• Political Science Option

    Designed for students who are already Liberal Arts majors and who intend to pursue baccalaureate, masters or doctoral degrees in Political Science or related fields.

  • The Liberal Arts Political Science Option leads to an Associate of Arts Degree (A.A.). The Political Science Option provides students with extensive training in political science analysis, critical thinking skills, and research. Increasing political complexities of globalization require that students become better informed about politics (“who gets what, when and how”) and social arrangements to maintain peace and order within a society. Political science students learn to view local and global events from different perspectives. Learning about different systems and practices of government prepares Political Science students with knowledge and skills necessary to create social change through a variety of career choices.

  •  Advising Team

    In support of the LaGuardia’s mission to educate and graduate its students to become critical thinkers and socially responsible citizens, the College has undertaken a team approach toward advising, designed to support you in your major from orientation through graduation.

    Your Advising Team is made up of faculty, professional and peer advisors. They will guide you at every step during your college career. They are ready to help you:

    • Explore your major
    • Select introductory and advanced courses
    • Connect you with campus support services
    • Prepare an educational and career plan

    Visit the Advising page to learn more about when to get advised and how to prepare for an advising appointment, and check out the Advising Calendar for information sessions, events and more.


    Advisor Button

     Career Profile

    The Political Science Option can be applied in a wide range of careers in federal, state and local governments; law; business; international organizations; nonprofit associations and organizations; campaign management and polling; journalism; pre-collegiate education; electoral politics; research and university and college teaching.


    According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, industries with the highest level of employment for political scientists are (in ascending order): the federal executive branch; scientific research and development services; colleges, universities and professional schools; and social advocacy organizations. These four are also the top paying industries for this occupation, including local governments. The hourly mean wage ranges from $51.73 for political science jobs within the federal executive branch to $27.85 for jobs in colleges, universities and professional schools.


    The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the state of New York as one of the states with the highest concentration of political science workers. New York is also one of the five top paying states for this occupation, with the hourly mean wage of $41.06 and annual mean wage of $85,410 (Occupational Employment Statistics).


    Explore career possibilities on Career Connect.

     Degree Map – Graduate in Two Years

    Current Students
    Log in to My LaGuardia to review your Degree Audit to find out what classes to take. Have questions about using Degree Audit? Visit LaGuardia's Degree Audit page for tutorials and how-to guides.

    Prospective Students
    Review the curriculum.

    Please note: Students will be held to the program and degree requirements of the year that they enter the College, unless the student changes their major in a different academic year. In that case, the student will be held to the current year requirements as listed in the catalog. Learn more.

    Degree Map
    Use the Degree Map and DegreeWorks to assist in academic planning and creating your own graduation plan in ePortfolio. See a full list of Flexible Core courses on the Pathways page.

    For information about this program’s retention and graduation rate visit the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment website page.

     Learning Communities

    Learning Communities are groupings of two or more courses, often surrounding a common theme. There are two types of Learning Communities, Clusters (consisting of three or more classes) and Pairs (consisting of two classes).


    Learning Communities can help you:

    • Make connections among courses
    • Form a community with your classmates
    • Work closely with faculty
    • Be more successful in your courses
    • Be more likely to stay in school and graduate

    Continuing students are encouraged to select a Cluster or Pair in their second semester.


    Recent Learning Community Themes include:

    • American Cultural Identities in Poetry, Prose, Beats and Rhymes
    • Technology, Power and Freedom: Building your Digital Identity
    • Truth, Lies and Video
    • Alienation and Inquiry

    Review Liberal Arts Learning Communities for the current semester.


    Click here to view the Liberal Arts Learning Communities
     LIB200 Capstone Course

    This course invites you to consider a topic in an interdisciplinary manner, drawing on the various courses you have taken as well as experiences outside of college; therefore, it is recommended that this capstone course be taken in your last semester. The themes available for this class the course varies from semester to semester—previous themes include "American Museum," "Epidemics," "Genocide," "Modern Medical Practice," and "Performance and Disability." Review LIB200 themes for the current semester.


    Click here to view the LIB200 themes
     Transfer Opportunities

    The Political Science Option at LaGuardia Community College has an articulation agreement with Hunter College. Students who select the Political Science Option as their major can transfer to Hunter College to obtain a BA in Political Science.


    Regardless of where you want to transfer, through Pathways you can be assured that the 60 credits you earn at LaGuardia will be accepted at any four-year CUNY institutions. Learn more information about Pathways.