Undergraduate Programs
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Colorado State University’s Bachelor of Art’s degree in political science covers a breadth of the political science discipline, teaching students to think critically and solve complex problems, while preparing students for a wide variety of careers both nationally and internationally. Check out our undergraduate program brochure here!
Concentrations
We offer four areas of concentration, offering opportunities for a broad degree or one with a more focused area of politics and policy. CSU's political science students can choose a broad Political Science B.A. or a focused degree in Environmental Politics and Policy, Global Politics and Policy, or U.S. Government, Law and Public Policy.
Political Science
Gain a broad understanding of government, politics, and public affairs.
About the Concentration
The Political Science Major provides students with broad training across the five subfields 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
- 5) public policy and administration
- Students may apply up to 3 credits for POLS 486 Political Science Internship toward the major requirements.
- Students must take at least one course in each sub-field:
- 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.
Environmental Politics and Policy
Analyze the connections between politics and the natural world.
About the Concentration
The Department’s Environmental Politics and Policy concentration is designed to help students develop the knowledge and skills to analyze the connections between politics and the natural world and pursue careers in environmental politics and policy-making. The Political Science Department at Colorado State University is one of the few political science departments in the world with a particular specialization in environmental politics and policy. More than half of our faculty and graduate students actively teach and conduct research in this area. Graduates may work as policy analysts, advocates, planners, educators or decision-makers in government agencies, non-profit organizations, businesses and consulting firms at the local, state, national and international levels. Students will learn about how political forces contribute to environmental degradation, the process for developing environmental policies, strategies to assess the strengths and weaknesses of different policy approaches, and how political forces can be harnessed to develop effective responses to problems such as climate change, water and air pollution, food security, and energy provision. Students will explore these issues from both domestic and global perspectives. Environmental Politics and Policy students are strongly encouraged to complete an internship to gain practical experience working in the field.
Requirements
Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Political Science – Environmental Politics and Policy Concentration 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 course in general political science (9 credits)
- Students must take one course in political theory as well as one course in two additional sub-fields (American politics, comparative politics, and international relations).
- Upper-division courses in environmental politics and policy (12 credits)
- Students may choose from political science courses focused on environmental politics and policy. Students may substitute 3 credits with a related course in History, Sociology or Agricultural and Resource Economics. 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. The department offers at least one capstone seminar focused on environmental politics and policy each year.
- Support Option
- Second major in
- Interdisciplinary minor in Environmental Affairs
- Interdisciplinary minor in Global Environmental Sustainability
Global Politics and Policy
Focus on the political relationships between and within countries.
About the Concentration
The Department’s Global Politics and Policy concentration is designed to help students develop the knowledge and skills to analyze political relationships between and within countries and to pursue careers in international affairs (such as working for government agencies, intergovernmental organizations, international businesses, consulting firms or non-profit organizations in the US and abroad). Students will learn about different systems of government, state-society relations in various parts of the world, the ways that public and private actors interact through international institutions and the global economy, as well as the causes of and responses to domestic and international conflict. Global Politics and Policy students are strongly encouraged to study a second language and to complete some of their coursework in one of CSU’s many education abroad programs.
Requirements
Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Political Science – Global Politics and Policy Concentration 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 in general political science (9 credits)
- Students must take one course in each of the following sub-fields: 1) political theory, 2) American politics, and 3) public policy and administration.
- Upper-division courses in global politics and policy (12 credits)
- Students may choose from political science courses in the international relations and comparative politics sub-fields (students must take at least one course in each sub-field). 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. The department typically offers two capstone seminars focused on global politics and policy each year.
- 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. These are some suggestions that may be of particular interest to students in the Global Politics and Policy concentration:
- Second major in International Studies
- Second major or minor in Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
- Interdisciplinary minor in Latin American and Caribbean Studies
- Interdisciplinary minor in Arabic Studies
- Interdisciplinary minor in Global Environmental Sustainability
- Interdisciplinary minor in International Development
- Interdisciplinary minor in Italian Studies
- Interdisciplinary minor in Linguistics and Culture
- Interdisciplinary minor in Russian Studies
US Government, Law, and Public Policy
Study the political processes and the legal environment of all levels of the American government
About the Concentration
The Department’s U.S. Government, Law, and Public Policy concentration is designed to prepare students to become future leaders in the public sector. The skills gained in this concentration help prepare students for a variety of careers (for example, government agencies, nonprofits, community organizations, lobbying firms, elected office, political communication, research and policy analysts) as well as prepare students for law and graduate schools. The courses in this concentration educate students about the political processes and the legal environment of all levels of American government as well as the processes of policy making and the administrative apparatus used to implement public policy. Students will also be exposed to a variety of substantive policy issues including urban policy, energy policy, and environmental policy in the United States. U.S. Government, Law, and Public Policy students are strongly encouraged to complete an internship in one of the many organizations in the broader community. Past students have completed internships with a variety of law firms, the Cities of Fort Collins, Windsor, Loveland, and Westminster, the Colorado General Assembly, and Woodward Governor among others.
Requirements
Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Political Science – U.S. Government, Law, and Public Policy Concentration 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 in general political science (9 credits)
- Students must take one course in each of the following sub-fields:
- 1) political theory
- 2) comparative politics
- 3) international relations.
- Students must take one course in each of the following sub-fields:
- Upper-division courses in US government, law and public policy (12 credits)
- Students may choose from political science courses in the American politics and public policy and administration sub-fields (students must take at least one course in each sub-field). 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. The department typically offers two capstone seminars focused on U.S. government, law, and public policy each year.
