The Master of Arts in Political Science, Power, Justice, and Democracy Specialization analyzes contemporary theories of justice, democracy, development, and inequality from both domestic and international perspectives using interdisciplinary evidence, diverse perspectives, and multiple approaches. Specialists in this field develop methodological skills for analyzing and interpreting contemporary social and political problems around such topics as development, ecology, gender, race, sexuality, social movements, and peacebuilding for private or public organizations.
For more information on the Master of Arts in Political Science please email cla_polisci@mail.colostate.edu.
Students interested in graduate work should refer to the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.
Learning Objectives
Students who choose the Power, Justice, and Democracy Specialization will:
Theorize & Diagnose:
- Analyze contemporary theories of power, justice, and democracy from both domestic and international perspectives using interdisciplinary evidence, diverse perspectives, and multiple approaches.
- Develop methodological skills for analyzing and interpreting contemporary political struggles.
- Compare different forms of knowledge about issues related to power, justice, and democracy.
Contextualize & Clarify:
- Identify the political and institutional origins, and assess the social changes affecting the development, of rights and freedoms.
- Examine the interplay of different socio-political actors, institutions, and interests in the contestations over power, justice, and democracy.
- Examine the role of formal and informal institutions, norms, and traditions in sustaining or dismantling inequalities.
- Recognize the local, regional, national, or international political and institutional contexts that frame individual and collective action and the distribution of economic and political power.
Research & Evaluate:
- Design and implement research projects that measure, contextualize, interpret, communicate or explicate issues of justice, power, or democracy.
- Demonstrate abilities to identify suitable methods to engage with different types of individuals, organizations, institutions, and communities of knowledge in the study of power, inequality, or rights.
- Critique normative approaches and empirical measures of power, democracy, inequality, or human rights.
Praxis/practice:
- Engage with different political actors, stakeholders, or communities of knowledge in the identification of relevant research questions, empirical observations, or practical solutions to problems of injustice or inequality.
- Support governmental and non-governmental actors, civil society organizations, or community groups in the identification of problems, and the design of policy or political solutions to issues of injustice or inequality.
Effective Fall 2021
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Course: | ||
| POLS 672 | Power, Justice, and Democracy | 3 |
| Methods Courses: | 6 | |
| Select one course from the following: | ||
| Approaches to the Study of Politics | ||
| Scope and Methods of Political Science | ||
| Select one course from the following: | ||
| Qualitative Methods in Political Science | ||
| Quantitative Methods of Political Research I | ||
| Advanced Topics--Research Methods 1 | ||
| POLS Electives 2 | 6 | |
| Track Specialization Electives (see list below) 3 | 6 | |
| Interdisciplinary Elective (see list below) | 3 | |
| POLS 699 | Thesis | 6 |
| Program Total Credits: | 30 | |
Track Specialization Electives (Select a minimum of 6 credits)2
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLS 405 | Race and Ethnicity in U.S. Politics | 3 |
| POLS 413 | U.S. Civil Rights and Liberties | 3 |
| POLS 420 | History of Political Thought | 3 |
| POLS 421 | Contemporary Political Theories | 3 |
| POLS 422 | Democratic Theory | 3 |
| POLS 442 | Environmental Politics in Developing World | 3 |
| POLS 443 | Comparative Social Movements | 3 |
| POLS 462 | Globalization, Sustainability, and Justice | 3 |
| POLS 463 | Urban Policy and Management | 3 |
| POLS 501 | Citizen Politics in the U.S. | 3 |
| POLS 509 | Gender and the Law | 3 |
| POLS 520 | Theories of Political Action | 3 |
| POLS 532 | Governance of the World Political Economy | 3 |
| POLS 541 | Political Economy of Change and Development | 3 |
| POLS 542 | Democracy and Democratization | 3 |
| POLS 729 | Political Theory and the Environment | 3 |
| POLS 739 | International Environmental Politics | 3 |
Interdisciplinary Electives (Select 3 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 447 | Gender Equity in Development | 3 |
| ANTH 505 | Resilience, Well-Being, and Social Justice | 3 |
| E 502 | The Politics of Literacy | 3 |
| EDHE 661 | Inclusive University | 3 |
| EDOD 667 | Power-Politics-Influence in Organizations | 3 |
| EDUC 715 | Critical Theory, Educational Equity & Praxis | 3 |
| ETST 365 | Global Environmental Justice Movements | 3 |
| SOC 322 | Environmental Justice | 3 |
| SOC 324 | Food Justice | 3 |
| SOC 362 | Social Change | 3 |
| SOC 462 | Applied Social Change | 3 |
| SOC 564 | Environmental Justice | 3 |
| SOC 660 | Theories of Development and Social Change | 3 |
| SPCM 357 | Film and Social Change | 3 |
A minimum of 30 credits are required to complete this program.
- 1
If POLS 693 is chosen, the credits needed to fulfill the requirement can be completed by taking additional credits in POLS 693 or by taking POLS 621 or POLS 625.
- 2
Students may select any graduate-level POLS course, or an undergraduate 300-400-level course with advisor's permission.
- 3
Students may select one undergraduate 300-400-level course with advisor’s permission.
