The mission of the Saddleback College Political Science program is to provide students with the necessary vocabulary, theoretical frameworks, and inquiry methods to understand and analyze political issues in the United States and globally. Coursework is intended to promote civic engagement, foster intellectual growth, and encourage student success.

Our department offers a variety of baccalaureate-level political science courses both in person and online for students working toward transferring, preparing them for continued success at four-year institutions.

Degrees and Certificates

View Classes in the Class Schedule

Why Major in Political Science?

Studying Politics is important, even if your aim is a career outside Political Science. Studying Politics means you:

  • Become a more knowledgeable member of your political community
  • Learn about your rights and responsibilities as a political agent
  • Clarify what you believe about how our society should be run


Students who study politics are closely guided in developing skills relevant to many careers, including:

  • Critical thinking
  • High-level writing and reading
  • How to analyze and research the world around you


Employment of political scientists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2019 to 2029, faster than the average for all occupations.

Areas of Study

  • American Government
  • American Politics
  • Comparative Politics
  • Contemporary Africa
  • Gender, Race, Sexuality, and the Law
  • Human Rights in a Globalized World
  • International Relations
  • Political Economy
  • Political Theory
  • Race & Ethnicity in Political Science

Zero Textbook Cost Classes

ZTC (Zero-Textbook-Cost) classes have no textbook-related costs, including access fees for online materials. Such classes often use Open Educational Resources (OER) created under a Creative Commons (a public copyright license) that give people the ability to share, use, and build upon a work that has been created. They may also use library e-books or other sources so there is no cost to the student. Saddleback College faculty have adopted and created OER to provide high-quality educational materials to you at no cost online, and low-cost print options. Click here for more information about our ZTC classes.

Contact the Political Science Department