- 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. These are some suggestions that may be of particular interest to students in the U.S. Government, Law and Public Policy concentration:
- Second major or minor in History
- Second major or minor in Sociology
- Second major or minor in Economics
- Interdisciplinary minor in Legal Studies
Capstone Seminars
Learn more about our special topics courses that allow students to apply their political science knowledge to more in-depth exploration of a particular issue. The department offers at least one capstone seminar focused on environmental politics and policy each year.
Capstone Seminars
Fall 2023 Capstones
Thinking about Utopia in Dystopian Times
POLS 492-002 / POLS 492-003, MWF 1-1:50pm -or- TR 2-3:15pm, Prof. Eric Fattor
The idea of a perfect state or society has been a recurrent theme in philosophy, literature and politics for centuries. Thinkers, writers and political activists as diverse as Plato, Thomas More and Charles Fourier are famous for their accounts of cities that are ruled by the best and wisest, mitigate social and political conflict and eliminate poverty and inequality. In the present historical moment, however, these accounts of utopia are seen as foolish and naïve in the face of the dystopian visions of figures like George Orwell, Ray Bradbury, Margaret Atwood or the popular young adult fiction series by Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games) and Veronica Roth (Divergent). Drawing upon the concepts students have learned during their time as political science majors, this seminar will examine and analyze many of the key works of utopian and dystopian literature and scholarship to identify the dominant themes of these genres of inquiry, the social and political contexts out of which they emerge and, perhaps most importantly, the possibility of putting cynicism and pessimism aside and rediscovering the benefits of thinking about utopia.
Politics and Policymaking in American Democracy
POLS 492-001, T/Th 9:30-10:45am, Prof. Clare Brock
One of the primary purposes of government is to serve the public good by developing and executing policies that benefit society. As students of public policy, we often advocate for evidence-based policy. However, the process of determining what is best for society – even what constitutes “evidence” – often generates debates and controversy. The give and take, bargaining, competition and compromise that arise from this process are called politics. All in all, The Politics of Public Policy is concerned with the ways in which politics advances, hinders, encumbers, enhances, or just plain screws up meaningful and necessary public policy. The purpose of the class is threefold. First, the class provides a framework for analyzing and understanding the politics of public policy formation. Second, the course assesses the implementation of policy: How well are the policies working? Do they affect different groups of people differently? Third, the course provides you with the tools to allow you to analyze American public policy and politics more critically in your day-to-day life.You should note that this course does not provide a sanitized version of American politics or public policy. The U.S. was founded on the principles of liberty and equality but has faced and continues to be challenged by a dilemma as to how to accomplish these ideals due to on-going inequalities based on race, gender, religion, class, and sexuality. We will, at times, discuss these inequalities as well as analyze the ways in which disparities between groups have been developed, perpetuated, or ameliorated by public policies.
Empirical Analysis of Democracy
POLS 492-004, T/Th 2-3:15pm, Prof. Daniel Weitzel
Are you interested in understanding the principles of democracy and how it works? Are the United States becoming more or less democratic? What is the global trend in democratization? In this course you will delve into the theories of democracy, democratization, and backsliding. You will also learn how to conduct empirical analysis with democracy data, providing you with the tools to understand how democratic systems function in practice. By the end of the course, students will have the tools necessary to perform comprehensive data analysis, which will enable them to draw meaningful conclusions about the state of democracy in different parts of the world. The final product of the capstone seminar will be a research poster that showcases each student's empirical analysis, highlighting their findings and conclusions about the state of democracy in a specific country, over time, or across various regions of the world.
Accelerated Degree Programs
Accelerated Bachelor’s Degree
Colorado State University’s Accelerated Program offers political science students a pathway to graduate in 3 to 3.5 years instead of 4 years. Students who choose the Accelerated Program typically take 15-16 credits each fall and spring semester for three years, plus 6-9 credits over two or three summer sessions to earn their bachelor’s degree quicker.
Accelerated Master’s Degree
The Accelerated Master’s Degree provides a pathway for qualified political science undergraduate students to complete a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in political science in one year.
Minors
Students not majoring in political science can choose a general-interest political science minor focusing on government, politics, and public affairs. Political science majors are encouraged to pursue a minor. Some recommended interdisciplinary minors include Environmental Affairs, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, or Political Communication.
For questions regarding minors, please contact:
Lauren Tighe
lauren.tighe@colostate.edu
970-491-5156
Political Science
Gain a broad understanding of government, politics, and public affairs.
Students pursuing the interdisciplinary liberal arts major through CSU Online can complete a minor in political science. Learn more on the CSU Online website.
Environmental Studies in the Liberal Arts
Investigate environmental issues from the social sciences and humanities perspective.
Latin American & Caribbean Studies
Understand the languages, cultures, institutions, political and economic systems, and processes of change in Latin America.
Political Communication
Learn how ideas are communicated and shape the political process.
Undergraduate Advising Resources
The political science department pairs students with an Academic Success Coordinator (or ASC). Your ASC will be with you throughout your entire time as an undergraduate and is here to help you get the most out of your college experience. Your ASC will help you register for classes, recommend courses based on your interests, and familiarize you with other opportunities both within the department and on campus, such as education abroad, clubs, internships, and minors.
The College of Liberal Arts Academic Support Center is here to help you start the process.
