Major in Political Science

Political science is the study of politics and political action in society. It encompasses international agreements and organizations as well as the patterns of political action which both create and shape them. It encompasses citizen action and the institutions which produce public policy at the local, state, and national levels within the United States. It encompasses systems of voting, political parties, and courts, compared across national political systems. It encompasses the raising of normative questions about the nature and purposes of political life. The presence of politics is felt in all areas and sectors of society at all times. The dynamic and transformative effects of political action are seen virtually everywhere.

The department’s curriculum is distributed across five subfields of the discipline: American politics, political theory, comparative politics, international relations, and public policy. Course work across the discipline's subfields is complemented by a required support option. Support options include a minor in another department; an interdisciplinary minor; the second language support option; the methods support option, or a second major.

Learning Objectives

Students majoring in Political Science shall demonstrate the following:

1. Ability to reason through political claims and assertions by political actors.
2. Skill in recognizing and responding to diverse ideological perspectives.
3. Ability to locate political issues and controversies within their relevant institutional and historical contexts.
4. Familiarity with the institutional processes of politics in numerous global and domestic political arenas.
5. Confidence in expressing opinions and presenting analyses of political problems and their solutions.

Accelerated Program

The major in Political Science includes an accelerated program option for students to graduate on a faster schedule. Accelerated Programs typically include 15-16 credits each fall and spring semester for three years, plus 6-9 credits over two to three summer sessions. Students who enter CSU with prior credit (AP, IB, transfer, etc.) may use applicable courses to further accelerate their graduation. Visit the Office of the Provost website for additional information about Accelerated Programs.

Potential Occupations

The major in Political Science, like all studies in the liberal arts, provides students with a broad academic background that is serviceable 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; to function comfortably in a multiethnic, multiracial, and globalizing society. The employment profiles of departmental alumni attest to the breadth of possibilities for today’s graduates: public and non-profit organization managers, prosecutors, public policy analysts and consultants, federal law enforcement agents, legislators and legislative analysts, foreign service officers, private attorneys, demographers, criminal investigators, advertising specialists, urban/regional planners, environmental policy analysts, state budget analysts, public relations representatives, market researchers, elementary and high school teachers, international businessmen and businesswomen, lobbyists, novelists, construction industry managers, insurance agents and managers, financiers, and real estate brokers. Some graduates join professions following advanced study in law, international relations, area studies, public administration, public policy analysis, and business management.

Concentrations

Students may complete the general Political Science major or select one of the following concentrations for a more specialized course of study.

• Environmental Politics and Policy Concentration
• Global Politics and Policy Concentration
• U.S. Government, Law, and Policy Concentration

For further information on declaring the Major in Political Science, please schedule an appointment with a College of Liberal Arts Academic Success Coordinator by calling 970-491-3117 or visiting Clark C207.

To change your major to Political Science, you can either call the College of Liberal Arts Academic Advising Center at 970-491-3117 or send an email to cla_advising@colostate.edu. More information is available on https://advising.libarts.colostate.edu.

Effective Spring 2025

Political science majors must achieve a minimum grade of C (2.000) in each of the political science (POLS) courses counted toward meeting the requirement of the major. Students may enroll in either the standalone major or (at most) one of the concentrations under the Major in Political Science.

Political Science, Upper-Division

At least 24 credits of upper-division political science courses must be completed for the major. The 24 credits include the senior capstone course, POLS 492, at least 3 credits of AUCC 4A and 4B in addition to POLS 492, and at least one upper-division course in each of the following five subfields.

American Politics and Law

Political Theory

International Relations

Comparative Politics

Public Policy and Administration

 Other Possible Elective Courses Under the 24-Credit Requirement

Support Options

Political Science majors must complete one of the following five Support Options.

Minor or Interdisciplinary Minor Support Option

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Select a minor or interdisciplinary minor in consultation with advisor.		21-24

Student-Selected Course Group Support Option

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
A program of courses proposed by student and approved by advisor containing a minimum of 21 credits, of which at least 12 must be upper-division (300- to 400-level).		21

 Second Major Support Option

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Select a second major in consultation with advisor. This option may require as much as 36 credits. Credit range shown is approximate, and may require more or less, depending on the second major chosen.		27-36

Foreign Language Support Option

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
A minimum of 5 courses totaling at least 15 credits in a single foreign language, including at least 2 courses of language instruction or in the language at the upper-division level.		15-22

Methods Support Option^​2 

¹

Students may select a 500-level POLS graduate course with approval of advisor and the instructor to fulfill a maximum of 3 credits of the 24-credit upper-division requirement.

²

Students choosing the Methods Support Option must take POLS 320. Credits earned in POLS 495 may not be used to satisfy this requirement.

³

Select a minimum of 24 upper-division (300- to 400-level) courses as described above in the Political Science, Upper-Division list.

⁴

In addition to POLS 492 students must select at least one course from among the courses listed in the five subfields (see Political Science, Upper-Division list above), for a minimum of 3 credits, that meets the AUCC 4A/4B requirement for the major.

⁵

Students must have completed at least 12 credits from POLS 300 – 499 classes in order to enroll in POLS 492.

⁶

Select enough elective credits to bring the program total to a minimum of 120 credits, of which at least 42 must be upper-division (300- to 400-level).

Distinctive Requirements for Degree Program:

Political science majors must achieve a minimum grade of C (2.000) in each of the political science (POLS) courses counted toward meeting the requirement of the major. Students may enroll in either the standalone major or (at most) one of the concentrations under the Major in Political Science.

At least 24 credits of upper-division political science courses must be completed for the major. The 24 credits include the senior capstone course, POLS 492, at least 3 credits of AUCC 4A and 4B in addition to POLS 492, and at least one upper-division course in each of the following five subfields.