Political Science, BA

The BA program offers four major tracks, one general and three representing important sub fields of political science: American Politics/Public Law, Global Politics, and Public Administration. All four tracks are designed to prepare students for professional careers in the public or private sector, or graduate or professional study.

Federal, state and local governments are important employers of political science graduates. In the private sector, including nonprofits, the increasing interaction with government creates a growing demand for graduates with an understanding of political systems, domestically and internationally. Political Science, Law, and Public Administration are common graduate fields of study for our graduates.

Outcomes, Political Science, BA

•   Students will demonstrate a basic knowledge of political institutions and behavior covering required courses and student’s selected option areas
•   Students will demonstrate the ability and knowledge to conduct research in political science:
  • Demonstrate the ability to locate and utilize scholarly materials via library research and archival research
  • Identify theories, political trends, differing schools of thought related to major research traditions
•   Students will be able to apply knowledge of political processes and political methodology:
  • Demonstrate the ability to analyze and explicate scholarly work, separate fact from opinion, and evaluate arguments and supporting evidence
  • Understand and apply different levels of analysis to political developments, political questions and theories 
•   Advanced knowledge of discipline related to student’s option area

Departmental Honors

The Department of Political Science offers honors for students who have demonstrated high academic achievement. In order to be awarded departmental honors, a student must:

• Have an overall CU GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Have a 3.5 or higher in political science courses.
• Submit a major research paper prepared for any upper division political science course to a member of the faculty of the department. The paper will be read by at least two of the department faculty and if the faculty deems the paper of sufficient merit, the student will be awarded honors.

The level of honors is dependent on completion of these requirements and the level of the departmental GPA. Students who meet these requirements and have a political science GPA of between 3.5 and 3.69 will received Distinction, those whose political science GPA is between 3.7 and 3.89 are eligible for High Distinction, and those with a political science GPA equal to 3.9 or above are eligible for Highest Distinction.

Internships

The department encourages all students to consider enrolling for an internship during their tenure at the university. Internships provide students “hands on” experience in the public sector, giving students a greater appreciation for the complexity of politics and policy making and of the legal system.

The department places students in three kinds of internships: prelaw (P SC 948); legislative, with U.S. or Colorado legislators (P SC 348); and public agency internships in governmental or nonprofit agencies (P SC 398).

Students may earn up to six credits in P SC 348 or 398; the prelaw internship (P SC 948) may earn up to three hours of credit. Interested students should see Professor Null. Students interested in prelaw internships should see Professor Dunn.