What We Do
The political science department at Colorado State University uses a variety of theoretical and methodological approaches to teach our undergraduate and graduate students to think critically so they are equipped to solve complex problems in the United States and around the world. Our research, teaching, and outreach support the CSU Land-Grant Mission.
Message From the Chair
Welcome to CSU’s Department of Political Science! At a time of incredible political upheaval and partisan polarization at home and abroad, the need to understand politics and political behaviors, institutions and differences is greater than ever. To that end, our department’s curriculum and professors provide students with a nuanced understanding of national and international political systems and processes with a goal of creating educated and informed democratic citizens and developing the critical thinking, analytical and writing skills that our students will need to be successful in a broad array of careers. Our department values applied learning and provides students with numerous opportunities to pursue internships including our renowned state legislative internship program and the Washington, DC Semester program. Faculty in the Political Science Department conduct cutting edge research based on their wide-ranging areas of expertise, including a targeted emphasis on environmental issues, and integrate this knowledge into their classrooms to provide students with a robust and engaging intellectual experience. As Chair of the Department of Political Science, I invite you to browse our website to learn more about our department’s academic programs and outstanding faculty research and accomplishments.
-Courtenay Daum
What We Stand By
What We are Known For
Environmental Focus
We offer a distinctive undergraduate concentration in environmental politics, preparing students to tackle the complex problems of climate change, pollution, and related issues in a variety of exciting careers in governments and nonprofits worldwide. Environmental politics and policy is the emphasis of the Ph.D. program and more than half of our faculty specialize in the environment.
Award-Winning Teachers
From outstanding teaching to leadership in their fields, the political science department is full of passionate people making a difference in the discipline and in the lives of the students they teach.
- 2019 – Allison White
- 2018 – John Straayer
- 2018 – Susan Opp
- 2014 – Courtenay Daum
- 2006 – Dimitris Stevis
Internships
Internships are one of the best ways to gain real-world experience and make professional connections while in college. The political science department is well known for the Legislative Internship Program, giving more than 1,000 undergraduates an opportunity to work with state legislators and representatives in the state capitol in Denver over the course of 40 years.
Straayer Center
Furthering our long-standing commitment to students’ professional development, in 2017 the political science department, alongside the College of Liberal Arts, created the Straayer Center for Public Service Leadership. The Center supports students who are interested in leadership roles in public service. The Straayer Center offers students opportunities to gain real-world government experience through the CSU in D.C. program and the local government capstone.
Research
Our faculty and graduate students conduct innovative, collaborative research that advances knowledge about government and politics. Our faculty are thought leaders on important issues such as conspiracy theories and misinformation in politics, climate change, energy policy, environmental justice, social justice, trans rights, and more. Faculty frequently make media appearances and engage in public events to communicate these important findings to the broader community.
Through capstones, honors thesis projects, and research assistantship opportunities, undergraduate students can gain valuable experience conducting scholarly research.