Department of Political Science




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Political Science

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Political Science Majors

POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJOR

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The Political Science Major provides students with broad training across the five sub-fields of the discipline: American politics, comparative politics, international relations, political theory, and public policy and administration. The Political Science major, like all studies in the Liberal Arts, equips students with knowledge and skills applicable across a broad spectrum of employment in the public and private sectors. Political Science majors are trained to be independent and critical thinkers; to be discerning and active observers and listeners; to communicate persuasively; to constructively engage and solve intellectual and practical problems; to adapt and function effectively in a number of distinct occupational and institutional settings; and to function comfortably in a multiethnic, multiracial, and globalizing society. Political Science students are strongly encouraged to complete an internship and/or study abroad.

Requirements

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Political Science include a minimum of 36 credits of political science courses as well as a support option such as a second major or minor. An additional 52-54 credits are required to meet college-wide and university-wide distribution requirements. Many of the department, college, and university requirements can be met in a number of ways, thereby affording students the opportunity to shape their own programs of study. Further unrestricted choice of courses is provided in the free electives that students take in meeting the minimum total of 120 credits required for the B.A. degree.

For a detailed description of university, college and departmental requirements as well as course descriptions, please consult the current Colorado State University catalog.

Introductory Courses (12 Credits)

POLS 101 American Government and Politics
POLS 103 State and Local Government
POLS 232 International Relations
POLS 241 Comparative Politics

Upper-Division Courses (21 credits)

Students must take at least one course in each sub-field: 1) American politics, 2) comparative politics, 3) international relations, 4) political theory, and 5) public policy and administration. Students may apply up to 3 credits for POLS 486 Political Science Internship toward the major requirements.

Capstone Seminar (3 credits)

Special topics courses that allow students to apply their political science knowledge to more in-depth exploration of a particular issue.

Support Option

Political Science majors are required to add a second major or minor in another field to complement their political science training with additional skills and knowledge.

Political Science check sheet

For Additional Information

Please contact us at 970-491-5156 or CLA_polisci@mail.colostate.edu, or stop by the Political Science Department office in Clark C346.

Political Science

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  • COVID-19
    ▼
    • Class Schedules
    • COVID-19 Recovery
    • Pre-Semester Health Precautions
    • Precautions During Semester
    • Resources
    • Ramweb
  • Programs
    ▼
    • Undergraduate
    • Undergraduate Capstone Courses
    • Graduate
    • B.A./M.A. Sequential Degree Program
    • Environmental Politics and Policy
    • Latin American and Caribbean Studies Program
  • People
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    • Faculty & Staff
    • Emeritus Faculty
    • Graduate Students
    • First Generation Students
    • Alumni
    • This Is Why I Poli Sci
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    • Pre-law
    • Study Abroad
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    • Scholarships and Awards
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    • Institute for Research in the Social Sciences
    • Faculty Publications
    • Student Research
  • Straayer Center