Hi, I'm Professor Elisabeth Jay Friedman from the Politics Department. On behalf of our faculty, welcome to the major. I am here to help you select your classes.

A student typically registers for 16-18 credits per semester.  Four, 4 credit courses and perhaps 1 or 2 credits of extracurricular activities.

If you are entering the Politics major in the Fall, you will take Politics 100, Introduction to Politics: Ideas and Institutions.  If you are entering the Politics major in the Spring, you will take Politics 110, Introduction to Politics: Change and Conflict.  You will take the other introductory course in your second semester on campus.

If you are a transfer student who has already taken two or more introductory courses in Politics, you should consult with the department before determining which introductory course is right for you.

For your next course, you should register for a writing course. Developing good writing and speaking skills is essential to your success in the classes you will take at USF.  You should know which class to register for. If you do not, please review the chapter on Rhetoric and Composition.

Here are some options for your remaining classes:
A foreign language: As a Politics major, you are required to take three semesters of a foreign language. I recommend that you start early to complete this requirement.  If you have any questions about language requirements or placement tests, please contact the Modern and Classical Languages Department.
You can enroll in Public Speaking which is an important course to take early in your college career.  This course fulfills your Core A1 requirement. 
Or, you can choose another core course such as History, Literature, Math, Science, Philosophy, Theology & Religious Studies, Ethics, or Visual and Performing Arts. 

Once you have selected your classes, your schedule should resemble something like this.
1. POLS 100 or 110
2. Rhetoric and Composition course
3. Core course
4. Core course or Foreign Language course
If you are a transfer student, you may have completed some of these courses. It is important for you to review your degree evaluation to determine which courses you need to complete. 

Spend some time navigating the Schedule of Classes to familiarize yourself with the layout.  Look for courses that you would like to register for, including specific sections. Spend some time doing this to find a schedule that works for you. 

If you have any questions, please contact us.
politics@usfca.edu
415.422.5820

We look forward to meeting you during Orientation.  During Orientation we will review the major requirements and you will have the opportunity to meet faculty and fellow students.  
Welcome to USF!