Effective Fall 2021
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Course: | ||
| POLS 672 | Power, Justice, and Democracy | 3 |
| Methods Courses: | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Approaches to the Study of Politics | ||
| Scope and Methods of Political Science | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Qualitative Methods in Political Science | ||
| Quantitative Methods of Political Research I | ||
| Advanced Topics--Research Methods 1 | ||
| POLS Electives 2 | 6 | |
| Track Specialization Electives (see list below) 3 | 6 | |
| Interdisciplinary Elective (see list below) | 3 | |
| Additional POLS Electives 3,4 | 12 | |
| Program Total Credits: | 36 | |
Track Specialization Electives (Select a minimum of 6 credits)2
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLS 405 | Race and Ethnicity in U.S. Politics | 3 |
| POLS 413 | U.S. Civil Rights and Liberties | 3 |
| POLS 420 | History of Political Thought | 3 |
| POLS 421 | Contemporary Political Theories | 3 |
| POLS 422 | Democratic Theory | 3 |
| POLS 442 | Environmental Politics in Developing World | 3 |
| POLS 443 | Comparative Social Movements | 3 |
| POLS 462 | Globalization, Sustainability, and Justice | 3 |
| POLS 463 | Urban Policy and Management | 3 |
| POLS 501 | Citizen Politics in the U.S. | 3 |
| POLS 509 | Gender and the Law | 3 |
| POLS 520 | Theories of Political Action | 3 |
| POLS 532 | Governance of the World Political Economy | 3 |
| POLS 541 | Political Economy of Change and Development | 3 |
| POLS 542 | Democracy and Democratization | 3 |
| POLS 729 | Political Theory and the Environment | 3 |
| POLS 739 | International Environmental Politics | 3 |
Interdisciplinary Electives (Select 3 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ANTH 447 | Gender Equity in Development | 3 |
| ANTH 505 | Resilience, Well-Being, and Social Justice | 3 |
| E 502 | The Politics of Literacy | 3 |
| EDHE 661 | Inclusive University | 3 |
| EDOD 667 | Power-Politics-Influence in Organizations | 3 |
| EDUC 715 | Critical Theory, Educational Equity & Praxis | 3 |
| ETST 365 | Global Environmental Justice Movements | 3 |
| SOC 322 | Environmental Justice | 3 |
| SOC 324 | Food Justice | 3 |
| SOC 362 | Social Change | 3 |
| SOC 462 | Applied Social Change | 3 |
| SOC 564 | Environmental Justice | 3 |
| SOC 660 | Theories of Development and Social Change | 3 |
| SPCM 357 | Film and Social Change | 3 |
A minimum of 36 credits are required to complete this program.
- 1
If POLS 693 is chosen, the credits needed to fulfill the requirement can be completed by taking additional credits in POLS 693 or by taking POLS 621 or POLS 625.
- 2
Students may select any graduate-level POLS course, or an undergraduate 300-400-level course with advisor's permission.
- 3
Graduate students may use 300- or 400-level undergraduate courses approved by their committee in the Program of Study (GS Form 6) up to the limits set by the Graduate School. Graduate students may apply remedial undergraduate courses they were required to take as a condition of their admission toward the degree if such undergraduate credits are consistent with the requirements of the degree AND approved by their committee in the Program of Study (GS Form 6).
- 4
Outside courses optional and/or as recommended by the Student’s Graduate Committee.
For more information, please visit Requirements for All Graduate Degrees in the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.
Summary of Procedures for the Master's and Doctoral Degrees
NOTE: Each semester the Graduate School publishes a schedule of deadlines. Deadlines are available on the Graduate School website. Students should consult this schedule whenever they approach important steps in their careers.
Forms are available online.
| Step | Due Date |
|---|---|
| 1. Application for admission (online) | Six months before first registration |
| 2. Diagnostic examination when required | Before first registration |
| 3. Appointment of advisor | Before first registration |
| 4. Selection of graduate committee | Before the time of fourth regular semester registration |
| 5. Filing of program of study (GS Form 6) | Before the time of fourth regular semester registration |
| 6. Preliminary examination (Ph.D. and PD) | Two terms prior to final examination |
| 7. Report of preliminary examination (GS Form 16) - (Ph.D. and PD) | Within two working days after results are known |
| 8. Changes in committee (GS Form 9A) | When change is made |
| 9. Application for Graduation (GS Form 25) | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website |
| 9a. Reapplication for Graduation (online) | Failure to graduate requires Reapplication for Graduation (online) for the next time term for which you are applying |
| 10. Submit thesis or dissertation to committee | At least two weeks prior to the examination or at the discretion of the graduate committee |
| 11. Final examination | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website |
| 12. Report of final examination (GS Form 24) | Within two working days after results are known; refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website |
| 13. Submit a signed Thesis/Dissertation Submission Form (GS Form 30) to the Graduate School and Submit the Survey of Earned Doctorates (Ph.D. only) prior to submitting the electronic thesis/dissertation | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website. |
| 14. Submit the thesis/dissertation electronically | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website |
| 15. Graduation | Ceremony information is available from the Graduate School website |