Title: Southeast Asian Politics
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 170
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Political systems of Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia

Course Code: Political Science 179
Course Title: Government and Politics of South Asia
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 170
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Political systems of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Nepal

Course Code: Political Science 179.1
Course Title: Special Topics in Comparative Politics
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 170
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Special Topic

Course Code: Political Science 180
Course Title: Philippine Foreign Policy
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 182
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Development of Philippine foreign policy, forces, techniques and problems in the formulation and implementation of the Philippine foreign policy

Course Code: Political Science 183
Course Title: International Organizations
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 182
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Development, structures, functions, and problems of international organization

Course Code: Political Science 184
Course Title: Diplomatic and Consular Practice
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 182
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Development, functions, organizations and problems of diplomatic and consular practice with emphasis on the Philippines

Course Code: Political Science 185
Course Title: Public International Law
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 182
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Nature, development, sources, principles and problems of international law and its role in the development of the international community; selected cases

Course Code: Political Science 186
Course Title: Private International Law
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 182
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Selected cases involving citizens or juridical entities of different states

Course Code: Political Science 189
Course Title: Special Topics in International Politics
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: PolSci 182
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Current issues in international politics

Course Code: Political Science 197
Course Title: Special Topics in Political Science
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: Must have taken 90 units
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: Current issues in Political Science

General Education Courses

Course Code: Soc Sci 2
Course Title: Social, Economic and Political Thought
Credit Units: 3.0
Pre-requisite: None
Co-requisite: None
Course Description: A survey of social, economic and political thinkers from the classical to the contemporary